I made a rifle

[HighUintas]

Hi All,

I built a rifle. It is done, with the exception of the engraving. It will take me a long time to learn that and I'll get it added eventually, so I'm calling this rifle ready to start getting beat up.

It started as a Jim Beckwourth rifle, and then became something inspired by the William Clark rifle made by Philip Creamer and the famous Hawken rifles. It is supposed to be an 1825 rifle, maybe made by a new gunsmith in southern Illinois that was impressed by Creamer and Jake Hawken.

This rifle is supposed to be as new or slightly used. Bright steel but with a bit of Birchwood Casey's brass black rubbed mostly back. I left the rear sight much darker to dull the shine in full sun, even though it is obviously darker than the barrel. 36" colerain 58 cal., 7/16" rod. Chambers late ketland lock with the rear tit removed from the plate. Stock blank provided by Allen Martin. Davis triggers. Hawken butt plate and highly modified Ohio guard. The Ohio guard sort of throws this out of the time period, but I was hoping it would be modified far enough away from being "Ohio" that it would just be a good looking guard. Plain pipes that I modified. I made the keys, escutcheons, inlay, toeplate. Made the patchbox side plates from sheet and the finial/door was a kit hinge. Patch box is copied from the Creamer/Clark rifle. Finish is gilsonite in turp, then LMF Lancaster maple, permalyn sealer as sealer and finish.

Feel free to critique as much as you see fit for things that could be improved, based on what I've stated. There's a few obvious goofs I'm aware of that I didn't have the skills to fix properly... Off side lock panels lock bolt hole #1, mis-drilled tang bolt.

Thank you Herb Troester and the late Louie Parker.

 

[HighUintas]

More

 

[HighUintas]

More

 

[IanH]

Your craftsmanship is second only to your photography. I don't know how "correct" it is and neither do I care, it's a fine job, almost too fine as it doesn't even look hand made. Please do go shoot it and get some real "patina" on it!

 

[Dutch7]

The fit and finish are very good, well done.

 

[BillyC]

Something to be very proud of for sure.

 

[user 31232]

Hi All,

I built a rifle. It is done, with the exception of the engraving. It will take me a long time to learn that and I'll get it added eventually, so I'm calling this rifle ready to start getting beat up.

It started as a Jim Beckwourth rifle, and then became something inspired by the William Clark rifle made by Philip Creamer and the famous Hawken rifles. It is supposed to be an 1825 rifle, maybe made by a new gunsmith in southern Illinois that was impressed by Creamer and Jake Hawken.

This rifle is supposed to be as new or slightly used. Bright steel but with a bit of Birchwood Casey's brass black rubbed mostly back. I left the rear sight much darker to dull the shine in full sun, even though it is obviously darker than the barrel. 36" colerain 58 cal., 7/16" rod. Chambers late ketland lock with the rear tit removed from the plate. Stock blank provided by Allen Martin. Davis triggers. Hawken butt plate and highly modified Ohio guard. The Ohio guard sort of throws this out of the time period, but I was hoping it would be modified far enough away from being "Ohio" that it would just be a good looking guard. Plain pipes that I modified. I made the keys, escutcheons, inlay, toeplate. Made the patchbox side plates from sheet and the finial/door was a kit hinge. Patch box is copied from the Creamer/Clark rifle. Finish is gilsonite in turp, then LMF Lancaster maple, permalyn sealer as sealer and finish.

Feel free to critique as much as you see fit for things that could be improved, based on what I've stated. There's a few obvious goofs I'm aware of that I didn't have the skills to fix properly... Off side lock panels lock bolt hole #1, mis-drilled tang bolt.

Thank you Herb Troester and the late Louie Parker.

Beautiful!

 

[smokepolehall]

That my friend that is an eye catcher of a fine rifle you have made. You may have the eye to see your own flaws but i did not see them. Mighty fine rifle you built.

 

[2 shots]

did you grow that tree around those metal parts? very,VERY nice

 

[erhunter]

Man, that's a great rifle you made sir! AWESOME job!

 

[BoomStick]

Lovely gun. As others have said, the metal to wood fit and overall finish is excellent. Well done!

 

[Okie Hog]

That is a beautiful rifle: A work of art.

 

[Daveboone]

Beautiful rifle, I wanna shoot it!!!

 

[JEBMs]

Immaculate fit! Beautiful, one of a kind rifle

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

HUZZAH!

 

[sheriff john]

Really nice. ARe you speaking about the Louie Parker that lived in Missouri ?

 

[HighUintas]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.

Really nice. ARe you speaking about the Louie Parker that lived in Missouri ?

Yes, that Louie Parker. He took measurements of the original and made a copy of the Creamer rifle.

 

[HSmithTX]

The execution of that rifle is really really really nice! Superb work.

If it were me building I think I would have thinned the wrist down a hair vertically and a couple hairs in width, maybe an eighth inch to a heavy eighth on the width. It’s hard to see even in your pics that are outstanding, but I’d probably narrow the stock in front of the lock all the way to the nose cap, maybe a eighth of an inch to take a little roundness out of the overall profile (cross section) and get a little more definition to the curve on the belly and the curve over to the barrel flat.

Your forestock at the barrel flats looks to be one for others to refer to as an example. Thin, straight and nailed the height on the flat. Cheek piece and patch box are also highlights for me.

That’s all the nits I can pick on your rifle. The idea, parts, and execution I like very much. This rifle is an effort you should be very proud of.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

All I see is a beautifully crafted rifle! Nicely done.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

That is a very cool rifle! Well done. You certainly have the chops!

Just curious how thick is the web between the barrel and ramrod?