Author Topic: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.  (Read 7282 times)

Offline JTR

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Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« on: July 21, 2022, 10:11:11 PM »
Well maybe not a resurrection, but back in one piece again!

I was thrilled to have this rifle come to my place for its restoration work. I’ve had it for the past 3 ½ months and have put a lot of hours into the work.

The first picture is the way the rifle was found when bought. This link will take you to that thread started by the owner back in March; https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=69696.0

The remaining pictures are the ones I’ve taken of it now.

After much discussion with the owner, he decided to do a full, but limited restoration. By that I mean the rifle was to be put back together, the missing forearm wood replaced, the missing wood in the tang area restored, the lock restored back to flint, etc., but to leave the wood finish as is, old, uncleaned, leave old splinters and chips alone, though stabilized if loose. I suggested and he agreed that a small bit of finishing oil be applied to the wood to bring out a bit of luster. As is now, it has a bit of soft warm patina, but if left alone will pretty quickly return to a dry look on the wood.
 
A note on the lock restoration. In the original thread there was some discussion on returning it to original flint condition, or leaving it as a percussion. Generally, when doing that work, the threaded hole into the barrel for the percussion drum is weld closed, and a new touch hole drilled. For this barrel, I thought a different approach would be better. For one thing, in style with the early date of this gun, the Joel Ferree signature starts at about the forward end of the lock (as opposed to several inches forward on a later period gun) and I was concerned that welding heat would discolor the barrel signature area. The signature is somewhat faint and the barrel has a great patina, and I didn’t want to touch it. To that end, I plugged the threaded hole with a piece of antique iron, blended the plug into the surrounding area, drilled a touch hole, and did the conversion without any heat. And this way, it’s also easily reversible.  Just easy-out the plug - screw the drum in, and reconvert the lock to percussion. That’s easy as well, the lock, original to the gun, has a replaceable pan, so just remove it and the other flint parts, reinstall the percussion hammer and that’s it.

Obviously, there was a bunch more work done, but I’ll leave it to the pictures to show what was done.

If you have any questions, or comments, don’t hesitate to reply.
Thanks for looking, John

Click the image for a larger view.



upload pic





« Last Edit: October 09, 2022, 04:41:47 PM by JTR »
John Robbins

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2022, 10:13:10 PM »






John Robbins

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2022, 10:14:29 PM »






John Robbins

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2022, 10:16:04 PM »






John Robbins

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2022, 10:17:13 PM »






John Robbins

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2022, 10:55:15 PM »
Outstanding save!
Andover, Vermont

Offline Fullstock longrifle

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2022, 11:50:09 PM »
Great job John!

Offline Buck

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2022, 12:01:30 AM »
John,

Excellent work.

Buck

Offline rlm

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2022, 01:10:15 AM »
Outstanding. This rifle is such a treasure. Fine restoration work

Offline Algae

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2022, 01:42:35 AM »
That is gorgeous! Great work!

Al J.

Offline jdm

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2022, 01:47:15 AM »
another  patient saved . When it was broke in half people would say I bet that use to be a great gun. Now it is again.  Nice work John.   Jim
JIM

Offline Eric Kettenburg

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2022, 01:52:23 AM »
Extremely nice work and I especially appreciate the conservative approach.  Wonderful job.

Sincerely, Moe.
Strange women lying in ponds, distributing swords, is no basis for a system of government!

Offline WESTbury

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2022, 02:14:09 AM »
John,

Just superb. Amazing what someone with talent, dedication, and a real passion can do.

Kent
"We are not about to send American Boys 9 to 10 thousand miles away from home to do what Asian Boys ought to be doing for themselves."
President Lyndon B. Johnson October 21, 1964

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2022, 02:43:30 AM »
Thank you guys for the kind words. It's really appreciated.

One of the requests by the owner was that I take pictures of every phase of the work, to have a complete record of before and after. So if there is any area you'd like to see, just let me know.

One particularly challenging area was the lock side tang area of the stock, which was basically missing. As was about half the tang. 
I saved that part til last. ;-)






« Last Edit: July 22, 2022, 02:58:39 AM by JTR »
John Robbins

Offline 120RIR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2022, 03:27:27 AM »
Many enthusiastic thanks to John and to Dick Gadler who introduced us.  It's been a real education following the process and John was very accommodating.  Now all I gotta' do is pry it out of his hands!   ;)

Offline Mattox Forge

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2022, 03:32:17 AM »
Wow, that's really impressive work.
Thanks for sharing it.

Mike

Offline Avlrc

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #16 on: July 22, 2022, 03:40:54 AM »
@ JTR, you are a skilled & talented man.  Nice work.  Happy customer I am sure.

Offline Robert Wolfe

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #17 on: July 22, 2022, 03:54:11 AM »
Appreciate your approach. Perfect.
Robert Wolfe
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Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #18 on: July 22, 2022, 04:07:39 AM »
And, the photos don't really do it justice. This is one magnificent rifle and it is all American. Let's start beating the bushes to see if any more turn up. John, you have done a lot of first rate restoration, but I swear, this is your best yet. Thanks to you and Brian for showing it here once more as a testament to the proposition that an old gun is worth saving and to inspire the brethren.
Dick

Offline JTR

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #19 on: July 22, 2022, 04:57:50 AM »
Kent, Yes, the barrel has a lug dovetailed on the bottom flat for the screw.
And yes, so far it's the only known fully signed Joel Ferree rifle!
I think there are only two other rifles signed J Ferree, and one by his nephew signed Jacob Ferree during that time period.

If anyone knows of another early signed J or Joel Ferree rifle, please contact me, or the lucky owner of this one, 120RIR, Brian, on this forum.


« Last Edit: July 22, 2022, 05:13:31 AM by JTR »
John Robbins

Offline Majorjoel

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #20 on: July 22, 2022, 09:55:02 AM »
  Seeing those before and after shots shown are just plain incredible!

What you have accomplished with this fine historic piece will now stand the test of time hereafter!

WELL DONE John!!

Joel Hall

Offline Buck

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #21 on: July 22, 2022, 01:20:32 PM »
Kent,

John shared the photos with me the other night while discussing the restoration, when I saw the photo of the muzzle I said you’d be interested in that photo.

John - can’t praise it enough, excellent work.

Brian - congrats on a grand early gun.

Buck

Offline WESTbury

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #22 on: July 22, 2022, 02:08:56 PM »
John and Buck,

Thanks for the info.

John, what would you estimate is the height of the tapped boss on the dovetailed lug for the end cap?

Kent
"We are not about to send American Boys 9 to 10 thousand miles away from home to do what Asian Boys ought to be doing for themselves."
President Lyndon B. Johnson October 21, 1964

Offline heinz

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #23 on: July 22, 2022, 03:34:32 PM »
That is a grand old gun and a very nice restoration.  Thank you for take the time and effort to share it with us.
kind regards, heinz

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Joel Ferree, a resurrection.
« Reply #24 on: July 22, 2022, 05:19:00 PM »
Perfect and thank you both for taking that approach. 
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.