Moravian Inspired Smooth Rifle

[Cory Joe Stewart]

So my next/current project is a smooth rifle drawing inspiration from two originals. Building it around a Brown Bess barrel. I also modified a Chambers Early Germanic lock.






Starting the rough shaping






















Cory Joe

[Ats5331]

Cory,

Looking great so far. May I ask which originals inspired you?

Moravian and early rifles fascinate me and I like comparing notes.

Best,
Allen

[borderdogs]

Cory,
Very nice!
Rob

[Mike Brooks]

Too much hump at the breech.

[Stoner creek]

Probably dished out too deeply alongside of the tang. My eye says too deep too narrow. I hope that’s a wrong observation on my side.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Cory,

Looking great so far. May I ask which originals inspired you?

Moravian and early rifles fascinate me and I like comparing notes.

Best,
Allen

I am looking at two smooth rifles in Moravian Gunbuilders II by Robert Paul Lienemann.

Thanks

Cory Joe

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Mike and Stoner,

Yes the breech area and the wrist need some work.  Thank you.

Cory Joe

[FALout]

Very interesting project you got going there, hope you can keep showing the build.

[Mike Brooks]

It's short wristed and long butted too. Take a look at the proportions.  Super long pull or something?

[Cory Joe Stewart]

It's short wristed and long butted too. Take a look at the proportions.  Super long pull or something?

The pull is short 13 1/4.  It was all I could get from the blank.  I also noticed when I lay out the intended patchbox for a reference it is out of proportion.  So I think the wrist needs to come back some.

Cory Joe

[Mike Brooks]

yep.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

CJS:  I think your tang should start bending down immediately behind the end of the barrel.  You may need red heat to accomplish that, but it would go a long way to improving the wrist behind the barrel.  Is there any way to shorten the depth of the rifle through the lock...inletting the barrel deeper, for example.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

CJS:  I think your tang should start bending down immediately behind the end of the barrel.  You may need red heat to accomplish that, but it would go a long way to improving the wrist behind the barrel.  Is there any way to shorten the depth of the rifle through the lock...inletting the barrel deeper, for example.

I have thought about both suggestions.  I think the answer will be a combination of the two.  I will look at it when I get back to the shop on Tuesday. 

Thanks!

Cory Joe

[Cory Joe Stewart]

So after a crazy week at the real job and a bout with gout Ingoy back in the shop and addressed the suggestions about the hump, breech and wrist area.

I appreciate everyones feedback.








Cory Joe

[Cory Joe Stewart]

[martin9]

The contemporary makers blog has some excellent pics of the lion and lamb. I'd use those as a guide for shaping.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The contemporary makers blog has some excellent pics of the lion and lamb. I'd use those as a guide for shaping.

Ive seen those. This is based on a couple of smoothrifles in the Moravian Gun Builders book.

[heinz]

looking good CoryJoe.   You have that step wrist working well.