There is no possible way that a 1700s rifle, build in the 1700s, by a 1700s riflebuilder could compete with the rifles built by the guys on this site. We have just better stuff to work with. A light above our bench is just one little thing that makes attention to detail better. We have great "Sharp" tools, electric stuff, drill presses, lathe's, mills, oxyacetylene, Mig, Tig, great files, sandpaper, time, Air conditioning, heat, light, chemicals and so forth.
What those 1700s riflebuilders did with what they had to work with is just incredible. We, as a whole in this day and age, are obsessed with details.
I absolutely love the look of those old rifles, gouges, slips, "Oh manure"s and all.
Question for the forum. How perfect do you think the metal and wood were finished on long rifles in the 1700s? Did they finish them to the point of perfection that I see on this forum? The photos I see are beautiful not a flaw in the stock or the metal. Hours are spent to make them so. On a typical rifle build, not a presentation piece going to a Governor or such, would they have taken the time and did they have the equipment to make them perfect?
I love the look of a perfect rifle, but I also love the look of a rifle that shows it was made by hand with some of the builders soul imparted on it. I am planning my first build and just contemplating theses things. Thanks for your opinions.
Gunsmithing took a very long time; and it was a trade with a very high return.
Colonial gunmakers needed to have a variety of skills; woodworking, blacksmithing, engraving, carving and also a very astute capability of measuring and geometry. Most private smalls shop gunmakers had a few apprentices working under them to help out with the workload. The larger gun makers had almost an assembly line of workers doing individual tasks, one would work barrels, one would work locks, etc.
Tools were limited to manual tools, hand drills, files, chisels, hand turning lathes.
Regarding woodworking; colonial gunmakers used a variety of dyes to give the guns color, some were painted. Linseed oil was the most essential item, several coats were applied and this would darken with age. More expensive gunmakers used other types of oils such as early varieties of tung oils traded with China, however Linseed was preferred because it was widely available.
Regarding mistakes; gunsmiths worked very slowly; today we can work a gun from a kit in about 40-80 hours with household power tools and some advanced tools. It might take a gunsmith an entire day to drill and tap a lock plate to precise measurements and other day to turn iron parts to steel.
Regarding mistakes; mistakes to stocks were likely acceptable because they're easier to fix or hide. Mistakes to the barrels, or locks .... I wouldn't want to be in the shop on that day.
But the best way to learn is to buy an advanced kit from Track, or the Rifle Shoppe and work on with household tools. Not saying to put aside the power drill but give it a shot. A place to work with a good vice and anvil edge, Files... The file will be the tool most used, you'll need a few types of files, hacks saw, a sanding block with paper, a set of good chisels, set of rasps are helpful, a drill, rulers, a set of bitts, appropriate taps and countersinks and center punches, strong epoxy for some small inlays.
Some small helpful things are drill jigs for hitting pin holes on lugs.
Drill presses are always helpful, but not required if your slow and steady, start small.
for inletting colonial gunsmiths used candle black to identify areas in the stock that need to be reduced for wood to metal fit.
Nick
HH
