I see nice stock blanks being sought and bought; same with barrels, locks, specific buttplates or guards. So it seems that building from a blank is still alive and well among our members. I haven’t been sharing current builds unless they are unusual and also I feel my slow pace with moving and still working full time makes “in progress” builds a little glacial in their timeframe.
But, I’d like to see more builds in progress from design phase to completed phase.
I’m building an English trade gun based on one reputed to have been ordered by Sir William Johnson for his conferences with Eastern tribes. It’s shown in For Trade and Treaty.
Barrel: I’m using a 48” Rayl 20 ga octagon to round barrel. It’s a little breech heavy compared to the original but has great balance. I think I got this from RE Davis back in the day for around $250.
Lock: The lock is a Chris Evrard-assembled Chambers English round faced lock, with no pan bridle. I bought Wilson castings from the Rifle Shoppebut decided as this would be my shooter I wanted top quality that would not look totally out of place. I think I have about $225 in the lock.
Stock: I got a wormy piece of English walnut from Dunlap at Dixon’s years ago for $100. Spectacular figure.
Buttplate: Made from sheet brass. $10.
Guard: MBS. Color is a little weird. Maybe $30.
Thimbles: Mike Lea. None are better for trade guns. I paid what they are worth, about $25-$30 each as I recall.
Trigger: Hand formed from .125 cold rolled, thinned, shoe peened. $3?
Trigger plate:None; just a “nut”.
Ramrod end: Rolled steel, brazed. $2?
Front sight:Cut and filed spider style from brass stock.
Underlugs: Soldered on, standard parts, $15 total.
Construction details: ramrod hole is 5/16” but ramrod swells to 7/16” at muzzle. Web at muzzle is 1/8” and ramrod touches the barrel at the breech because the breech has a fast taper.
I’ll update with pix later today. What are you building from a blank?