Winter Project 2021

[Tom A Hawk]

We're off and running on a new build. This will be a .54 Isaac Haines pattern. I'm delighted with the stock from Pecatonica. There is plenty of meat left in critical areas to permit a perfect fit. First experience with a Rice swamped barrel and it looks like a dandy. Just finished draw filing it. Now the fun begins.

 

[longcruise]

Looking forward to following your progress. Did their lock mortise line up correctly?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Looking forward to following your progress. Did their lock mortise line up correctly?

I wont know for certain until the barrel has been seated and flash hole position determined but so far, its looking really good.

 

[Josh Sawyer]

Rice barrels are awesome. Very little finishing work to be done on them for the most part. With most of their barrels you can hit the flats with some 220 wrapped around a mill file and you’re done. This is very much unlike some barrels in which you could go into the steel wool business after draw filing them. Jason is also awesome to talk with on the phone and do business with.

Best Regards,

 

[bldtrailer]

watching this one what length and weight barrel did you get?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

watching this one what length and weight barrel did you get?

38" .54 cal, C profile. I'm already appreciating the way hangs. My full stock Hawken is a bit front heavy.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Web thickness is critical to a slim looking LR build. Most 3rd party inletters leave them on the thick side, around 1/4". A C-weight barrel is pretty thick to start with, so any excess thickness in the web will make for a "heavy" looking gun. With the lock already inlet you won't be able to move that downwards, but TH's are remarkably forgiving when it comes to location. If need be, with most pans, you CAN deepen them if you need to to give yourself adequate space in there to have enough powder to prime it. That's for later though.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Out of the five builds to date, the barrel channel on this Pecatonica stock is the best I've seen. It's been cut perfectly for the contour of the swamped barrel with an equal amount of wood left on either side. It was only necessary to remove a couple of thousandths to get a nice snug fit. The full stock Hawken from TOW was warped and thick on one side and so thin on the other I was unsure if I would be able to finish it properly.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I wont know for certain until the barrel has been seated and flash hole position determined but so far, its looking really good.

Fitted the lock plate tonight and have zero complaints regarding the mortise position.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Do you see the flat area on the tang back of the barrel? That's the breech hump that gets so much talk here. File and level the wood and the tang simultaneously to get rid of it.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Yes, I'm aware. Bending that stubby little tang was challenging. I'll dress it down going forward. Thanks.

On a separate note, I purchased a set of Iwasaki wood files from Woodcraft. OMG!, do they ever eat wood. Never seen a file or rasp like these before.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Update - 3/1

Things are progressing nicely. The lock, side plate, trigger, trigger guard and butt plate have been fitted and screws fitted and aligned. The barrel lugs and vent have been installed. The barrel, lock, trigger plate and screws have been browned.

The recommended location for the forward trigger guard cross pin is through the lock mortise molding and I found this location unappealing. By splicing a bit of cut off sprue to the trigger guard lug to increase its length, I am now able to hide the pin inside the lock mortise and under the side plate on the off side. When cut to final length the hidden pin will lie flush with the lock mortise wall and side plate inlet surface. This arrangement will give me a cleaner, more satisfying look.

 

[pooch156]

Do you see the flat area on the tang back of the barrel? That's the breech hump that gets so much talk here. File and level the wood and the tang simultaneously to get rid of it.

I use different diameters of steel round bar to bend the tang over. I've never had "breech hump".

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I use different diameters of steel round bar to bend the tang over. I've never had "breech hump".

We are now "over the hump" but thanks.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

We're off and running on a new build. This will be a .54 Isaac Haines pattern. I'm delighted with the stock from Pecatonica. There is plenty of meat left in critical areas to permit a perfect fit. First experience with a Rice swamped barrel and it looks like a dandy. Just finished draw filing it. Now the fun begins.

View attachment 59482

I have two Rice swamped barrels and they are top notch! Hope you have the Rice octagon barrel vice jaws too. If you don't they are most helpful!

 

[pooch156]

Tang that I bent & shaped. No hump.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I am enter the 5th month of work on the Isaac Haines. All the parts have been fitted and now getting to the relief carving, inlay and sliding patch box. Given our current advantages of available locks, stocks and barrels etc. I'm wondering how the old time gunsmiths managed to make a living at this....

 

[Mulebrain]

More inspiration for me, to get busy finishing a build and getting started on the other

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I finished the Isaac Haines project today. 11 months of fun and entertainment. Better than anything on television and just in time for deer season.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I missed this thread until today. The rifle looks terrific, and the relief carving is awe inspiring!

Well done, my friend!

Notchy Bob