First Build Ever

[macr0w]

It's coming along nicely.

Yeah, it didn't take long to figure that out. 

[macr0w]

Some additional pics.

[macr0w]

Hey guys, should I be trying to file out these casting marks on this lock plate?
I'm curious how much finishing should I be doing on this?

[rich pierce]

Some builders do and some don’t.

[macr0w]

I guess it won't hurt?
I just need to decide how much I want to do. 😆

[Daryl]

If you decide to polish the lock, take your time. Taylor spends about 8 hours to polish a lock.

[macr0w]

I set my lugs and my sight today.
I also drilled for the pins, inlet the trigger and sanded and ground a bunch of stuff. 

[macr0w]

Getting closer. 

[macr0w]

Hey guys, Should the trigger guard be pinned or screwed?
Some historical examples are showing screws on the rear and pins on the front.
Some show the opposite.
The guard I have has big casting sprues on it so I could trim them down for pinning.
Should I pin it through the lock plate?
There's not a lot of room for pins on the side.

[flinchrocket]

Do you have building plans? Ryan at MBS should have some if you don't. They will show how it goes together.
If it were mine I would pin the front and the back, but I would solder a different lug on the back than what you have. At least it looks that way, things sometimes look different when you have them in your hand.

[macr0w]

Yeah, I talked to Ryan on the phone before ordering.
He told me it did not come with any plans.
So far I've been doing pretty well without a plan by reading and watching videos and asking questions on message boards like this one.
I have the barrel inlet, lugs and sight installed and pinned, lock and sideplate inlet and drilled and tapped, tang shaped, trigger inlet and drilled and tapped, beginning clean up of the brass furniture.
It seems like it's taken a bunch of work to get to this point. My girl is about ready to kick my butt. I was supposed to mow the yard over the weekend and I didn't even look up from this thing. 
I actually got it to spray some sparks yesterday so that makes me happy. 

[flinchrocket]

I am surprised that Ryan doesn't at least have a drawing. I imagine you will find triggerguards with a screw in the back and that would probably be the easiest, but in my opinion would not look as good.

[smart dog]

Hi Folks,
It is supposed to be a French model 1733 cavalry pistol.  As such the trigger guard would normally have a cross pin mounting the front tab and 2 screws anchoring the rear extension.  The lower of those screws may also double to anchor the butt cap top plate.

dave

[macr0w]

I have a drawing that I got from the rifle shoppe.
It's very cool but, it's not a plan. 

[flinchrocket]

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__RARE_FRENCH_MODEL_1733_CAVALRY_OR_DRAGOON_PIST-LOT494832.aspx

This is slow but has some good photos.

[flinchrocket]

My apologies, the pistol I saw that was pinned at the back was English.

[macr0w]

Thanks for the link.
Those are some good pics.
The drawing I got from the Rifle Shoppe is pretty cool.
It has some specs and measurements on it I believe.
I need to look at it again.
 

[macr0w]

Hey guys, I'm going to add some updates and ask more questions.
Since my last update I got the ramrod guides inlet and pinned. I sanded and shaped the ramrod a little bit.
I also shaped, inlet and pinned the trigger guard and tapped it for screws.
I also sanded on the lock and some of the brass too. Trying to get that stuff a little further along.
It may not sound like much but it took me a couple of days of working in between my job and life in general.

[macr0w]

Full disclosure here: I cut the front lug on my trigger guard a little shorter than I wished I had. 

Anyway, I must persevere so I drilled a bit low but as high as I could to keep the pin behind the lock plate and side plate.
My first shot was a bit too high and I just grazed the top of my lug.
So I tried again and went a little down to the side and shot at a bit of an angle and managed to get it in a decent spot.
After that I actually sanded a toothpick down until I could soak it in some titebond III and push it through the bad hole as a plug.
You live and learn, right? I'll know better next time. 

[macr0w]

Next project is going to be the butt cap I guess.
My first question is: Should I inlet this thing like Martin Houston does in his video series or should I do it by annealing the stirrups and bending them out?
I'm going to look around and do some research before I start but I thought I would ask you guys here first.
You have been very kind and helpful so far.

[macr0w]

Also, I'd like to have a belt hook on this thing.
I have to say that I'm not 100% pleased with the looks of the belt hook that I got with this kit from MBS.
I've seen others out there from different retailers.
I've seen some good ideas on a home made one too.
What do you guys think about this? 

[macr0w]

Well, I got some more work done on this thing today.
Still a ways to go yet but, here's some pics of it mostly assembled. 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I do not think that the belt hook is supposed to support the weight of the pistol.  It is meant to stop the gun from dropping further down past your belt or sash.  The belt or sash does most of the work of holding the gun in place.  The pistol goes between your body and the sash, hook on the outside.

Think of your folding knife that you carry INSIDE your pocket, with the clasp on the outside.

[macr0w]

Thanks for the info.
I have been trying to do research as I go along.

[Big Bubba]

Looking good. I've been following your post closely. I would like to build a pistol for my next project.