Storm
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2013
- Messages
- 10
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Greetings!
My name is Storm (not my "official" but I use this IRL) from Hungary. I've just registered here to ask some help with my project.
I'm planning to try and build a more or less unique wheellock pistol, or maybe carbine from scratch - except the barrel which I want to buy for optimum accuracy and safety.
The final piece should be similar to this:
I plan to work slowly as I have the time and money, mostly using hand tools. However, I never touched a muzzle loader, even if I did research and went to see some originals in museums, so I have a LOT of questions.
I will start as soon as I can turn the smaller room of my house into a small workshop, in best case in 1-2 months, but probably later. Until that I will do the research.
I have Lauber's plans but I want a unique piece, and also heard those have many mistakes and inaccuracies, so I will probably come up with my own slightly modified design, and work piece-by piece, in functional order.
First of all, if anyone can point me to other plans, or other technical information regarding wheellocks, I would be grateful. I've seen some links in this forum but they are all old and dead.
Second, I already have a set of practical questions, and hope that someboy might be able to help with them. here they are:
1;
I understand most of the wheellock's working, but some things I see on originals confuse me. Some of them have additional levers and other devices on the outside of the lock late, usually behind the wheel, and I couldn't figure what they are. Example:
See the two devices above the trigger and behind the wheel.
2;
Did all wheellocks use the V spring with chain attached, or where there other solutions for the main spring?
3;
Do you know of any safety mechanism wheellocks used? If yes, can you link some pictures or plans, and explain how they work?
4;
Some gunsmithes came up with mindblowing, brilliant unique mechanisms that amyn would never believe are truly authentic, old designs. I'm interested in these, and might want to use some in my design (or in a future gun I might build for I don't want to over-complicate my first one).
4 / B;
I'm especially interested in built in winding mechanisms that replace the separate winding key. I know such existed, but couldn't find any good pictures.
5;
How does one hold a Tschinke style rifle?! The butt is so sloped, and it has metal parts sticking out of it, I cannot imagine you can place that against your shoulder. Also the trigger is very far behind, I just cannot imagine how you hold that without forcefully bending your arm to some very uncomfortable position. Also, is the trigger guard that looks like it is shaped for fingers put outside of it actually functional that way, or it is just a form of ornament?
Example:
6;
Did they ever use browning/blueing back in the main wheellock period, or it came much later? I didn't see any with colored metal, but it doesn't mean it couldn't exist.
7;
I don't know where to buy a barrel (and the fact it needs to be shipped to Hungary also counts for I will have a relatively low budget). If I understand right, posting links to sellers would be against forum rules, so if you know any trustworthy barrel supplier, please send me a private message. The more options to chose from the better. I would prefer something slightly ornate rather than plain, and am thinking about octagonal to round.
7 / B;
Is it plausible for a relatively early wheellock to have rifled barrel, or were they all smooth bore?
Thanks in advance!
Honestly, I want to aim for a style I would call "plausible" - that is, rather than replicating existing pieces, making it unique, but in such a way that it could have existed back then, even if that particular combination was never made, but theoretically, could have been.
My name is Storm (not my "official" but I use this IRL) from Hungary. I've just registered here to ask some help with my project.
I'm planning to try and build a more or less unique wheellock pistol, or maybe carbine from scratch - except the barrel which I want to buy for optimum accuracy and safety.
The final piece should be similar to this:
I plan to work slowly as I have the time and money, mostly using hand tools. However, I never touched a muzzle loader, even if I did research and went to see some originals in museums, so I have a LOT of questions.
I will start as soon as I can turn the smaller room of my house into a small workshop, in best case in 1-2 months, but probably later. Until that I will do the research.
I have Lauber's plans but I want a unique piece, and also heard those have many mistakes and inaccuracies, so I will probably come up with my own slightly modified design, and work piece-by piece, in functional order.
First of all, if anyone can point me to other plans, or other technical information regarding wheellocks, I would be grateful. I've seen some links in this forum but they are all old and dead.
Second, I already have a set of practical questions, and hope that someboy might be able to help with them. here they are:
1;
I understand most of the wheellock's working, but some things I see on originals confuse me. Some of them have additional levers and other devices on the outside of the lock late, usually behind the wheel, and I couldn't figure what they are. Example:
See the two devices above the trigger and behind the wheel.
2;
Did all wheellocks use the V spring with chain attached, or where there other solutions for the main spring?
3;
Do you know of any safety mechanism wheellocks used? If yes, can you link some pictures or plans, and explain how they work?
4;
Some gunsmithes came up with mindblowing, brilliant unique mechanisms that amyn would never believe are truly authentic, old designs. I'm interested in these, and might want to use some in my design (or in a future gun I might build for I don't want to over-complicate my first one).
4 / B;
I'm especially interested in built in winding mechanisms that replace the separate winding key. I know such existed, but couldn't find any good pictures.
5;
How does one hold a Tschinke style rifle?! The butt is so sloped, and it has metal parts sticking out of it, I cannot imagine you can place that against your shoulder. Also the trigger is very far behind, I just cannot imagine how you hold that without forcefully bending your arm to some very uncomfortable position. Also, is the trigger guard that looks like it is shaped for fingers put outside of it actually functional that way, or it is just a form of ornament?
Example:
6;
Did they ever use browning/blueing back in the main wheellock period, or it came much later? I didn't see any with colored metal, but it doesn't mean it couldn't exist.
7;
I don't know where to buy a barrel (and the fact it needs to be shipped to Hungary also counts for I will have a relatively low budget). If I understand right, posting links to sellers would be against forum rules, so if you know any trustworthy barrel supplier, please send me a private message. The more options to chose from the better. I would prefer something slightly ornate rather than plain, and am thinking about octagonal to round.
7 / B;
Is it plausible for a relatively early wheellock to have rifled barrel, or were they all smooth bore?
Thanks in advance!
Honestly, I want to aim for a style I would call "plausible" - that is, rather than replicating existing pieces, making it unique, but in such a way that it could have existed back then, even if that particular combination was never made, but theoretically, could have been.