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Author Topic: Your weakest area of building a longrifle  (Read 3739 times)

Offline Dave B

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #25 on: May 01, 2021, 08:30:32 PM »
Mine has always been final finishing. Maybe because of my trauma as result of a junior high wood shop class where we were given one piece of sand paper and had to make it last the quarter. I could never get all the scratches out. :-\  I always seem to stall when I get to that final bit of finishing. I have multiple projects in the white needing to be taken to the next level.  Ezra,  I live in Kennewick we should compare notes some time. Ron Scott is hosting a pot luck on the 15th of May. It should be fun. We can all compare unfinished projects. ;)
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Dave Blaisdell

Offline jerrywh

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #26 on: May 01, 2021, 10:34:18 PM »
For those who have never seen one of Dave b's long rifles let me say, They are the most authentic copies of originals I think I have ever seen. Years ago I went to a gun show in Portland Oregon and there I saw what I thought were one or two long rifles that I thought were originals. It took me an hour of inspecting them trying to determine if they were original or not.  Finally, I saw A signature on one and it was Dave B's. I never have forgotten that.  He makes super nice guns.
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Offline Dave B

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #27 on: May 02, 2021, 06:55:03 AM »
Jerry You are very kind. It means a lot hearing it from you.  I owe a whole bunch to the gunmakers fairs we have or should I say Had out here on the Left Coast. Ron Scott's "Oregon Gunmakers Fair" was always at the top of my list for the spring time. The Washington Historical Gun makers Guild Gun makers Fair in the latter part of August was next got to do. The only way to get more education is go back east to the National Muzzle-loading rifle Gunsmithing courses at University of Kentucky Bowling Green or "Dixons" no longer a thing  :-\. One day we will get things going again. It has been a fun journey none the less. We are so fortunate to have amazing builders like Jerry Huddleston, Ron Scott, Dave Rase, Mike Keller, David Pelgrin and many others willing to help educate those of us up coming builders. Glenn Sutt was very gracious in sharing his fine collection of originals with us so we knew where we needed to go to build one correctly.
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Offline James Wilson Everett

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #28 on: May 02, 2021, 01:47:58 PM »
Guys,

My weakness is anything to do with wood!  I wish I had an apprentice to do the woodwork.

Jim
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Offline wmrike

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #29 on: May 02, 2021, 05:04:45 PM »
I was going to say the same things as FALout - buttplates.  That business of cross grain, working in two planes, and my gosh, the time it takes.
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #30 on: May 02, 2021, 06:06:21 PM »
Buttplates and entry pipes!
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Offline Ezra

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #31 on: May 02, 2021, 06:55:32 PM »
I would rather do inletting than than final shaping, particularly on the rifle that is next in line at my shop.  A Southern Mountain Rifle (Lawing, maybe) in .25 caliber with an over the comb tang, in Ash.  I am so gonna take my time...😎...


Ez

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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #32 on: May 02, 2021, 07:05:12 PM »
Quote from: wmrike on May 02, 2021, 05:04:45 PM
I was going to say the same things as FALout - buttplates.  That business of cross grain, working in two planes, and my gosh, the time it takes.
45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
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Offline smylee grouch

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #33 on: May 02, 2021, 08:13:20 PM »
It seems like I have trouble with most aspects and some of that is not having sharp tools so my gouge sharpening needs a lot of help. My straight edged tools are ok but those curved ones tax me.
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Offline Mule Brain

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #34 on: May 02, 2021, 08:28:11 PM »
So far it's the buttplate, and it's my first one!  LOL
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #35 on: May 02, 2021, 10:36:59 PM »
Hi,
Ezra's question was what is your weakest area not tedious.  Looking at rifles posted on ALR, including those up for sale, I'd say the most common basic gun making weakness I see is shaping the lock area, wrist, and comb including cutting moldings and beaver tails. The second most common is too much wood left on the fore stock.  The third most common I see is shaping the cheek piece.  Too big or not having a concave profile.  The fourth is not carrying the curve of the bottom of the fore stock through the trigger guard area.  The fifth is misaligning the return of the butt plate and the comb.  Finally, engraving and carving, but they are not basic skills and I like to see folks jump in and give them a try.  Takes some courage.

dave
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Offline David Rase

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #36 on: May 03, 2021, 03:30:13 AM »
Inletting a swamped barrel.
David
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #37 on: May 03, 2021, 06:10:39 AM »
C’mon David, ....... NO ONE inlets a better barrel than you.  NO ONE!
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Dane

Offline northup87

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #38 on: May 04, 2021, 11:01:38 PM »
Drilling the ramrod channel. Ive learned alot of tricks over the years and haven't had an issue in the last 5 guns (knock on wood) but in the end a rogue knot, inclusion, dense section of material can wander the bit. I feel its one of the things we have the least control over.
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Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Your weakest area of building a longrifle
« Reply #39 on: May 04, 2021, 11:29:50 PM »
  Anything in between the butt stock an the muzzle. Outside of that a piece of cake...
  Oldtravler
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