Author Topic: Lefty lehigh  (Read 2847 times)

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Lefty lehigh
« on: July 12, 2021, 01:43:40 AM »
50" Rayl swamped barrel in .50. Davis made Siler lock. My castings.  weighs 9 3/4lbs.




















NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Stoner creek

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2913
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2021, 02:55:49 AM »
Dandy work for a retired gunmaker.
Stop Marxism in America

Offline TommyG

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 601
  • "Double Trouble"
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2021, 03:07:25 AM »
I like it!!!  The carving works real well with that gun.  Cool lady liberty.  Well done Mike.

Offline Robert Wolfe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1286
  • Great X Grandpa
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2021, 03:52:09 AM »
Like the cheek side carving! It really stands out to my eye.
Robert Wolfe
Northern Indiana

Offline Hawken62_flint

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 504
  • Nothing like it, 'cept more of it !
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2021, 04:54:04 AM »
Over the top Mike. Can't wait to get it in my hands.

Offline wattlebuster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2088
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2021, 11:22:18 AM »
I like it. LOTS ;D
Nothing beats the feel of a handmade southern iron mounted flintlock on a cold frosty morning

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 18385
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2021, 02:31:31 PM »
 That's Good looking, for some reason that trigger caught my eye, the shape or placement, just looks right.

   Tim

Offline Daniel Coats

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1401
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2021, 03:19:24 PM »
Nifty Lefty Lehigh!

I'm studying Lehigh guns right now and I will be referring back to this one many times I'm sure.
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Ken G

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5526
  • F & AM #758
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2021, 03:31:02 PM »
I know nothing about the Lehigh style but that is a very appealing rifle.  Love the mellow finish on the wood.  Well done in every area as you always do.  Thanks for sharing the pictures. 

Cheers,
Ken
Failure only comes when you stop trying.

Offline Yazel.xring

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 339
  • Ethan Yazel ILoveMuzzleloading.com
    • I Love Muzzleloading
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2021, 03:35:11 PM »
Real nice lines Mike. Thanks for sharing
Hi, I’m Ethan and I Love Muzzleloading

ILoveMuzzleloading.com, independently reporting on muzzleloading and the people who have kept it going for generations.

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2021, 03:53:31 PM »
Nifty Lefty Lehigh!

I'm studying Lehigh guns right now and I will be referring back to this one many times I'm sure.
Thanks all. This one is fairly large due to the size of the barrel. I chose a large buttplate, the old K2. It's about 1 7/8" X 5". It really helped the architecture of this gun. For study purposes I'd check out the KRA discs.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Craig Wilcox

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2532
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2021, 07:55:34 PM »
Mike, that is a wonderful looking longrifle, and one that both you and the buyer can be proud of.

I think it is marvelous that you only used your left hand while making it.  Soon you will be capable of making one with your hands tied behind yourself.

How did you get that beautiful color?
Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline oldtravler61

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4413
  • We all make mistakes.
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2021, 09:15:22 PM »
  Well another outstanding rifle
from the cornfields of Iowa.
 One well executed rifle from the hands of Mr. Brooks

Offline B.Barker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1392
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2021, 04:54:14 AM »
Nice one.

Offline BOB HILL

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2281
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #14 on: July 13, 2021, 05:55:54 AM »
Beautiful rifle, Mike.
Bob
South Carolina Lowcountry

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #15 on: July 13, 2021, 03:51:42 PM »
Quote
How did you get that beautiful color?
1 coat of canary yellow dye. The Kibler's iron Nitrate. Then Klien's dark brown cut 50% or more with wood alcohol.
 I'll have this gun at the Stoner Creek blow out if anyone wants to see it.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2021, 03:56:30 PM by Mike Brooks »
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline JohnnyFM

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 356
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2021, 10:09:35 PM »
Well done. Beautiful low relief carvings. How low can you go?! 👍🏻

Offline bob in the woods

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4555
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #17 on: July 14, 2021, 02:40:03 AM »
That is just awesome.  :)   

Offline Keith Zimmerman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 711
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #18 on: July 15, 2021, 04:24:30 AM »
I love the 50" bbl.  Classy all around.  Maybe one of my favorite Lehighs I have ever seen.

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2021, 07:17:28 PM »
How many antique long rifles are known to exist with a left hand lock??
Bob Roller

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2021, 07:40:07 PM »
How many antique long rifles are known to exist with a left hand lock??
Bob Roller
Not many. I don't care to build them. But this guy caught me when I was week in the knees about Lehigh rifles, so I took on the project.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Daniel Coats

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1401
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #21 on: July 25, 2021, 06:16:43 AM »
Great rifle Mike, what are the dimensions of the barrel other than length if you don't mind please.
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Hawken62_flint

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 504
  • Nothing like it, 'cept more of it !
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #22 on: July 25, 2021, 06:37:39 AM »
The barrel on this rifle was built by Ed Rayl to the specs given to me by Wayne Watson. It is a copy of the barrel Wayne used to build the "Killdeer" rifle.

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #23 on: July 25, 2021, 04:01:46 PM »
Great rifle Mike, what are the dimensions of the barrel other than length if you don't mind please.
It's big. Weighs right at 6lbs by it's self. Probably 1 1/16" at the breech with a more "historically accurate" swamp.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Lefty lehigh
« Reply #24 on: July 25, 2021, 05:48:00 PM »
Dandy work for a retired gunmaker.

I too am retired---from the rat race.Mike's translation of this rifle looks like an antique that has been refinished several times in the last 200+years.I think that takes more skill than just making it to begin with.
Bob Roller