Flintlock Pistol Build #1

[Bill Raby]

Here is my new project. I am building a pistol this time. I have never built a pistol before so this should be a fun one. It seems like it would be easy to do, but I am sure that I will be in for a few surprises along the way. I will be doing a whole series of videos of building it. I will go into detail of every step along the way. I will not be editing out any of the mistakes. Every weekend I will post a video on Rumble. Got kicked off of You Tube. They said I was dangerous to the community. That is something to be proud of! It is going to be a whole series of how to do it videos about something that I have never actually done before. What could possibly go wrong? Hope you like it! Here is the first one.

https://rumble.com/v70r7qw-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-1.html

[Steeltrap]

Bill,

I watch part of your video. I sort of chuckled when I got to the buttcap part. That cast buttcap you show is (I think) the same one that I started out with. But I needed to bend that tail up a bit more. I heated it and on the first whack, it simply cracked.

So, then I had a buttcap model to use when I made my cap from .080 sheet brass.

[Craig Wilcox]

Excellent intro, Bill.  Many folks fail to realize that small changes sometimes have to be made to match the actual size/shape to accommodate the metal bits on hand.

[Dave Marsh]

Bill, how do I sign up for Patreon.  I have tried and nothing seems to work.  Dave

[Bill Raby]

Bill, how do I sign up for Patreon.  I have tried and nothing seems to work.  Dave

Here is the link for it.  patreon.com/BillRaby  There should be a blue thing that Become a Member. Should be to sign up for it from there. Looks like you have to start a Patreon account to do membership to anything.

[Bill Raby]

Excellent intro, Bill.  Many folks fail to realize that small changes sometimes have to be made to match the actual size/shape to accommodate the metal bits on hand.

Better to make all those little changes before cutting out the blank! Glad to hear you like the into. Seems like people either really like them or really hate them. I have fun coming up with them.

[aaronc]

Subscribed and following on Rumble.

[Bill Raby]

Part 2

https://rumble.com/v712i8u-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-2.html

[Crow Choker]

Great video Bill on breech plug adjustment. Needing to replace breech plug on my Kibler SMR with new one due to damage to original end (rear tang screw cup area broke off due to barrel falling out of vice and hitting floor). Barrel un-shot and unfinished. Big concern is when installing new one is facing plug and doing it right. Posted previous thread on forum. Love all of your video builds. Thanks for posting them. Wondering if in part 3 you are going to continue breech plug install showing how to also true up land fits between plug and barrel while maintaining proper fit with face of plug.

[Bill Raby]

Problem with Part 3 is that when I got the breech plug to seal up with the breech, the flats lined up perfectly. Got lucky but it kind of messes up the video. Way to do it is to slowly file the plug or the barrel shorter. File whichever one is long. Get that to seal up tight. If you need to turn it a little more to line up the flats, file a small amount off the breech plug. That will make it too short. So file a tiny amount off the back of the barrel. Screw the breech plug in and check for a seal. It will turn a little bit more. Go back and forth filing tiny amounts from plug and the back of the barrel until flats line up and the plug seals up. It can take some time to get it just right. Breech plugs usually take some effort to screw in.

I suspect that Mr Kibler has put some effort into making sure that breech plug and barrel are cut to match as close as possible.to make the manufacturing easier. It will probably go in without much trouble.

[Bill Raby]

Part 3

https://rumble.com/v71eg1m-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-3.html

[Craig Wilcox]

Nice work on that breech!  I think you got real lucky on that one.

[Steeltrap]

That was easy!!  Always nice when a plan comes together!!

[Crow Choker]

Problem with Part 3 is that when I got the breech plug to seal up with the breech, the flats lined up perfectly. Got lucky but it kind of messes up the video. Way to do it is to slowly file the plug or the barrel shorter. File whichever one is long. Get that to seal up tight. If you need to turn it a little more to line up the flats, file a small amount off the breech plug. That will make it too short. So file a tiny amount off the back of the barrel. Screw the breech plug in and check for a seal. It will turn a little bit more. Go back and forth filing tiny amounts from plug and the back of the barrel until flats line up and the plug seals up. It can take some time to get it just right. Breech plugs usually take some effort to screw in.

I suspect that Mr Kibler has put some effort into making sure that breech plug and barrel are cut to match as close as possible.to make the manufacturing easier. It will probably go in without much trouble.

Thanks Bill, your pistol video was very educational as all of your video's are. Watched your 4 Bore build parts 4 and 5 last night that was geared to installing/fitting a breech plug. Very good watch. Thanks for all you post. Hadn't seen all of your 4 Bore video's. Was going to tackle my SMR today but had to take one of our four footed man's best friend to the Vet this morning, then get meds for him at Vet's main office in Clear Lake, wife thought as long as we were in Mason City we needed to do some shopping. Nasty day up here in North Iowa. Snow/rain mix, blustery,  chilly, and not fit for man or beast. Feels like nap time. You take care.

Edit:  OK Bill, watched your Part 3 and without a doubt IMO besides your 4 Bore video's showing BP to barrel assembly/adjustment is the best and finest I've seen in the last several weeks of studying and reading on how to remove/install a BP. Alot of the video's showed some/explained some on how to do but didn't have the content and all of the fine points. Same thing with reading several paragraphs or so on many of the posts I've read (while informative and appreciative)), nothing like watching something on how to do with great explanation and instructions. Two thumbs up to ya, five stars, and an advance to the head of the lunch line. I feel more confident now and knowledgeable in doing my Kibler SMR BP change even though it will be nothing like taking a raw barrel and BP like you showed. Thank you much. CC

[Bill Raby]

Part 4

https://rumble.com/v71qkto-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-4.html

[wvcruffler]

Appreciate you taking the time to do this Bill. The breech plug inletting video is really outstanding. I understand that all a lot better now.

Dr Phil

[Craig Wilcox]

Nice work there, Bill.  And a good attitude toward the build.  You ready to start building a revolver, maybe something to accompany the 4-bore on your Africa hunt? 

A 6-shooter, about .75 or .80 caliber should take care of those pesky crocodiles.

[Bill Raby]

I was thinking maybe go the opposite direction for the next one. I got my hands on the smallest lock I have ever seen. It's tiny! Would be perfect for a flintlock deringer. But the lock is not finished. It is a set of castings. Never built a lock from castings before. That should be fun.

[J.D.]

Just watched part one. Excellent video, BTW. I have never seen the gauge you used to measure the thickness of the butt cap. If you don't mind my asking, where did you find that gauge?

Thanks
J.D.

[Bob Gerard]

I will be looking at how you inlet for the stirrup butt cap. I’ve a mostly uncarved pistol stock for a Georgian pommel pistol that I will be tackling soon.

[Bill Raby]

Just watched part one. Excellent video, BTW. I have never seen the gauge you used to measure the thickness of the butt cap. If you don't mind my asking, where did you find that gauge?

Thanks
J.D.

https://www.riogrande.com/product/stainless-steel-degree-gauge2/116008GP?code=116008&objectID=116008&queryID=a69b7d24d3d1e6a2761ef73fadd1ec9d

[J.D.]

Got it. Thanks

[Bill Raby]

Part 5

https://rumble.com/v7237hm-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-5.html

[Bill Raby]

Part 6

https://rumble.com/v72amzu-flintlock-pistol-build-1-part-6.html

[Bill Raby]

Part 7

https://rumble.com/v72dhwy-flintlock-pistol-build-part-7.html