Pic of my latest build

[Tommy Bruce]

Ok here goes my first try and posting pictures.  This is the 4th rifle I've built, 2nd one from a blank.  I wanted to do an early gun, which I know should have some carving but I didn't want to screw it up real bad.  It has a .62 cal Colrain swamped barrel and a Davis early Germanic lock. 





IMG]http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af245/TommyBruce/No4-7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af245/TommyBruce/No4

[Tommy Bruce]

Ok let's try and add a couple that didn't make it the first time

IMG]http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af245/TommyBruce/No4-7.jpg[/IMG]

[B Shipman]

I like it, lots of character and nicely done.

[Roger Fisher]

If you don't mind some points taken from a guy that has much to learn ---

That top buttplate screw needs resetting

If she were mine I would have filed in some tapered grooves on that cheek rest.

I would have thinned down the lock mortise moulding.  and cleaned up that pitting under the feather spring on the lockplate...and of course rounded the frt end of the lock moulding a bit.

Should we assume the stepped wrist was done to show her as 'early'?

Darken that ramming rod.

Would like to see more of the tang area and the upper forestock..and while we're at it the thimble inletting and rear pipe!

I would guess she's a shooter!

I hid my first rifle so far back in the corner that the my estate auctioneer won't even find it!!!

Now more that you can do---- Appears as though you left that fouling trap alongside the tang breech where she meets the barrel.  You could get rid of that by 'scooping' out the wood there and restaining.   That gap at the lockplate where you drilled or filed a bit too wide for the searbar could be closed by a sliver of maple then refitting and restaining (same at the top rear of the lock mortice)  Easy to do and you will sleep better at night because of it.  Remember standard equipment for the ol boys was a glue pot.

Would love to see pictures of your sighting in targets and what load ball and patch you end up with

[rich pierce]

Looks like a good strong early gun, the sort many think was likely commonly used by working folk and hunters who used their guns as tools of the trade.  I'd like to see the whole wrist, view from the tang, topside of the buttstock. etc.

[Tommy Bruce]

Thanks for the comments guys. Just finished wiping the blood from my nose Roger . I thought the gun probably needed some carving and a wooden patch box as well.  I was just too much of a chickensh#@ to try it.  I was shooting for something early and have always liked the stepped wrist. I didn't think to take any pictures of the top of the wrist area.  Hopefully the next one will be better.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Tommy, Thanks for posting your pictures.  Except for it looking new, it has all the charm of many of the rifles in RCA.  It is certainly not overfinished, which simply adds to that flavour.  The proportions are very good.

[B.Habermehl]

I wish my fourth gun looked as good.  The only thing that bites my eye is the butplate screw.  It needs a tooth pick and glue and reset. No biggie! Your work is well on the way!  Sliding wood patch boxes are not as hard as you may think. In my little mind they are much easier than a brass patch box.  Lock panels are a booger, they are strictly a artistic drtail and are perfect or not.  You are certainly well on the way.  BJH

[northmn]

Remember that screws back then had smaller heads than today.  I chuck them in a drill and turn them down with a file to achieve that.  For a fourth build it is an excellent gun.  As to carving and decoration, some like a lot of that and some do not.  I tend to like the plainer guns.  Too much brass is gaudy to me.  A lot of things on a new build tend to blend in after use and a few nicks and dents.  Even after building several guns, most of us will still have one that could have minor improvements. 

DP

[Joe S]

There appears to be some scratches from the frizzen spring on the lock plate.  Filing down the inside of the spring would improve the performance of the lock.  You might also want to look at the internal parts of the lock and make sure nothing else is binding or scraping.  The inletting gaps on the lock and trigger guard are not difficult to fix, if you were so inclined.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Everybody has given you very useful feedback. This is a wonderful site for that.  I like to overall feel of the gun. It would be excellent learning to make the corrections/finishing touches folks suggest to the lock panel moldings and cheek piece. Go ahead and put a sliding box on the stock.  I have made four covers for mine over the years..cause I missed something the first three times.... and it just wasn't right.  Just be sure you have it aligned from the buttplate to the lock in exactly the right way.  You can always take more pictures and put them on here at each step of the way to get help...before you cut!!

Congrats and enjoy it!!!