I think you mean the progression of research for BC details and gaining the skills to build BCs? To begin....there wasn't a whole lot of info on BCs and the few builders who made BCs weren't that "open" w/ their info. But one BC builder did offer info and I'm very grateful to this builder. Also did research on my own by searching for any info on original BCs....very scarce to find.
BC LRs are very slender and petite as opposed to the early BC shown which had a "C" weight .54 bbl , thick webs and not enough wood was removed...wasn't "brave" enough.
The Pbox release was a "secret" at that time but again I rec'd pics from another BC builder which put me on the right path.
Wasn't pleased w/ the buttstock design on my BCs so made a tracing of the John Shuler BC shown in RCA1 and enlarged it on the computer to the stated height of the Shuler Bplate. Have used a template made from this tracing for all my subsequent builds. The reason I chose a John Shuler BC was the slightly curved combline, along w/ the more curved toeline both of which I thought were "prettier" than both being straight.
After a few attempts which were readily sold, my attempts at a truly styled BC progressed to the point where I needed to make the entry pipe w/ the elongated finial. The first of these were one piece, but then found that 2 pieces soldered together were easier to make.
Along w/ removing more wood for a very slender look, using a "B" weight bbl X46" lg and reducing the webs to 1/16" thick at the breech and 5/32" at the muzzle all contributed to a more slender BC. The thin 1/16" web at the breech req'd a different design for the bbl lug and a very accurate placement of the #6-32 front lock bolt.
A concave forestock molding wasn't found on any original BC, only incised...but decided on one for my BCs because it added to the slender look.
Didn't use an open ended Mcap w/ the RR groove because it looked "clubier" and actually some BCs had the closed ended Mcap which gave a more slender look at the muzzle.
Most of the original BCs had incised carving some of which became shallow due to wear, so I went w/ relief carving.
All my BC builds were from a blank...no suitable precarves were available and besides, some precarves don't save any time because of errors...some serious.
Some of the slenderizing was used on my Lancaster builds....not as much as w/ the BCs, but although they're early Lancasters, a little added to their looks. The bottom pic is a BC w/ one version of the elongated entry pipe.
Will be 90 yrs old this coming June ....so am very lucky indeed....Fred
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