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Cobbled up Mountain Rifle

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seaguy

36 Cal.
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
108
Reaction score
7
Location
Bayou Emanuel
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I had been collecting up some parts for a no name Spanish 33 1/2” barrel I bought several years ago. I started assembling it a while back. The stock I got for it is a cva Mt. Rifle that had a hooked breech piece that I removed since the barrel had a tang. I fitted an older cva flint lock that was fairly easy. Since the barrel was an inch and a half longer (Kentucky) I decided against the extra weight of a barrel rib. I filed around on two pieces of 3/8 key stock to attach the ramrod nipples to the barrel. Had to drill and tap to mount them since there were no existing ones. Only thing left to do is drill a touch hole and make a ram. I’ll order a hickory stick from TOW. Lastly I will have to add two wedge cuts for same. So...Blue it or Brown it? Leaning towards Browning since the stock already is oldish. What do y’all think?
 
The German silver parts will age to come out a lighter gray, resembling steel. They weather differently than sterling does, which seems to stay whiter longer, but then turns a darker gray.

By all means brown the rod.
 
I’m going to be the odd man out and say...use some regular cold blueing, wipe the whole barrel down.. the scuff it back. Do it a few times .. then heat it up and try it again..scuffing it back each time.. I’ve done it a couple times and it looks pretty cool! It would be more of a French grey..then I’d strip the stock down, round off the front of the lock panels, take a little wood off here and there and use a dark brown or dark reddish alcohol based stain...that’s my thoughts.
 
The barrel is one I got on eBay and when it arrived I found that it was from Dixon’s (on the receipt). The thing must have laid around for some time since the outside of it had rusted places...slightly pitted, scratches and mini- dents all over. Inside was cozmolined so ok. Sights were on it and only two tapped holes in the fore end bottom flat , no touch hole. Its all cleaned up now but the remaining “character” is evident. I like the x4 idea,assuming that’s a brand of cold bluing.
I’m going to be the odd man out and say...use some regular cold blueing, wipe the whole barrel down.. the scuff it back. Do it a few times .. then heat it up and try it again..scuffing it back each time.. I’ve done it a couple times and it looks pretty cool! It would be more of a French grey..then I’d strip the stock down, round off the front of the lock panels, take a little wood off here and there and use a dark brown or dark reddish alcohol based stain...that’s my thoughts.
. The distress on the barrel should lend itself nicely to this process. Good idea S. Kenton. I will give all this some thought. I also thought about using Ospho,burnt motor oil and heat.
 
X4 means he’s agreein’ with the recommendations of three posters before him.
 
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Got it. X or times as a multiplier. Not hittin on all four yet,only on first cup. Here’s a closer look at the barrel. The wedges are Ted $ and called iron though they look like nickel.
 
View attachment 10619 Got it. X or times as a multiplier. Not hittin on all four yet,only on first cup. Here’s a closer look at the barrel. The wedges are Ted $ and called iron though they look like nickel.
That has all the earmarks of becoming a GREAT looking mountain rifle! Whatever you decide to do , show us when your done! Next time I get a chance to buy one a moutain rifle or a CVA plains rifle, I’m doing it. I’ll do the dark stain on the stock and French grey on the hardware...
 
Seaguy. Your post is encouraging. I picked up a Mountain Rifle stock several years ago thinking to build one up from Deer Creek parts inventory. I found a kit for one cheaper than the cost of spare parts and built that instead. Good shooter, that one. But now I have this half stock and I have revised the idea to create a Frankengun from that. Thanks for the idea!
 
Right. Make something that has your ideas. Just waited too long. I remember when cva had adds in the Sunday paper . Kentucky kit 69.95
Here’s what I’ve done with the stock. I had a little can of Kona stain. Got some red paint and mixed up some with the kona ( like dark chocolate) about 75:25 kept testing on some white oak till I got what I wanted. Both are oil base. That old kit maple is hard as my head. It’s more like painting than staining. After it’s good and dry I have some Watco danish oil I like to use. Leaves a sorta dull shine. Got the hickory ram stick from TOW. I think this looks a lot better than the way it was. I also ordered a thumb piece and a side plate in nickel. Don’t care for just those little steel washers on the lock screws. I’m starting to eye that patch box now. If I find a good piece of maple that thing goes too. Going for the Cherry wood look. Not sure if y’all noticed but I cut and smoothed up those sharp things sticking out on the trigger gard. It’s more like the ones that came on the Kentucky only steel ha! I mean faux iron.
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I got real lucky buying that stock off fleabay. A few stains that show but not a crack or chip in it. If I could find the right piece of antler i’d replace that pot metal front end thing too. I havent seen a nickel one. That would look different.
 
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