Author Topic: JP Beck pistol  (Read 1679 times)

Offline coopersdad

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JP Beck pistol
« on: November 13, 2022, 07:21:38 PM »
Finally finished this little pistol I started last June in Jack Brooks' Bowling Green NMLRA class.  He provided photos and drawings of the signed Beck pistol, a chunk of maple, and had the 6" .45 cal. rifled barrels made by Ed Rayl.  The lock is from castings Jack made from a small German pistol in his collection.  He also cast the trigger guards.  I did the trigger, sideplate, buttcap and entry pipe. 

We spent the first few days building the lock.  I could've spent the whole class just doing the lock and still wouldn't have gotten it done but got it far enough to inlet and get started on the stocking.  I'd never done a lock from castings or a pistol before, and this was a great learning experience (he's repeating the class again next spring - I can't say enough great things about the NMLRA classes!).
















Mike Westcott

Offline Grischi

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2022, 07:34:37 PM »
Pretty nice little pistol.
I like it.

Christian

Offline P.W.Berkuta

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2022, 08:17:52 PM »
I like it a LOT  8) -- you did a fine job on it  :). Makes me want to build one -- after I get my other projects finished ;D
"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." - Chinese proverb

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2022, 08:24:43 PM »
That's nice.  Not too overdone.  Just enough.

Jim

Offline Bob Gerard

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2022, 09:59:44 PM »
Looks very handsome! You mentioned it has a rifled barrel; will you add sights to it?

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2022, 10:11:11 PM »
that is a very nice pistol.
I like it a lot!
Pistols are some of the hardest things to make and Look right. You made this one look right!

Offline coopersdad

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2022, 11:43:34 PM »
Thanks everyone, it was a challenging and fun project.    I don't think I'll add sights, trying to stay true to the original.  Jack's theory is Beck perhaps was using up stuff in the shop and, while most guns like this would've been smooth, he had a chunk of rifle barrel on hand. Also, on the original gun, the buttcap was made from two pieces of brass soldered together, and he said it appeared to have been done not as an in-use repair, but perhaps to get a big enough piece of brass to make the cap.  That's frugality!

Anyway, at coat-pocket pistol ranges, sights wouldn't be really needed I suppose.  I tried 5 shots at about 5 yards, firing when the top of the barrel appeared level and pointing at the target.  It hit about 6" high of my point of aim, but I think it would've been effective:



Mike Westcott

Offline J. Talbert

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2022, 02:20:18 AM »
Nice little project.

Well done,
Jeff
There are no solutions.  There are only trade-offs.”
Thomas Sowell

Offline Curtis

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2022, 09:35:35 AM »
Mike, I love that pistol!!  Turned out great, looks like it is a great (5 yard) shooter as well!  Nice job.



Curtis
Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline coopersdad

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2022, 07:32:34 PM »
Thanks Jeff, Curtis, appreciate it!
Mike Westcott

Offline Algae

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2022, 05:17:02 AM »
That is beautifull!! Very nice work!

Al J.

Offline Fly Navy

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2022, 09:03:39 AM »
What a great looking pistol, nice work.

Offline Brian Sweeney

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2022, 11:16:12 PM »
  Looks great Mike. Nice little pistol.

Offline David Rase

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2022, 11:46:33 PM »
Great looking pistol.  You were fortunate to have one of the best helping you nail this project.
David

Offline smylee grouch

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #14 on: November 22, 2022, 12:00:11 AM »
I really like your pistol. A small low front sight soldered on and sighted as you did but on the flat at the rear and top of sight would I think put your shots right on at 5 yards.

Offline coopersdad

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Re: JP Beck pistol
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2022, 04:36:13 AM »
Great looking pistol.  You were fortunate to have one of the best helping you nail this project.
David

That's for sure! 
Mike Westcott