"Boys' Rifle"

Back in the mid 70's when I was young and poor; I was given a beautiful full stock blank that was splitabout a foot from the end, making it unusable for a long barreled rifle. I saw a picture of a Boys' Rifle in one of the Pennsylvania rifle books, and decided to try and make one. I was in my early 20's and had made a couple of rifles before. I saved my money and spent pretty much all I had on parts for the gun. I bought a Siler lock and a Green River? 54 cal barrel, as well as german silver castings for the fittings.

I put in a few hundred hours of work in about 3 months and came up with a short, full stock tack driver that handles so well I have used it for over 35 years as my deer rifle.

SANY0050 by okawbow, on Flickr

SANY0052 by okawbow, on Flickr

SANY0055 by okawbow, on Flickr

SANY0051 by okawbow, on Flickr

SANY0054 by okawbow, on Flickr

I like that rifle alot and I do mean alot....

The figure on that wood is beautiful. :bow:

That's a beautiful rifle you built.

Yes, your short rifle is very nice! But I want to know did you also build that double rifle? If so, what was the inspiration, what do you use it for, come forth with some details on the build and the specs, and for goodness sake post some more pictures. :thumbsup: :bow:

Hey there Jay T, welcome aboard. I'm gonna pick on you a little just to make a point that many people don't get. OK?

Now, I know you meant no offense, but only complementing the "figure" or quality of the wood on a builder's gun is generally considered, well....not much of a compliment. As we say, God gave the wood figure...we just enhanced it.

It's fine to add it after offering complements on inletting, architecture, quality of carving, finish, etc. But by itself is only a compliment to the builders "taste" and not his ability. It's just bad form and pays no tribute to the many hours of hard work that was dedicated to the overall build.

Again, not specifically addressed to you....it's good advice to everybody. Thanks for understanding. :hatsoff:

Enjoy, J.D.

Mr. Jones,

Fine rifle you've shared here. You should be very proud. This is nice rifle by any standard and when one takes into account that it was built in the mid 1970's it is outstanding.

When it comes to gun building, we are lucky to live in the information age with all of the resorces we have now.

I also struggled through building with nothing more than pictures and my work did not even come close to yours.

Do you happen to remember the finishing process you used on the stock? I and others would appreciate it if you shared that.

I would also like to see more of your work and compell you to share the details on that SxS rifle if you can.

Welcome aboard. Thanks and Enjoy, J.D.

I stand corrected by my comment about the figure of the wood. I see what you mean about the work of the craftsman being ignored. But, I think the way that you shaped the wood and then finished it enhances the figure. Beautiful work and you should be very proud. :v

The double rifle, I built in the early 80's. I made the locks, breach plug and tangs, and silver soldered the Numrich , 45 cal barrels to the rib I made at the machine shop in the factory I worked at the time. The barrels shoot dead on right and left. The right barrel is on at 50 yards, the left barrel is on at 100 yards. ( with maxiballs.)

The stock is cherry that I had laying around. I thinlk I bought the other steel parts from Dixie.

I just wanted a second shot for deer hunting. My wife took a buck with the rifle,(on the second shot by the way), but I have never shot a deer with it. I like carring the 54 flinter too much.

Chuck

I rubbed the stock with many coats of warm boiled linseed oil, and finished out with rubbed in bees wax. I stained the wood with cromiumn trioxide. The wood came from Ohio. A neighbor brought 20 blanks from the same tree with him when he mover to S. Illinois. He helped me on my first 2 rifles, and gave me the wood because he only made long rifles. All of his other wood was as good.

Thank you for sharing....both guns! I hope you stick around a while now that you've posted.

Enjoy, j.D.

Great looking rifle! I wish that I was that talented, to build one like that. :thumbsup: