Your weakest area of building a longrifle

[Ezra]

I know that many, many of our members here are professional builders that make, literally, museum quality longrifles and extraordinary works of art. 

But the majority of us won’t reach those lofty heights of excellence.  Nevertheless, I would think that even the most skilled of builders has an area of building that he considers his weakest area of construction.  For me, it is stock work, particularly initial buttstock shaping (from a stock with an inletted barrel but unshaped buttstock) as well as overall stock shaping.  I just cannot get comfortable with it.  I can inlet swamped barrels all day, but stock shaping is my kryptonite.

I have had the pleasure of meeting only very few of you and was able to watch each work to some degree or another, due to my location in Washington.  I have has the very great pleasure of meeting Ron Scott, gunmaker extraordinaire and work for a day or two in his shop on a small project of mine that he helped guide me on, as well as Jim Chambers, Brad Emig, straight talking Mike Brooks (who basically told me I’d starve as a Gunmaker because I was so slow.  It’s true though. .  I had also the very great pleasure of meeting Hershel House too, what a nice guy he was to me.  These meetings helped me as well as allowed me to observe how highly skilled builders went about their work.  It was like watching someone play nine dimensional chess sometimes.

So, my question to you is, what do you consider your weak area of building?

Respectfully,

Ez

[Daryl]

Getting started.

[mgbruch]

Inletting the lock plate.  I get a proper union between the lock plate and barrel flat; but there is always one area around the edges of the lock mortise that ends up inlett about 1/32 deep.  usially at the rear of the lock inlet.

I'm currently on rifle number eight from a complete blank; so I'm not what I'd call an experienced builder.

Where are you in Washington?  I'm in the northeast part of Washington myself.

[rich pierce]

Nosecaps really bug me. I make my own, usually one-piece, and it often takes a couple tries to satisfy me. Also if keeping the fore-end really slim there’s risk of cracking the thin wood there if impatient with fitting. Plus then there’s the chance I’ll dimple the rivet  area. It’s just tedious and I feel it’s taking longer than it should.

[Ezra]

Where are you in Washington?  I'm in the northeast part of Washington myself.

In the South East.  Tri-Cities, specifically Richland.  You around Spokane or way up North?


Ez

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The perfect wood to metal fit.

[Dave R]

Properly inletting and fitting the inlet thimble.

[jerrywh]

I don't think I have a weak point. The way I look at it is, some parts just require a lot more patience than others do. It's all just work. The older you get the more work it is.

[mgbruch]

I'm north of Spokane about 40 miles.  In Elk.

[Rolf]

There are alot of things, I wish Iwas better at.  At the moment, making lock springs and getting the balance rigth is making me go nuts. 

Best regards
Rolf

[Daniel Coats]

I tend to take my time with most of the build and then rush too fast at the end. Also have unfinished projects go figure.

[Dwshotwell]

The other night, when I was in the midst of thinking I might have made a mistake and was ready to chuck my stock through a window, I thought about posting the question "tell us about your biggest long rifle build screw ups" but this is probably a better question. Glad to hear the pros have their challenges, too!

[john bohan]

I never could draw well so I have a hard time with layout for carving and engraving.

[TommyG]

Like Rich said - Nosecaps!!  Especially wrapped open ended ones(Lehigh area).  Second for me is the cheekpiece to wrist transition.  I spend a lot of time trying to make sure this is correct.  I know that this is not available to everyone(and right now not available to anyone), but over the years I entered 5 guns in the judging at Dixons.  The feedback was invaluable as far as correcting repeat offenders in architecture, fit , finish, etc..  I am real happy that this will be returning next year.

[Bill Raby]

   My weakest part is engraving. I just don't have that much practice with it. While engraving is my weakest point it is also probably the part that I most look forward to.

[hortonstn]

Sighting in a new rifle the ft sight height is always a problem and yes almost every step in building from a blank is a headache I just try to do my best

[porchdog48]

Patience

[LuVerne Schumann]

Right now I'm completely foxed by inletting the transition area from the rear of the barrel to the tang.

I always have an unwanted gap, there.

My latest build, that area was extremely tight until suddenly it wasn't, as it had opened up, leaving an unsightly gap on both sides, despite me doing absolutely nothing to remove wood.

[elk killer]

Underlugs,,,making dovetailing drilling...but its just all part of the fun....!!!

[mikeyfirelock]

Inletting. ( and patience ).  I think I can lay out and shape a stock up pretty well, and visualize what I want to end up with, but I tend to be impatient ( getting better here) and it shows in my desire to “getter dun”.  The next gun will be another half stock, back action percussion for our club matches with an absolutely stunning piece of wood that I’d better inlet right.

[alacran]

I have found that any part of the build can be screwed up. This is specially true if things aren't approached in the proper order. Drilling the ramrod hole is the procedure that raises my blood pressure more than anything else.

[FALout]

Inletting buttplates is the toughest for me, I usually get a good fit, but it takes me FOREVER to get it done.
Bob

[Mike Brooks]

Standing at the bench for more than 2 hours.

[hudson]

For me it is working with wood, I am a metal guy just never got that interested in wood working. I have only built a couple of rifles stocked from a plank. I usually pick a blank with enough wood to alter as needed.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

An area that I find most tedious and often non-satisfying, is reducing the ground and finishing around raised carving.  I am so envious of the work of guys like Fred Lehto and Jim Kibler in that difficult area.