Wood under rib question.........

[Skychief]

How are wood under ribs fixed to the barrel?

What woods make the best under ribs?

As always, many thanks! :bow:

 

[Stophel]

I have been told that the wood ribs on New England rifles are made of hickory, and they are attached with tenons and pins, just like pinning the barrel into the stock.

 

[Birddog6]

If I were to make one from wood, I would make it from ebony. (Rosewood if I could not find a suitable piece of ebony) Most likely would use staple underlugs as less to cover up, & cross pins to retain to the wood rib to the barrel. Have not seen a original rifle (in hand) to examine, but have seen 2 halfstock contemporary rifles with wood ribs.
That being said, a steel underrib is by far superior in all ways.

 

[Robby]

Skychief, The picture shown is one I am working on right now. the studs are brass, a little 1/6" nub was filed on them, a shallow 1/16" hole was drilled into the barrel, and they were soldered on. This is the third one of these I have made. The first two were made with a swamped barrel, and the studs for holding the rib were brass as well, but I dovetailed them into the barrel. It gives it a nice affect with the brass dovetails every three inches, running down the barrel. I don't have pictures of them, made them for my son's and they are out of state. The wood I used was from the stock I used to make the gun, in this case, cherry, the other two were curly maple. You could use wood to match, or a different species, that would accent the gun, it is really a matter of taste. It is not as strong as a steel rib, but it is surprisingly strong.
Robby

 

[rich pierce]

An underrib does not need to be strong. It's just a place to hang a ramrod. Wooden ones are a neat feature on New England halfstocks.

 

[C_Laubach]

Here is a original New England half-stock by Silas Allen.

Chris Laubach

 

[C_Laubach]

The Silas Allen posted was done in the following manner;

Under Lug

Under Rib (hickory)

Muzzle

Assem

Chris Laubach

 

[rich pierce]

wonderful illustrations, thanks!

 

[jbrent]

Good job on the illustrations - Now, How do they hang the RR Thimbles?

 

[davy]

Nice! :thumbsup: Never a day goes by that I do not learn sumthin new about this business!

Davy :hmm: :grin:

 

[Packdog]

I've seen one Southern gun with a wood unrib. Not sure how it was attached. It looked to be of the same wood as the stock. Maple.

 

[Robby]

Chris, Thats exactly how I did the two with the swamped barrels. Nice graphics!
Robby

 

[C_Laubach]

Good job on the illustrations - Now, How do they hang the RR Thimbles?

Thimbles are inlet just like you would for a full-stock and pinned.

Here is one I did many years ago

Chris Laubach

 

[Skychief]

Chris, many, many thanks! Was that Silas Allen rifle used in the making of Swampy's New England Apple wood rifle? Looks like it....pure DROOL-MATERIAL! :thumbsup:

 

[greymount]

Chris, I was wondering if you have any other photos of the Silas Allen Half-stock? I currently have a New England half-stock kit patterned after a Silas Allen. I am interested on any detailed photos especially of the tang and lock areas.

 

[C_Laubach]

Chris, I was wondering if you have any other photos of the Silas Allen Half-stock? I currently have a New England half-stock kit patterned after a Silas Allen. I am interested on any detailed photos especially of the tang and lock areas.

PM sent



Chris Laubach

 

[rabjr]

Chris, many, many thanks! Was that Silas Allen rifle used in the making of Swampy's New England Apple wood rifle? Looks like it....pure DROOL-MATERIAL! :thumbsup:

Chris has never commented on any of my N.E guns, so I'd rather you leave me out of this and just listen to what he has to say. :v