Author Topic: Follow along as Wallace Gusler builds a new Rev War syle rifle (Read 9476 times)

Dennis Glazener · « **on:** April 16, 2024, 01:16:20 AM »

Wallace's Computer is in the shop and we wanted to get started with this thread before this weekend's TN/KY Rifle show. (being held in Knoxville TN) Wallace gave me his text so I have a backstory to this thread as we follow along as Wallace builds this rifle. In the days ahead I will be posting photos here as the building of the new rifle progresses.

Statement from Wallace
The following photos are of a rifle Wallace Gusler is making. Its style is based on the two long rifles attributed to Hans Jacob Honaker (from Switzerland, the shop that was located near the Shenandoah River, between Strasburg and Front Royal VA 1764 - 1791)

The brass barreled rifle is dated 1771 by Honaker (RCA VOL II #103). The second rifle dates to 1775 - 1780. It has a side plate that was replaced in 1789 "A Moode Sept 15 1789".

In Augusta County VA 3 Andrew Moodys are cited 1768 - 1790s. One of these men moved to TN in 1789 and had this rifle updated by adding a hook beech and draw loops (see Shumway VOL II pages 610 and 616.

Photos begin by making a butt piece pattern for casting, it is made from a juniper limb I grew in the backyard.

Both rifles will be at the TN KY Rifle show this weekend (Friday 4/19 - Sat 4/20/24) The Rifle being made will also be there (all will be on Wallace's table).

JTR · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2024, 02:46:25 AM »

Quote from: Dennis Glazener on April 16, 2024, 01:16:20 AM

pattern for casting, it is made from a juniper limb I grew in the backyard.

Well, how cool is that!

John

Bob Gerard · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2024, 03:44:43 AM »

Thanks Dennis. I am sure the rifle will be amazing.
I didn't know that some castings were made from wooden patterns. Was this an old traditional technique?
p.s., that's a very pretty piece of wood he's carved!

Avlrc · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2024, 03:54:14 AM »

that is awesome.

2 shots · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2024, 04:18:48 AM »

surly one to follow

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2024, 09:15:21 AM »

Quote from: Bob Gerard on April 16, 2024, 03:44:43 AM

Thanks Dennis. I am sure the rifle will be amazing.
I didn't know that some castings were made from wooden patterns. Was this an old traditional technique?
p.s., that's a very pretty piece of wood he's carved!

Sand castings has been used for thousands of years and wood patterns were most likely being used from the very start. Wooden patterns carved well and were stable and tough enough to be used repeatedly without drastically changing the measurement of the product being cast. The pattern had to be made oversize in order to allow for the shrinkage of the metal being used in the casting.
Dennis

monro1066 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2024, 09:42:01 AM »

Thats so cool .......

45-110 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2024, 01:21:50 PM »

Wood Pattern making was a skilled trade/profession that had to be learned in America. Shrinkage rates are different for brass, iron etc.

bama · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2024, 07:30:56 PM »

This is wonderful news. It will be great to follow along and watch Wallace's work. He has been and continues to be an inspiration to our community. Looking forward to his sharing of his wealth of knowledge.

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2024, 08:04:24 PM »

The detail of that wood pattern is fantastic. I would think there is some kind of coating on it to prevent sand from adhering to it during the molding process and also absorbing moister from the air.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2024, 08:07:24 PM »

This will be an interesting thread to follow and I wonder if George Suiter is still working there.He got his start with Bill Large and me years ago.We went to the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi Ohio and got snowed in by a blizzard and had to wait until the next day before we could get on
I-71 again and spent the night in a small camp trailer that was heated.Any info on George would be appreciated.
Bob Roller

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2024, 11:05:13 PM »

Wallace,

If your watching, it's so nice to see your work. Thanks. Hopefully I'll catch up with you sometime soon. I might make a trip to Bowling Green come seminar time. I have your fowler and a few other things I'd like to return to you and others. It would be nice to see everyone as well.

All the best,
Jim

BOB HILL · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2024, 11:10:18 PM »

I look so forward to following this project. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to Wallace for very long that I didn’t learn something.
Bob

DGB · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2024, 01:02:48 AM »

If that wood is the pattern, the name is going to be backwards on the finished casting, am I right?

Regards,
DGB

Ky-Flinter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2024, 01:24:11 AM »

I think the sand will be backwards, but the brass will be right.

I'm looking forward to seeing this progress.

Ron

DGB · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2024, 01:41:07 AM »

Thanks Ron, I was wrong.
DGB

duca · « **Reply #16 on:** April 18, 2024, 05:32:27 PM »

Yes, thank you Dennis for doing this

Jdbeck · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2024, 05:48:42 PM »

Following!

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #18 on:** April 19, 2024, 11:57:41 PM »

Also following

Brian Sweeney · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2024, 07:52:35 PM »

And I am also following.

Marcruger · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2024, 08:28:32 PM »

If I was ordering this rifle from Wallace, I think it'd be neat to have the "W. Gusler" on the outside of the plate. :-) This will be a super cool thread. I talked with young Eric at Williamsburg a few years back and he showed me a wooden pattern he'd carved for casting. I believe it was a triggerguard. This buttplate that Wallace is doing tells me he passed that legacy along to later generations. God Bless, Marc

bama · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2024, 12:38:27 AM »

I had a chance to see the rifle Wallace is working on at the TN Show and it is going to be a wonderful rifle when he finishes it. I will be looking forward to his post on the progress, for sure.

t.caster · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2024, 04:54:14 PM »

Following with interest as I am most interested in the early rifles.

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2024, 11:07:43 PM »

This is the second bunch of photos that show the progress of the gun.
Dennis

duca · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2024, 01:09:52 AM »

Wow! To cool

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Author Topic: Follow along as Wallace Gusler builds a new Rev War syle rifle (Read 9476 times)