Where/how can I start

[J.D.]

[/quote]

#2!!!!  I’m one who loves diverse builds. Seeing a new rifle or smoothbore that has been designed and executed by the builder is exciting for me. I understand that some coming into the craft only know of a few styles and only from available kits. I have turned Kindig’s Golden Age book and the Rifles of Colonial America into raggedy old books, studying originals for over 40 years I guess. I recommend books like that, which offer a look at many different styles.
[/quote]

I completely concur, Rich, with your ideas about studying the originals. Those books are golden for anyone who is, genuinely, interested in longrifle history. IMHO, the information from the KRA's DVDs and thumb drives might serve as an introduction to a new student/builder, to cut his teeth on, before investing in the books you mentioned.

IMHO, for someone who doesn't know the first thing about Longrifle architecture, the Kibler kit guns can be used as a pattern for drops and cast off, presuming the kit's stock fits the novice builder, if for nothing else. And, while the Kibler kits are not original pieces, they can be used as a reasonably accurate substitute, for study by someone who does not have access to original pieces.

As an addendum for the OP, you might check out the "Grumpy Gunsmith of Williamsburg's" youtube channel, for more good tutorials.

J.D.

[ScottH]

This book is one to consider.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/book-abpl

[Jim Kibler]

I started with Recreating the American Longrifle.  This was pre-internet of course.  Study originals in detail.  Pour over them.  Go to shows where you can see them in person.

[oldtravler61]

  Hi Chris an welcome. You have been given great advice. Couple of things I'll suggest is when you buy your lock. Buy the best you can. The lock is the most important to me. Number two look and handle as many antique and contemporary guns you can. I'm an amateur builder. Also study the architecture of the style you pick. Look, look and look again. Getting the architecture right is one of the hardest things to learn. Last but not least you don't need a bunch of tools. A ban saw is only needed if you plan on cutting out your own stocks.JMPO.
Remember back in the day there were no power tools. Patience is the key to building. Good luck with your build.

[B.Habermehl]

I’ll have to second visiting the gunmakers fair at Kempton Pa. Trust me it’s worth it. The seminars are amazing. Plus the vendors can supply you with mostly any part you need if you plan ahead. BJH

[Rich]

I would get "Recreating the American Longrifle" and read it.  It is about $35 on amazon. It will walk you through a build in steps.

[mgbruch]

When you watch videos of someone building from a blank, pay attention, not only to what task their working on... but also the tools used, and the builders' technique.  Watch them over and over again, and pay attention to the little things.  Planning and execution.  Planning and execution.

[Bill Raby]

Watch videos from several different people. Every one is going to do things different. Decide what will work best for you.

[whetrock]

Speaking of videos, here are a couple videos you may want to consider. These are offered by:

americanpioneervideo.com/info.html

The following video from this company, showing Hershel House, was about the only instructional video of its type when I got started in this many years ago, prior to the internet. I’m sure I’ve watched it at least 25 times. That was even before they invented DVDs. (Getting old!) Only thing about it is that Hershel (now deceased) worked very fast, and since it’s only 2 ½ hours total, they didn’t always have time for Hershel to stop and explain what he was doing. Hershel does use power tools (shaper and bandsaw) to cut his work time.

Hershel House - Building A Kentucky Rifle Part One - A 2-1/2 hour presentation featuring living legend Hershel House building a fine relief carved & engraved flintlock rifle. From start to finish Hershel teaches how to build a classic Kentucky Rifle beginning with a stock blank, Colerain barrel, a lock & some brass castings. He inlets the tapered & flared barrel, then demonstrates how to fabricate & install the trigger, sights, ramrod pipes, the patch box, silver inlays & barrel tennons. The muzzle cap is cast in pewter. After carving and engraving the rifle is stained & finished. An excellent DVD for beginners $29.95 + postage

Companion Book to Building A Kentucky Rifle - This 48 page book complements the above DVD & includes full size drawings by Hershel of a stock profile, details of the component parts & expanded notes on important gun building aspects such as lock placement & shaping the butt stock. Only $15.00 plus $4.00 postage or postpaid if ordered with the DVD.

I eventually added half a dozen other videos from this company to my library, and have been pleased with all of them. But as a starter, the one above was pretty good. They later did a second video with Hershel, same name, but Part two, showing some additional techniques. You can read about that one on their website.

This next link is to a trailer for another instructional video, this time showing Mike Miller. This video shows a lot of the same stuff shown on Hershel’s video, but this video is twice as long, and it looks to me like Mike goes much more slowly and explains details well. Costs more, but you get more as well. (I have only seen the trailer. I don’t own the video.) It is obvious in the trailer that Mike is using a lot of traditional techniques and hand tools for inletting his barrel and shaping his stock, so a lot to learn there.



Building the Daniel Boone Rifle featuring Mike Miller - Noted gunbuilder Mike Miller from Edmonton, Kentucky uses his vast knowledge of American firearms to recreate a likely possibility of what must be very similar to what Daniel Boone would have carried: a brass-mounted, maple-stocked, long-barreled flintlock rifle with a wooden patchbox, featuring bold architecture that was prevalent prior to the Revolutionary War. Mike demonstrates his techniques to teach how to build this traditional flintlock rifle. Starting with a curly maple stock blank, a long tapered and flared octagon barrel, a lock and some brass castings, Mike demonstrates in detail how you too can build a fine flintlock rifle that would have been common on the frontier among longhunters and early settlers. This four disc DVD set is 5 hours and 20 minutes of detailed instruction taped in HD on location at Mike Miller's shop. - $59.95 plus shipping

[Ats5331]

I am interested in the ligoneer group. That is only 1.5 hours from me!


Great help so far. I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to this. I have already learned a lot. I am looking at a beck kit, as well as an early Virginia. I am using becks finishing oil and wax now on my kibler and it is coming out stunning.

Send me a PM--I can fill you in on details

[ChrisLD]

Thank you very much for all the recommendations, and support guys. I really appreciate it. I am going to go through each of your comments and recommendations and look into all of them !


Ats I’m sending a message

[A.Merrill]

   Three important tools that hasn't been mentioned you need to have on hand are, a box of pencils, pencil sharpener and erasers. The eraser on a pencil won't last. Draw fine lines, thick lines allow for to much room for uneven cuts that causes gaps when inletting parts. Fine lines are important when you lay out cravings to.
   You may want to start with a precarve stock, if so buy one without the lock inlet. The lock plate is not hard to inlet and inletting the internal parts helps you learn how to inlet and use chisels. Any mistakes will be behind the lock plate. The precarve butt and wrist will give you an idea of the shape the style of the rifle you choose.
   The next best advice I can give you is, measure two or three times before you cut anything and take your time.
Best of luck.   Al

[J.D.]

I remembered saving this thread of Curtis' Hawken-esque rifle from last year. All of the work is done by hand. No power tools. IMHO, Curtis' work is an inspiration to all of us, who have few to no machine tools at our disposal.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=80616.0