New guy to the forum gettin ready for my next build

[FoxRiver]

Getting my parts list together for a "James River Basin" rifle.
Plan on it having a 50.cal  Colerain or Gets barrel.
Round faced "English" lock.
+4 maple stock.


Wish I would have found this site last year!!!
this was my first build


16ga. Colerain barrel.
R.E. Davis  lock
El cheepo, never heeled a "long rifle" till I built one...wish I would have done more reaserch build.

[rich pierce]

Keep us posted.  We'd love to see more Southern "Golden Age" guns here.

[northmn]

I got one pretty much like the top one also.  Bet you get yours done before mine as usually the first few builds have more motivation.  Great hobby have fun.

DP

[FoxRiver]

Im still trying to make up my mind what barrel I want.
TOTW doesnt have the Colerain barrel I want in stock, dont no if I want to back order.
I have never had to deal with TOTW on back orders, and have always had good luck with them, but I have heared others have had to weight quite a while for back order stuff.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Try Tip Curtis or MBS or one of the other suppliers.

[James Rogers]

Im still trying to make up my mind what barrel I want.
TOTW doesnt have the Colerain barrel I want in stock, dont no if I want to back order.
I have never had to deal with TOTW on back orders, and have always had good luck with them, but I have heared others have had to weight quite a while for back order stuff.

You could also try Troy Roope at Stonewallcreekoutfitters.com
He always keeps a very large supply of Colerain barrels.

[keweenaw]

Rice Barrel Co. usually has quite a few styles of barrels in stock.  Absolutely first class stuff.828-628-3627.

Tom

[FoxRiver]

will do

what size lock would be proper for this style rifle?in 50cal.   round faced lock

[Don Getz]

Foxy........you are really going about this whole gun making thing the hard way.    I know, everyone wants to build one from "scratch", but you should be a legitimate gunbuilder before you try that.   Before you do any cutting on that blank,
I would try to look at some guns and determine what you would like to build, then, send that blank, along with your barrel, to one of the barrel inletters/stock shapers and get some work done before you start whittling on it.    This will
give you some basic architecture to work with.   Believe me, you will have a lot of work left to do after having this shaping
done...............Don

[TPH]

Have you considered contacting Colerain directly? They are great to work with. Talk to Scott Keller, there contact information is on their website at:

http://www.colerainbarrel.com/

Not trying to put any of the vendors out of business but there is more than one way to skin a cat.

[FoxRiver]

"Foxy........you are really going about this whole gun making thing the hard way.    I know, everyone wants to build one from "scratch", but you should be a legitimate gunbuilder before you try that.   Before you do any cutting on that blank,
I would try to look at some guns and determine what you would like to build, then, send that blank, along with your barrel, to one of the barrel inletters/stock shapers and get some work done before you start whittling on it.    This will
give you some basic architecture to work with.   Believe me, you will have a lot of work left to do after having this shaping
done...............Don "

So the one pictured was that bad? 

[Elnathan]

So the one pictured was that bad? 

Looked fine to me. We can't see much of it, admittedly, but I don't see anything particularly wrong. I think Don has just forgotten that this isn't your first build. If you have never held a longrifle, going to a show or somewhere where you can do so would probably be a good idea, armed with camera and/or sketchpad.

Anyhow, I pretty much started by building from scratch, and don't see why other folks couldn't. I had a mentor, however.

[rich pierce]

"Foxy........you are really going about this whole gun making thing the hard way.    I know, everyone wants to build one from "scratch", but you should be a legitimate gunbuilder before you try that.   Before you do any cutting on that blank,
I would try to look at some guns and determine what you would like to build, then, send that blank, along with your barrel, to one of the barrel inletters/stock shapers and get some work done before you start whittling on it.    This will
give you some basic architecture to work with.   Believe me, you will have a lot of work left to do after having this shaping
done...............Don "

So the one pictured was that bad? 

Looks to me that Don's trying to save you work by suggesting you get the barrel channel done, ramrod groove done, and ramrod hole drilled, leaving you plenty more work to do.  Those are sort of the foundation and everything else works from that basis.  The guys who do this inletting and drilling work can also roughly trim the blank to a particular profile if you give them some info (Bucks County, Verner style, 13.5" pull, etc).  Just saying there's a LOT of wood to remove from a blank and the pros can rough something out for you quickly and leave you a lot of room to make a true custom.

[Tom Currie]

Hate to disagree with Don, but there's nothing wrong with going about it the hard way. It depends on your level of dedication and if are not into instant gratification. And in my humble opinion, the personal satisfaction in " stocking " the whole rifle is worth the effort.

I expect Don knows this also.

[FoxRiver]

I did think about doing a "kit" this time, more to save time,  but I liked building this first one and cant see  spending that much cash for something I can do myself.
I have seen a few longrifles now,  WOW it is impresive, the lack of wood that makes the stock.  I read Recreating the American Longrifle before and during the build, so I new how thin the stock was to be, I just wish I would have taken it to hart. 

I havnt been able to find much history on "Virginia" longrifles,  but I have found some pics of a few.

[Don Getz]

Foxy.....my apology, I didn't realize that had built the one below as your first gun.....good effort.    I've built a few from
blanks, now I find that I don't really need all that extra work.    I've been out of the gunbuilding business for nearly
five months, but, finally got back into it this week.   John handed me a barrel on monday fresh out of the riflling machine.
I already had a pre-shaped lancaster stock waiting.   I then proceeded to belt sand the flats and then breeched it, and
fit the tang into the stock.....actually did this on tuesday.   Since it is going to be another barn gun, I also sawed out
the profile for the butt.  On wednesday I sawed off the extra wood out along the barrel and did some re-shaping of the
butt portion of the stock, just to make it look different.    I shortened up the comb, and also put a slight concave shape
to the lower butt portion....really makes a difference......takes it out of the standard lancaster stuff.  Didn't have too much
time on thursday, but did get four underlugs made and fit to the barrel, also inlet them into the stock and put the barrel
pins in place.   Today I got the lock inlet finshed.   If things progress as well next week it should be ready for stain by
friday.  If I had started with a blank, I might have the barrel inlet.....boy I never did like that "scut" work........Don

[Roger Fisher]

Foxy.....my apology, I didn't realize that had built the one below as your first gun.....good effort.    I've built a few from
blanks, now I find that I don't really need all that extra work.    I've been out of the gunbuilding business for nearly
five months, but, finally got back into it this week.   John handed me a barrel on monday fresh out of the riflling machine.
I already had a pre-shaped lancaster stock waiting.   I then proceeded to belt sand the flats and then breeched it, and
fit the tang into the stock.....actually did this on tuesday.   Since it is going to be another barn gun, I also sawed out
the profile for the butt.  On wednesday I sawed off the extra wood out along the barrel and did some re-shaping of the
butt portion of the stock, just to make it look different.    I shortened up the comb, and also put a slight concave shape
to the lower butt portion....really makes a difference......takes it out of the standard lancaster stuff.  Didn't have too much
time on thursday, but did get four underlugs made and fit to the barrel, also inlet them into the stock and put the barrel
pins in place.   Today I got the lock inlet finshed.   If things progress as well next week it should be ready for stain by
friday.  If I had started with a blank, I might have the barrel inlet.....boy I never did like that "scut" work........Don

Good to hear your at it again.  Beat the bursitis did you? 

[FoxRiver]

It took me 2 months to inlet the swamped Colerain oct to round.

that was the only crapy part of the whole thing....on this one

[FoxRiver]

Ah....so what size lock do I go with

[g.pennell]

I'd imagine for a James River gun one of the English import locks, either the Chambers round-faced or early Ketland would be appropriate.  Both are kinda on the large side.

I'm using an early Ketland on a Valley rifle I'm gathering parts for.  This one will be along the lines of the Haymaker rifle.

Greg

[FoxRiver]

thanks
I figured It would be a larger lock

[FoxRiver]

got a box full of parts the other day.
L@R lock
4 grade curly maple blank
butt plate
thimbles and entry pipe
single trigger
luggs
trigger gard
plan on making the sights, end cap, trigger plate, wood patch box

couldnt make up my mind witch barrel ta go with, be a little while yet.
Cant wate....startin ta BUG OUT