Bookie's Wheellock Project

The wheelie is finally getting underway. 1st Photo: The lock plate has been remodified at the upper rear portion of the tail to more resemble the original. The .62 cal. barrel is inlet and pinned, but the front 3/5ths still needs to be turned 1/2 round. The ramrod channel is carved and the hole drilled. The butt is half way profiled and you can see the round shape. 2nd Photo: Is the forearm being laid out so I can carve the ramrod channel. 3rd Photo: The stock is in my ramrod hole drilling fixture. Look closely and you can male out the 4 foot drill bit in place. The wood is STRIPED native Iowa walnut. The original that I am "copying" is a Dutch military carbine. Since my barrel is longer, the weapon will be a smooth rifle. Hope you enjoy the pics. Bookie

Nice photos and keep us posted! :winking:

Spitfire, I started inletting the lock today. It requires quite a bit of thought before starting as the internals are more numerous and much more complicated than a "standard" front action lock. The lock's guts will wrap around part of the barrel and breech plug as it seems because of the very close proximity of it all. (A bit daunting for this fat boy!) Will post another photo when I get the lock in. The next major issue will be which type of trigger to use and then how in the Sam Hill to get it installed. Cheers, Bookie

Here's the latest photo of the project. The lock was pretty tricky to inlet--particularly the curved front of the sear. (Glad I don't do this for a living.) Thought I had it complete, but then I put the barrel in the stock and....uh-ohh. Had to go and relieve the breech plug a tad for that pesky sear. Must have taken me about 5 hours to inlet the rascal, but at least it can be fully spanned and not rub or break any wood! GUNMAKER'S TIP: It's all in how you hold your tounge while inletting. Got the excess belly wood removed. Hope to slab down the sides tomorrow. Bookie

Very nice. That is a very pretty piece of wood, I like the bit ofcurl in the butstock, that is always a nice feature in a piece of walnut.

Bookie,
It's gonna be gorgeous! We should get together for a wheellock shoot. Maybe at Fiddlestick's place in Toad Suck, Haw Haw!
YHWH bless.
volatpluvia

It is not the speed of doing the job,but skill that increases with time with a job well done.Nice photo. :winking:

It's my intention of using this wheelie for Spring turkey hunting this year. (Figger if Leon can shoot them raindeers, I oughtta be able to hit one of them fat woodchickens. :grin: ) With that thought, I made the ramrod tip similar to one found on a shotgun. It's .56 cal in diameter and flat-faced for the wads.

i understand flintlocks how does a wheellock fire explain it to me

Jim:

i understand flintlocks how does a wheellock fire explain it to me

Click to expand...

You can see an animated display of a Wheellock firing at http://www.silcom.com/~vikman/isles/scriptorium/firearm/wheel.html

That site does have an error in that what is labeled as "flint" should be labeled "pyrite".

Slowmatch Forever!
Teleoceras

instead of a flint you use a pyrite?what makes the wheel spin/

Hi Jim! A mainspring slaved to the tumbler via a chain causes the wheel to turn--after you have spanned it in order to place tension on the system. Here is a photo of my lock from a few months ago. It is the only one I have ever built and with no instructions, it took about 8 months--IF I remember correctly. :haha:

i see how the wheel spinsbut how does it spark i heard thats not a flint but pyrite is it just friction from the wheel spinning i am confused theres a nice kit pistol at rifle shoppe i would nevertry to build that lock

Did you make your Lock from photos or a schematic?Looks really nice. :winking:

Gentlemen, The lock is a TRS kit that I assembled and modified as you see in the photo and which I have since further modified. The pyrite or "Fool's Gold", ignites the powder from the sparks caused from the pyrite striking the spinning wheel. The spinning wheel has grooves and notches in it's surface which remove bits of pyrite through friction. The heat generated from the friction causes the tiny bits of pyrite to incandess/ingnite/"spark". The sparks hit the powder and ignites it. Wire Grass area of Alabama?? I took chopper school at Ft. Rucker and lived in Ozark. Cheers, Bookie

Forge welded the 1 piece trigger guard today out in the blacksmith shop. Used a piece of 1/4" X 1/2" hot rolled steel. Here is a pic for your consideration. Cheers, Bookie

i got it figured out bookie but what is a spanner?

Jim, a spanner is the old and proper name for a wrench. I.E. a "Cresent wrench" is really an adjustable spanner. :thumbsup: A spanner is the wrench that fits on the tumbler axle (which fits through the wheel) ands once it's in place, you rotate the wrench to put the tension on the mainspring. Bookie

I live close enough to Kairns AAF that I can hear dustoff and any alerts!Not a problem since I am a son of a Navy Airdale Bookie! :winking:

The spanner was the key used to "span" a wheel lock. You couldn't cock them because they predate cocks :thumbsup: