Books- Building Flintlocks?

[Greebe]

Hey guys,

I am going to be getting the parts for my first flintlock build. I actually assembled one long ago, but this time I want to do more of the work.

Anyways I am looking for recommendations on books for building a flintlock rifle. I am also considering making the stock from scratch as well.

Here are a few books I have seen listed on TOTW. Which ones are the best for what I want to do?

"Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle" http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/321/1/BOOK-ABPL

"The Modern Kentucky Rifle" http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/304/1/BOOK-MKR

"Woodwork, Volume One" http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/BOOK-W-V1

"The Gunsmith of Grenville County: Building the American Longrifle" http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/321/1/BOOK-GGC

"Recreating the American Longrifle" http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/321/3/BOOK-RAL


Are there any others I should look at?

Thanks,
Greebe

 

[ZUG]

If I was to buy just ONE of the books you have listed it would be - "The Gunsmith of Grenville County: Building the American Longrifle" (which I do have). It covers all the info that you need at this stage of your building career. My first book was the original "Recreating The American Longrifle" by Wm. Buchele & G.Shumway. It is a fine book also. The new version has been up-dated but I think the "The Gunsmith of Grenville County" will serve you better.

 

[necchi]

Exactly what ZUG said, if possible get both of his recommendations.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Those will show you HOW to build a rifle, but they won't help a lot when it comes to WHAT to build, and all the little details. For that you'll need a bunch more books, and surf the web endlessly to look at all the little bitty things. Carving and engraving (which really set individual rifles apart, and is the big difference in retail value price point) are their own animals. For my first build I built a very plain gun, from a pre-carve, and left all the other stuff off, like inlays, a patch box, carving, and engraving. Now I do that stuff, but the first souiree in to it is going to be fraught with mistakes, and it will be a few builds down the road before you know enough not to make them (or, more properly, what to do with what tool and when).

 

[jamesthomas]

I found that the "Recreating The American Longrifle" book was easier to understand than the Gunsmith of Greenville County book myself.

 

[Blackbruin]

Chuck dixons book is comparable to building longrifles for dummies version, each one has things that can help as a whole, so buy all three. IMHO all you need is chucks, patience, tools, and perseverance!

 

[Greebe]

Thanks guys for the input. I am going to order a few now and then get the rest later.

 

[THOM]

Here's a nice book that explains a ton of stuff about long rifles... She's a neat lady to deal with.. Longrifle Construction Manual;Building with a pre-shaped stock...Susanne Bicio.... lots of detail..
hope this helps..
weather wellish
Thom

 

[THOM]

Here tis : http://www.historicalarmsmaker.com/publications.html

 

[stuartg]

I may be a little late on this, but thought I'd share my two cents. I just went through this situation when starting my first build several months ago. I bought the three most talked about books: Gunsmith of Grenville County, Recreating The American Longrifle, and the Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle. I found the most helpful books to be the first two. The Chuck Dixon book was helpful in theory, but didn't go into enough detail on the "how-to" parts. Plus, I favor actual pictures of the procedures.

 

[Pete G]

Don't bother with "The Modern Kentucky Rifle" It was written about 50 years ago before Joe Kindig had published his book, so most people didn't really know what a Kentucky was except that it had a lock and a long barrel.

 

[Staggerwing]

Agree! I have all three and they complement each other well.