Author Topic: Bringing it all together in my first pistol… (Read 1338 times)

CooleyS · « **on:** February 23, 2024, 12:34:02 AM »

This pistol is a culmination of some new learned skills for me, namely engraving and flat top checkering. Last winter I travelled to the Log Cabin Shop and took an engraving class with Mike Lea. It was a huge help to get me started and I appreciate that he’s continued to be a sounding board and instructor. I also wanted to learn how to flat top checker, so I read everything I could on this forum on flat top checkering. I made my own flat top checkering tool and started in on learning. I spent many hours practicing until I was satisfied enough to do it on the real thing. The stock is English walnut, the barrel is 8.5”-ish .45 by Bobby Hoyt with an L&R lock and breech. It has a poured pewter nose cap, inlaid silver barrel bands and I also made the little cap box on the butt, complete with hinge and spring. Wyoming Armory did the color case hardening on the lock, breech and trigger plate. I am very pleased with the work they did. Mistakes? Yup, but I’ve realized that mistakes are gonna happen and learning how to conceal and recover from them is part of building. I’m always open to constructive criticism and pointers from the more experienced builders here. I’d like to say thanks to those members that are always willing to answer questions and show how they do things, it’s much appreciated. I hope this build will provide the same inspiration and ideas to someone else …
-Steve

dadybear1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2024, 12:40:17 AM »

SUPER NICE WORK STEVE!!!!!!

Daryl · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2024, 01:02:01 AM »

VERY high on the cool factor, Steve. A 1st pistol build? WOW!

smylee grouch · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2024, 01:21:03 AM »

I like it Steve. You were a good student.

JasonR · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2024, 01:36:20 AM »

Thats really nice looking Steve

ScottH · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2024, 02:34:15 AM »

Looks very nice!

I'm not much of a fan of back action locks, but I like this!

Bob Roller · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2024, 02:38:35 AM »

Back action or no action,This is some fine work and NONE of the few pistols I made were even close to this one.
Outstanding workmanship.
Bob Roller

2 shots · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2024, 05:09:32 AM »

Rolf · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2024, 11:53:52 AM »

Great looking pistol!! Like the checkering.

Best regards
Rolf

alacran · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2024, 04:08:03 PM »

You did a fine job. I like the L&R setup.

TDM · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2024, 11:38:19 PM »

You definitely paid attention in class! Very nice work.

Bob Gerard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2024, 05:23:52 AM »

Man you hit that one out of the park! Very impressive and shows how well you integrated your learning into practice with this fine pistol. Really inspiring work!

flatsguide · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2024, 08:30:42 AM »

Very well done . Tip of the hat.
Cheers Richard

Dphariss · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2024, 06:23:05 PM »

Wyoming Armory is my go to for color casehardening.

Dphariss · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2024, 06:30:45 PM »

Pistol is well done. I like the box in the grip. And its representative of a lot of pistols Western Fur Trade time frame.

Dphariss · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2024, 06:40:40 PM »

Looking at the pistol with the back action lock its apparent that it is slimmer than a pistol with a more typical lock something I had not noticed before.
I have made a number of pistols. Most in FL. But I have a pair of caplocks barely started if I can get other things out of the way.

Dphariss · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2024, 06:48:20 PM »

The more I look at it the more impressed I get. You did a great job on this pistol. The checkering in impressive for example. Your checkering is better quality than that found of some big name 1950s-60s factory suppository rifles I worked on in the past. Sometimes ome finds some pretty strange things. Like lines that end in a “Y” which is a pain when recutting the checkering

. “How did they do this?” And why did I not see it before?

Marvin S · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2024, 07:31:26 PM »

Exactly what I’ve been wanting in a pistol. Makes for a far more compact and weighted more towards the rear instead of trying to hold a sledgehammer out by the handle.

If you ever want to part with it let me know 😉

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2024, 07:41:07 PM »

Beautiful work; you've done a Master Gunsmith's quality.

Loved seeing you pose the pistol on your dog's fur! LOL!

Blacksmoke · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2024, 10:53:59 PM »

Good looking gun!

CooleyS · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2024, 06:26:35 AM »

Quote from: Bob Roller on February 23, 2024, 02:38:35 AM

Back action or no action,This is some fine work and NONE of the few pistols I made were even close to this one.
Outstanding workmanship.
Bob Roller

Bob, my next project on the bench has one of your J&S Hawken locks on it…I am so impressed with the precision and quality of it.

Steeltrap · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2024, 11:35:19 PM »

Wedge key is very nice. I can't tell but do you have a hook breech on that little pistol?

Bob Roller · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2024, 12:24:02 AM »

Quote from: CooleyS on February 25, 2024, 06:26:35 AM

Quote from: Bob Roller on February 23, 2024, 02:38:35 AM
Back action or no action,This is some fine work and NONE of the few pistols I made were even close to this one.
Outstanding workmanship.
Bob Roller

Bob, my next project on the bench has one of your J&S Hawken locks on it…I am so impressed with the precision and quality of it.

CooleyS,
I just noticed the comment on my Hawken lock and thank you.I don't know if you got it from me or another person but either way,
it shows what I think of anyone who used it or had owned it.
Bob Roller

CooleyS · « **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2024, 03:37:08 AM »

Quote from: Steeltrap on February 25, 2024, 11:35:19 PM

Wedge key is very nice. I can't tell but do you have a hook breech on that little pistol?

No, it’s not a hook breech. It’s the 7/8” L&R one-piece pistol breech.
-Steve

B.Barker · « **Reply #24 on:** February 26, 2024, 04:52:51 AM »

That is a mighty fine side arm. I know how difficult it is to checker a pistol grip. You did a grand job executing the ceckering.

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Author Topic: Bringing it all together in my first pistol… (Read 1338 times)