Author Topic: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.  (Read 2561 times)

WrongWay

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A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« on: March 20, 2021, 05:00:59 PM »
First off, a little background:
I am new to this forum (day1). I didn't see a link for "new members intro's" so this is mine:
My screen name is WrongWay, also my "Camp Name", one never earns a camp name for doin' something right. (just sayin')
Yes i did earn it! My given name is Scott. Y'all can call me anything but "Late for Dinner!"

I was introduced to Muzzleloading and Rendezvous when in High School, The first "Rondy" I attended was at one of the original sites near Bever, Utah in 1975 or 76. That really got the fever started.  Later in '76 my attention was nulled by joining the USMC. That took presidents in my life until, 1980. In '82 my wife gave me a Thompson Center .50 Hawkins kit as a 1st Annv. gift.  I took my sweet time building it, 10 years! (yep  :o).  I was in no hurry as we were living in Anaheim CA. and I didn't know anyone who shot PB in Cali.

One day while working at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Co. I overheard the Lead Mechanic talking to a friend about going to a Rondy! I light right up! He (Joe) asked me if i knew what a Rondy was.. "Longrifles, muskets, tomahawks, knife throwin' That kinda Rondy?"  Joe asked if i had a muzzleloader, my response was:"Sorta."  He asked: "How the %$#@ due you SORTA have a rifle?" Then i explained that it had yet to get blued, but the kit was otherwise built.  He told me to just grape it as it would be more period correct anyway.  After work he took me to the local gun store where i bought the Birchwood Casey Plumb Brown.  I put 23 coats on that barrel over the next 4 days. Put the gun together on Friday night. First ball fired was on the "Walk-Through" the next day. She hadn't been sighted nor test fired before that!  My score was 7 out of 23. But i was a grinning ear to ear!  I have been competitively shooting muzzleloaders ever since!

I will post pics, once i figure out how to on this forum.

A very good friend who owned a local private range, had made some trades that included some old shotguns. He would bring out one at a time asking me what each was. The last one he handed me, my answer was: "BROKE".  It is a cap-lock side-by-side that someone had "tried" to open as a modern.  Apparently, across their knee. The stock was shattered from the fore-end through both locks.  My friend asked if it could be fixed. Anything can be fixed.  He told me to take it and give it a good home. 

I ordered a stock blank from Track and took it to another very close friend, who is a longrifle gun builder. Roger was teaching me at his shop, as this project began.  Thus far the stock is bandsaw cut to ruff shape, the barrel channels are roughly goughed, with just the beginning of the tang inletting ready to begin.

Roger became became ill at this point of the build. Then he passed some 4 years later. His widow has returned the project shotgun to me. With a small box containing the locks and furniture. The broken stock has gotten lost over the years.

I would like to finish building this old gun. I need to buy the carving tools and all the rest. I realise this is no weekend project! If it turns out well enough, I will put it to use at the range.  I figure worst case, it can hang over the fireplace...
At the end of the day, I am a mechanic and i do some machining. I have the artistic talents of a bulldozer and can't draw a straight line with a ruler. 

Again, i will post some pics to this thread.

This greenhorn is in need of much supervision and guidance!  I have been told, I'm a good student though.   ::)
 
« Last Edit: March 20, 2021, 05:09:47 PM by WrongWay »

WrongWay

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2021, 05:16:32 PM »

Ta-Da! I got the pic to work!  My Rendezvous Arsenal
The Thompson kit i build is on the bottom of this pic.



« Last Edit: March 20, 2021, 05:41:10 PM by WrongWay »

Offline BillF/TRF

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2021, 06:31:12 PM »
Welcome WrongWay!  I too like to attend rendezvous in the upper midwest, near home.  I have been a member here for only a few years going on a lifetime--of great, individual help on everything to do with longrifles.  Hope to see your posts on the Forum from time to time!

Offline rich pierce

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2021, 06:38:23 PM »
Welcome!
Andover, Vermont

WrongWay

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2021, 02:32:05 AM »
Welcome WrongWay!  I too like to attend rendezvous in the upper midwest, near home.  I have been a member here for only a few years going on a lifetime--of great, individual help on everything to do with longrifles.  Hope to see your posts on the Forum from time to time!
Thanks for the warm welcome BillF/TRF,
I have heard tell that the Rendezvous run a bit different between East and West?  A friend had moved back East, after he got a chance to settle in. He found a Rondy to attend. Here on the Left Coast, he was one of the top riflemen. When he got to the Eastern Rondy, he said that he had a difficult time finding someone to shoot with. That the majority of the time was folks doing craft and history classes.

The Rondys that i have been to were all about competition(s).. Both in the Rocky's and here on the coast as well.  We will make a contest on just about anything!  Shooting, knife throwing, tomahawk, archery, cookin' and even who has the most authentic lodge and wardrobe... You name it, we will make a contest of it.. Even if only for braggin' rights.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger!
Just telling what Dave said. I would like to hear or, read another opinion or viewpoint. Purely out of curiosity. Wondering if he was just having a "Dave" moment. (He was a very strong competitor!). 

Anymore, I go to the Rendezvous for the comrodry and to meet up with old friends, as well as, to meet new.  I have had more than my share of grand scores.(I'm sure luck has played in there well also!) The smoke is addictive as anything can be! I still love shooting. But, now i spend much more time near the fire. I have been learning how to put that ole Dutch Oven to better uses!  Within our clan, every meal is a pot luck, as well as the Main Camp pot-lucks. Then, since my friend Roger passed, i have taken over his Bag store, so Trading takes up a lot of my time there. (Mostly setting up and packing back up). 

WrongWay

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2021, 02:37:22 AM »

Offline gunmaker

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2021, 03:43:15 AM »
You'd do well to get the book recreating the double barrel muzzleloading shot gun by William Brockway. He goes to great length on stock layout for straight pointing smoothbores...Good luck.

Offline oldtravler61

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2021, 03:46:39 AM »
  Welcome wrongway to the forum. Best bunch of people on the Net you'll ever find.  Well
some might seem a bit crotchety
But hey we're all entitled to our opinions. Enjoy your stay.
Oldtravler

WrongWay

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2021, 04:19:54 AM »
You'd do well to get the book recreating the double barrel muzzleloading shot gun by William Brockway. He goes to great length on stock layout for straight pointing smoothbores...Good luck.
Thank you for the info, Gunmaker. 
Instructions, I like instructions!

That would be just the ticket!  Except, it is sold out on every link on Google, with one exception: Amazon stated there is one copy available $494.00  YIKES, for a paperback book?  I also Googled libraries that have it. The nearest one to me is in San Francisco, 490 miles... There seems to be something about that number?  I will ask around at the club shoots and at the next Rendezvous (if i cant find one by then). 
 

WrongWay

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2021, 04:27:10 AM »
  Welcome wrongway to the forum. Best bunch of people on the Net you'll ever find.  Well
some might seem a bit crotchety
But hey we're all entitled to our opinions. Enjoy your stay.
Oldtravler

Thank you for the welcome, Oldtravler.  I can handle "crotchety", as I am myself!  I have been on the H.D. Forum, for a couple years. Gives me a bit of experience dealing with attitudes and forum edicate.   ;)

Offline mountainman70

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2021, 04:28:05 AM »
Definately welcome bro. Great buncha folks here fo sho. One of my late besties,a marine, shared many campfires and shoots with me when I was greenin up. I have learned ,and fellowshipped much with these folks.
 Lots of knowledge and skill here for the askin.
Enjoy your stay, may it be a long one.
Semper fi .From one ol mechanic to the other. Best regards, Dave f Red Bear 8) 8)

Offline Dwshotwell

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2021, 06:44:33 AM »
That would be just the ticket!  Except, it is sold out on every link on Google, with one exception: Amazon stated there is one copy available $494.00  YIKES, for a paperback book?  I also Googled libraries that have it. The nearest one to me is in San Francisco, 490 miles... There seems to be something about that number?  I will ask around at the club shoots and at the next Rendezvous (if i cant find one by then). 
 
Go to the wanted to buy / sale forum on this site and post that you’re looking for the book and what you are willing to pay. I did that a few weeks ago for a similar book that was out of print and found a fellow member with a copy he would part with at a reasonable price. Amazon listed one copy of that particular book for something like $995.
David Shotwell

Offline bob in the woods

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2021, 04:03:59 PM »
Welcome to the forum !     If you like to compete, perhaps think about giving our monthly postal match a try  :)

Offline gunmaker

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2021, 04:47:06 AM »
Check yer private message folder…..Tom

Offline Not English

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2021, 07:29:50 AM »
WrongWay, welcome to the forum. I haven't been active all that long, but am a long time lurker. There's a lot of knowledge here to be had for the asking. I can sympathize with your Rendezvous opinions. A shooting rendezvous is getting increasingly hard to find. I would like to take the opportunity to advertise our local  Rendezvous. We're neither left or right coast. The Yellowstone Flint & Cap club holds the Bloody Lake Rendezvous the week leading up to the first Saturday in May. The rendezvous is located at Blackhawk Memorial park at Woodford, Wi. We vare a shooting club! If you or any one else on the forum make it there, Look us up in the NE corner of the rendezvous. Ask for the Fencibles. The 'Not English" name took 10 to 15 years to earned and owned. A small private rendezvous with a bunch of Roger Rangers with me being the lone Frenchman resulted in a name I could own up to.

Dave (Not English)

Offline old george

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2021, 07:41:52 AM »
welcome aboard wrongway... not a ronnyvous ppl but do participate with a cw artillery unit and a civil war union naval unit. I hunt with a PA fowler and a 45 cal barn rifle both flinters.

george
I cannot go to Hades: Satan has a restraining order against me. :)

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2021, 11:09:32 PM »
For those of you here on the left coast, consider attending the annual BC Rendezvous.  It is the last week of August and includes the long weekend following.  So it's 10 days.  There is a shooting competition in the am and one again after lunch.  So two shoots every day for ten days.  Includes rifle, smoothbore, pistol, archery, knife and 'hawk, shotgun.  From time to time, someone will put on a seminar, eg:  sinew backing a flatbow, or using a straight razor.  We have several couples and fellows from the US that attend every year, from Oregon, Utah, Washington.  We even had a couple guys come for several years in a row from Germany.
Our rendezvous was cancelled last year (Covid 19) but I'm hoping it'll be a go this summer.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Daryl

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Re: A True Green-horn to the craft of building.
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2021, 11:57:56 PM »
Welcome to the forum, Wrongway.
As Taylor notes, BC Rendezvous does quite a few matches, with smoothbore including a trap or quail shoot as well as patched round ball
trail walks.
We have camping for primitive as well as tin teepees. I camp tin, Taylor in Primitive. Each to his own, however almost every evening is spent
at his camp and the other friends in Primitive around a fire, telling stories, jokes or whatever and the odd sampling of air temp and cold refreshments,
of course. It is a huge family gathering - we're all Rendezvous family.
It can be quite hot, sometimes wet, and sometimes the water freezes in the wash basin outside.
Usually, a good time is had by all.  Prize time, is every evening is at the council fire, starting 7PM for the first few days, then 6Pm as the days get shorter,
quickly up here. The day's events are gone over, prizes handed out & the next day's "events" are presented. Different clubs and people put on the events
every day.  Our group, the Fort George Free Trappers put on a plank shoot.  There is another "bullseye-type" event as well as trail walks, etc.
We generally have up to 135 camps by mid week.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V