I want to learn how to make a caplock from scratch

Is there a book or videos that will help? I appreciate the advice.

google a guy named Georg Lauber. has a book on the subject, cheap.

You wanna make the lock and barrel too?

Why? I understand why you might want to learn how to do it---for the purpose of learning how. But, if the purpose of learning how to do it is to have a finished lock, with the myriad of other locks out there, (including the gun maker's blank lock plate style) is there nothing out there that's already commercially available that can be modified to suit your needs?

Foxfire 5. Listed on e-bay

Lobo505 said:

Is there a book or videos that will help? I appreciate the advice.

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There are many resources that can tell you how to build a rifle. The skills needed to do so are varied and come at a price - years of hard work...

Not trying to talk you out of building from scratch or into building from a kit. Kits come in all types from basic materials with a lot of wood and metal work, to almost finished. The advantage of starting with a kit is matching it to your abilities. You are building and learning. The Gun Builders Bench has a wealth of information on builds. Mistakes are often the result of not asking questions you didn't know to ask. My mistakes usually come from rushing and/or not checking fit and guessing. Learning from mistakes on a cheap/inexpensive project is not as painful as expensive projects. I pray success on whatever you build.

theoldredneck said:

Not trying to talk you out of building from scratch or into building from a kit. Kits come in all types from basic materials with a lot of wood and metal work, to almost finished. The advantage of starting with a kit is matching it to your abilities. You are building and learning. The Gun Builders Bench has a wealth of information on builds. Mistakes are often the result of not asking questions you didn't know to ask. My mistakes usually come from rushing and/or not checking fit and guessing. Learning from mistakes on a cheap/inexpensive project is not as painful as expensive projects. I pray success on whatever you build.

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Thanks Redneck!

The hardest thing to do when building a rifle is not necessarily not removing enough material, but removing just a little bit too much. That teeny pile of iron filings on the bench is never going to become a part of your gun again. Ever.

Experience cannot be bought, only earned by doing.

The Building Chambers Little Fellow post is a really good read. As a kid well over 50 years ago there was a cheap flintlock handgun kit. It was basically a rough cut block of wood, rough machined barrel and parts. When finished it looked like a kid had carved the wood with a dull chainsaw, used a cutting torch and large grinder to finish metal. Used kitchen matches to light powder in flashpan. It was butt ugly, but I called it finished. Years later found a caplock rifle kit that was cheap. Using better tools and having a kit that didn't require anything but the final cutting and fitting of lock into stock. Minor barrel fitting, butt plate etc. Some stock and metal finishing etc. Enough fitting and finishing to satisfy my desire at the moment to build. It also taught me a lot about the relationship of trigger, lock, etc and how stock was cut for each part to function with the next. The little bit of cutting and fitting was important that it be right for everything to be right. That simple build kit taught me some really valuable lessons. The finished gun functions like should. I shoot it occasionally, it stands in corner of shop as a reminder to take my time and things will come out right. It is not a beautiful build but functions perfect, what I was after at the time. Some of the best time and money I have spent. I have learned over the years that instead of scratch building I would rather modify an existing build or buy something. Enjoy shooting more than building at this point in life. Wouldn't take anything for lessons learned. Experience is wonderful teacher. Follow peace, have patience, don't rush or hurry, measure twice, double check, cut slow, check fit often. Read all you can. Find a builder and watch if at all possible. Stop, backup, have a sip of coffee, look at everything. When things are not going right stop, lay everything down and go do something else. Tomorrow things may look different. Never work on a project with your head full of the problems of life. Mistakes come easy when you are not focused on the project. Been there, done that. Cut a perfect dovetail on wrong flat while thinking about problem at work. DUH, I could write a thick book about things not to do. Don't give up on desire to build. Look at all your options, enjoy what you do. Make good memories while you build.

Lobo505 said:

Is there a book or videos that will help? I appreciate the advice.

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The easiest lock to make is an underhammer! Jeff Baron has a book detailing construction methods to build a variety of UH locks..

The Mule Ear is questionable as next easiest ? Although they can be finicky and sometimes a p.i.t.a I like and build them as not everyone has one !

Colin Stolzer has a book about making a percussion lock. Well detailed and explained. Think mine is on loan.. George Lauber 's book has drawing n some details but suffer from inaccurately scaled drawing due to the print process. ( and maybe his own measurements ?) So a photo copy n go as as a template can result in frustration . .

Homemade flint locks are the hardest to get to 'look' right and more so to function properly. Don't get me wrong, there are guys that make them by hand.. but they are a minority for the most part. There is a Lauber book on flintlocks as well as wheel locks..

So you know, I made my first few locks with nothing more than a baby drill press, combo sander and files!!

Respect Always
Metalshaper / Jonathan

Hey Lobo, If you really want to build from scratch you will find your way. Whatever you do ignore the naysayers, they will drag you down, then you as many others will always look back and think what I should have done. Go for it!
Dave

Not pretty but and still needs refining. Scratch built lock, Mossberg .22 barrel smooth bored and reamed to .27. Ain't pretty but it shoots. If an old boy from Alabama can do this you can do it and even better. Get started

1950DAVE said:

Hey Lobo, If you really want to build from scratch you will find your way. Whatever you do ignore the naysayers, they will drag you down, then you as many others will always look back and think what I should have done. Go for it!
Dave

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No one has told him he can't or shouldn't...
As he hasn't stated his level of wood-/metal-working experience and his question suggests a lack of experience (at least in building muzzleloaders), people are making him aware that it isn't a simple task.

Thanks, everyone, for the info. I have more experience woodworking, but have dabbled with forging in making file knives.

I’m interested I making the easiest type of percussion weapon for a SHTF scenario. I’m not new to weapons, I was a US Army armorer—which doesn’t mean much—but I’m not afraid to try things, or to get dirty doing it.

Lobo505 said:

I’m interested I making the easiest type of percussion weapon for a SHTF scenario.

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Underhammer...doesn't get much simpler than that when it comes to percussion.
That said, you can run out of caps but can usually find a rock that will give you a spark.

Black Hand said:

Underhammer...doesn't get much simpler than that when it comes to percussion.
That said, you can run out of caps but can usually find a rock that will give you a spark.

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If you can't find flints you can easily convert a flintlock into a matchlock for a SHTF scenario, or just start with a matchlock. That said, a bow can be made from the landscape with greater ease and efficiency with the most minimal of tools. Bows are way faster to reload too.

Bows are relatively easy, it's the arrows that can be a challenge. But shooting a stick bow does take considerably more skill/practice than a gun.
If I was looking for a SHTF gun, my muzzleloader would still come in second...

i would suggest starting with a good video from here http://americanpioneervideo.com/info.html