This rifle’s been on the back burner for a few months while I finished up projects for other people. The architecture is based on rifles from the Botetourt / Rockbridge County area of Virginia. I deviated from the more traditional carving and engraving style, and tried to incorporate something a little more “American”, while still preserving a strong Germanic influence. I was thinking along the lines of a newly arrived stocker from one of the Germanic States who tries to emulate, to a degree, some of the local style. Not sure if I pulled that off, lol….
Anyway, the rifle is stocked in a very plain piece of sugar maple. The barrel is a .60 cal. Rice, 41” long, in the “Early Dutch” profile. (Think that’s what it’s called!). It has a robust breach, 1 1/4”, with a very nice profile that balances very well, and really isn’t as heavy as I would have expected. Early Germanic guard, with a Chambers buttt piece, and Kibler lock, furniture was made by me. Overall length is 56 3/4”, with a LOP of 13 5/8”. I was strongly considering doing a Grotesque face for the half moon, then chickened out. Maybe next time, I still like the idea.
The stock was finished with ferric nitrate crystals dissolved in alcohol, then finished with tung oil. I also used some brown and amber tints after it was initially stained. I like the ferric nitrate crystals & alcohol, primarily because it doesn’t raise the grain like iron nitrate, which is really nice for carving, but personally, I don’t think the results are as nice as iron nitrate. I know they’re the same, I get that, and maybe it’s just me, but I think the ferric nitrate crystals tend to “wash out” the grain / curl some. I’m sure some will disagree, and that’s fine, most likely something I’m doing, but something I’ve definitely noticed on some pieces. The barrel and lock were cold blued, then rubbed back with a used maroon Scotch Brite pad and oil. The brass parts were blackened with 44/40, then rubbed back like the barrel and lock.
I think that’s about it…, I’d be happy to try and answer any questions. Best,
Ed
