Woods runner entry pipe

[Mike payne]

Hey anyone know what the entry pipe on the original rifle looks like? Looking at the pictures on the forum don’t see any pics of it.

Mike

[Eric Laird]

Mike,

The return on the original entry pipe is worn almost foil thin. If I remember correctly, Wallace Gusler (the owner at the time) speculated that it was faceted and had a thumbnail. When I made my copy, I also included a band across the tail. This was probably back about '04-'05 at an early Richmond, VA show. It was really enlightening to be able to hold the original. He also speculated that it had carving behind the entry pipe that was similar to the tang carving. His speculation was good enough for me so that's how I built mine.

Eric

[Eric Kettenburg]

Don't remember who took this series but they may have been posted here quite some time ago.  Or maybe not.

The original antique - not the Kibler version - is a very wonky and crooked rifle.

[Eric Laird]

Thanks, Eric! Clearly you can see the thumbnail and facets, so I misremembered his speculation which was obviously just on the carving!

Eric

[Mike payne]

Thanks guys! I am working on a copy for my own use I am trying to get it as close as possible. Really appreciate the responses.

Mike

[Tim Crosby]

 Do you think that wear was caused by resting on a saddle?

  Tim C.

[bama]

The pipes were made out of thin sheet brass and when the rifle was originally built it had very little wood between the ramrod and the bottom of the stock. I would estimate 1/16" or less. I do believe the wear is from carrying it across a saddle. I took Wallace's class when he had the rifle totally disassembled and I took the pictures that were posted here a few years back. It's a great rifle but it has a few design issues that would not pass today's scrutiny. The thin wood under the ramrod being one and the other is the butt plate is mounted crooked. Don't get me wrong, I love this rifle and I built mine pretty much to the same dimensions of the original. In doing so I realized that if I built another that I would allow another 1/16" of wood below the ramrod for a total of an 1/8" and I would mount the butt plate straight.

Well, Jim Kibler fixed those problems when he designed the Woodsrunner. Job well done Jim. Jim's little rifle is a fairly true representation of the original. It is well balanced and points like a dream.

[David Rase]

Here is one more view of the entry pipe on the original Shenandoah rifle.


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