Author Topic: working on RCA 19 (Read 8751 times)

rich pierce · « **on:** October 09, 2009, 06:30:41 PM »

I am at long last making progress on my tribute to RCA 19. This is the walnut-stocked smooth rifle with the volute behind the cheekpiece and the French fusil-style buttplate and engraving of a sort of "lady liberty" on the buttplate. John Getz made me a custom barrel patterned after the original and sold me a hard dense piece of figured walnut. it's mostly stocked up now from the lockplate back. Here are some pix of the carving and cheekpiece.

After stabbing and lowering the background and scraping

Here are a couple shadowed shots to give a sense of shape. It's really not that deep- the shadows lie! I've still got a little cleaning up to do, improving roundness especially in the inner spiral. Having fun.

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2009, 06:44:41 PM »

Love that gun and your tribute is certainly headed in the right direction. I look forward to seeing more. What lock will you be using.

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2009, 07:45:32 PM »

I'm using the Chambers Germanic, with some of the banana taken out and a molding filed at the tail.

here's the lock, still needing polishing

And the sliding wooden patchbox, still needing molding.

Tom Currie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:43:10 PM »

Rich, Nice work so far. Nice job on inletting that buttplate with the long final. Looks like you took quite a bit of banana out of that lock. Have thought of using that lock on a future build but have been a bit concerned over the amount of curve. Nice job again.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:00:01 PM »

Exciting!! You're doing a great job Rich. I'm a great fan of the less is more philosophy.

rich pierce · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:05:56 PM »

Quote from: Tom Currie on October 09, 2009, 09:43:10 PM

Looks like you took quite a bit of banana out of that lock. Have thought of using that lock on a future build but have been a bit concerned over the amount of curve. Nice job again.

Acer did that on his Moarvian smoothbore. I hesitated to tackle straightening the lower edge as it has a lip or molding. Tom asked one simple question. "Skeered?" That did it! He's quite the motivator. Knows what buttons to push. LOL

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2009, 11:38:43 PM »

Pierce don't skeer easily.

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2009, 11:40:21 PM »

Rich, that is looking really good. Love the cheekpiece side, with the whorl and the lines of the cheekrest. Yummy.

ironwolf · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:32:41 AM »

Good job Rich. She's almost my favorite original. I like the lock work you've done too. I think the Dale Johnson lock would fit that stock shape pretty good, but yours' is great.
Are you gonna' do the sling swivel. It kinda' gives the gun a marshal look, and I like it.
Been thinking of doing #21, and by gosh, you may have sparked the inspiration.

Keep us posted.
Kevin

rich pierce · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:39:43 AM »

Kevin, yes, I think I have to do the swivel for the reason you suggested. I chose the Chambers Germanic because it's bigger and lacks a bridle. I have trouble keeping my lock panels thin and still keeping some mass in the wrist, when smaller (regular sized) locks are used. On this one I was able to keep the lock panels trim and still keep a lot of height and width to the wrist.

Karl Kunkel · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:01:44 AM »

Rich,

Really like that volute and cheek piece molding. Simple yet beautiful. Nice interpretation of No 19.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:06:10 PM »

COOL! My kind of gun.

flehto · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2009, 09:51:36 PM »

Rich.....doggone you do nice, clean ,exact work. Presently building a very slim Bucks County but the photos of your progress w/ this early style kinda gets me all confused and don't know if I'm capable of "changing hats" to build such an appealing "bigger" gun. Perhaps the early Lancaster that's next will be a prelude to an "early one" like yours? Of course a plain Southern style is also in the works somewhere down the line. As was said..."so many LRs to build and so little time to do them". When's the "finish date" and photos of this early LR?.....Fred

rich pierce · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2009, 10:06:05 PM »

Thanks, Fred, I hope to finish building it by Thanksgiving, then tackle the engraving. Just depends on how the flint orders come in as far as finishing it, then whether I get enough engraving practice to feel confident to tackle that. Last night I forged a patchbox lid spring from a masonry nail and that came out well. It's fun when things are going well!

ironwolf · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2009, 07:04:35 PM »

Dang, you guy's have finish dates?

J.D. · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2009, 08:42:46 PM »

Quote from: ironwolf on October 11, 2009, 07:04:35 PM

Dang, you guy's have finish dates?

A time line is the difference between a goal and a dream. I'm still dreaming of the day I will get the last one I started done.

That is very nice work, BTW. Very clean, crisp work.

God bless

B Shipman · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:11:52 AM »

I'm anxious to see it when it's done.

Long John · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:04:38 PM »

Rich,

RCA 19 is the next gun on my list that I plan to build for me! You read my mind!

You have really captured the "essence" of that gun. I love the way it is turning out. I can't wait to see it in person.

Best Regards,

JMC

t.caster · « **Reply #18 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:50:35 PM »

Finish date? Ha! Isn't this the same gun you started about 5 yrs. ago? I remember discussing the simple, yet intimidating volute carving with you. And that was before my beard turned white!
Kidding aside, it's looking GREAT so far! Can't wait to see the pics you post at Thanksgiving time!

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #19 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:59:01 PM »

so.....when the turkey comes out of the oven, the gun leaves the workbench? (my deadlines come and go) Can't wait to see how this evolves, Rich. Great lines, great wood, nice accents. Going to finish it up as new? or used, or antique? Any way you choose, it will be a good looking gun.

rich pierce · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:15:01 PM »

Long John, Good taste is always in good taste. RCA 19 IS a real great gun with so many cool features. A real doozie.

TC1 (Tom Caster), yes, this one has been in the oven a long time. I've been spending at least 6-8 hours a week making flints the last couple of years and also spending a lot of time at work. Not much time left. Now that I made a workbench I seem to be more motivated to finish the build. But many weeks, just collecting enough rock and filling flint orders is all I can manage.

TC2 (Acer)- I'll finish this one as new. I'm undecided but may sell it as a spec gun. I've got my RCA #40 and will soon have this one done, and one of them must go out the door. I don't need 2 real early, big bore rifles in the closet. Do I? LOL

J.D. · « **Reply #21 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:13:52 PM »

I had to go back and look at those two rifles, in RCA, to refresh my memory.

Both are classy guns. Both have good lines and lots of interesting features. And, you certainly are doing the original justice with this very nice rendition.

If I had to make a choice about this one, or #40; I would keep 'em both. Never know when you might need a loaner.

The Fort DeChartre Woods/survival walk, November 6,7,8, at Fort DeChartre state Historic Site in Southern Illinois, is a perfect venue for you to see how well that rifle works.

We might even be able to scrounge up a team for you to compete with. They do allow people to compete with unfinished guns.

God bless

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #22 on:** October 14, 2009, 12:18:01 AM »

Quote

They do allow people to compete with unfinished guns.

The touch hole is gonna have to be drilled.

On #19, anyone ever see it in person? Can you tell if there is a swivel bolt across the forestock? Or did they just use one of the barrel pins?

Speaking of swivels, I use a screw for retaining the front swivel. Why couldn't you rivet it on there? I guess you couldn't get the barrel out of the stock, dummy. Never mind, I just answered my own question.

Tom

J.D. · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2009, 05:13:37 AM »

Quote from: Acer Saccharum on October 14, 2009, 12:18:01 AM

Quote
They do allow people to compete with unfinished guns.

The touch hole is gonna have to be drilled.
Tom

Well, with no touch hole, Rich won't miss any targets.

News:

Author Topic: working on RCA 19 (Read 8751 times)

ironwolf

ironwolf

J.D.

J.D.

J.D.