Copy of an original blunderbuss

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davec2

davec2

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Back in 2016 I was commissioned to build a brass barreled blunderbuss. Here is the link to the original posts

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/blunderbuss.103402/

The fellow who I made this for has contacted me again about a smaller version. He happened across an original blunderbuss that was significantly smaller and lighter than then one I built for him in the link above. Here are some details:

Brass cannon barrel 12.5” long with clear proof & view marks and engraved “LONDON”
Brass mounts in good condition
Lock is marked “NICHOLSON” and is in excellent working condition
Back of the lock marked “IW”
Excellent wood, no cracks and no missing pieces
Bore is ~ 7 gauge ( ~0.9”)

The owner has asked me to make a near bench copy of it. Of course, the barrel is the hardest part to duplicate and I am heading toward machining it myself from bar stock. However, before I get started I wanted to ask this knowledgeable community for an assessment of this piece. This is really the very first original firearm that I have handled directly and it appears to be in excellent condition….at least to my untrained eye.



















 
davec2 said:
Back in 2016 I was commissioned to build a brass barreled blunderbuss. Here is the link to the original posts

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/blunderbuss.103402/

The fellow who I made this for has contacted me again about a smaller version. He happened across an original blunderbuss that was significantly smaller and lighter than then one I built for him in the link above. Here are some details:

Brass cannon barrel 12.5” long with clear proof & view marks and engraved “LONDON”
Brass mounts in good condition
Lock is marked “NICHOLSON” and is in excellent working condition
Back of the lock marked “IW”
Excellent wood, no cracks and no missing pieces
Bore is ~ 7 gauge ( ~0.9”)

The owner has asked me to make a near bench copy of it. Of course, the barrel is the hardest part to duplicate and I am heading toward machining it myself from bar stock. However, before I get started I wanted to ask this knowledgeable community for an assessment of this piece. This is really the very first original firearm that I have handled directly and it appears to be in excellent condition….at least to my untrained eye.



















Click to expand...
Here are a few more photos......









 
This is going to be a great project to follow. Thank you for sharing.
I am sure you're going to fo a fantastic job @davec2
If nothing else we know the metal casting and engraving will be amazing 😄
 
davec2 said:
.... before I get started I wanted to ask this knowledgeable community for an assessment of this piece.
Click to expand...
Our assessment? I say GO FOR IT! The proofs look great and everything else appears correct by my eye. In fact I have one just like it less with a 14" barrel, also brass, of same cannon muzzle shape, but with a folding bayonet on top of the barrel ... et no proof marks (???) on the barrel.
 
Gathering parts that are close to the original. Here is the original lock compared to one of Chamber's English fowler locks.....



Some options for the trigger guard.......







The guard with the acorn finial is a little too big in the bow and the bow is too narrow. I will go with the trigger guard with the fancier finial just for the size and shape of the bow.

This butt plate can be easily modified to almost exactly match the original....



This side plate is very close to the original but I may just duplicate the original by making a silicone mold and then doing a centrifugal casting in brass....



Rounded up the brass bar stock for the barrel. Got it set up in the lathe and started the pilot hole through. The bore will be about a 7 gage when finished.....







 
The new bore drill arrived finally from Drills & Cutters in Florida...bad timing on my part to order the drill a few days before the latest hurricane blew into their neck of the woods. However, it made it here safely. Now I need to modify the drill for use on brass. I will be out of the shop for a few of weeks (other contract work to do) so I will pick this up again in early November.


 
RMFnLA said:
How (and why) does one modify a drill for use on brass?
Click to expand...
Ground as it is now, with a positive rake to the cutting edges, the drill will grab and dig in deeper than it should…. Especially since I have drilled a pilot hole and the center point of the drill will not do any cutting. I will use a stone and very slightly flatten both cutting edges so that instead of any acute angle on the cutting edges both will be at near 90 degrees. This will drill fine in brass without grabbing but the drill will need to be re-sharpened if I want to drill anything else with it.
 
Amazing skills. Amazing project. I am so unbelievably envious of people with the right tools and the skills to use them properly. I cannot wait for this to continue!
 
CyrusP said:
Amazing skills. Amazing project. I am so unbelievably envious of people with the right tools and the skills to use them properly. I cannot wait for this to continue!
Click to expand...
CyrusP,

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I should be back at this project soon.,,,,;)

Dave C
 
CyrusP said:
Amazing skills. Amazing project. I am so unbelievably envious of people with the right tools and the skills to use them properly. I cannot wait for this to continue!
Click to expand...
Back in town for a bit and wanted to get a few more things done. Prepared the drill for drilling the bore. Knocked back the cutting edge to a 90 degree rake angle......






Started the prep on the trigger guard casting........Had to use some brass colored silver solder to patch a couple of casting voids.....








One of two options for the stock wood I will use.......


 
davec2 said:
Back in town for a bit and wanted to get a few more things done. Prepared the drill for drilling the bore. Knocked back the cutting edge to a 90 degree rake angle......






Started the prep on the trigger guard casting........Had to use some brass colored silver solder to patch a couple of casting voids.....








One of two options for the stock wood I will use.......


Click to expand...
Where do you get brass colored solder? Didnt know that was a think. Cool project!
 
davec2 said:
Got the brass barrel finish machined today. Here are a few photos....Drilling, reaming, sculpting the muzzle, etc. Will need to make the breach plug and lugs next.




















Click to expand...
I will need to proof this barrel before I go too far with the build. It is a 7 bore. It's made out of better material than the original (I'm fairly sure) and the bore is slightly smaller (i.e. thicker walls), so it should be fine. However, anyone know what a 7 bore proof charge should be ?


#@!! $#@* !!!! Just found the British Gun Barrel Proof Act of 1868.......here is an excerpt ......





For a 7 bore, look at the powder and projectile weights required for a first and second proof !!!!!! I want to proof the barrel but this looks more like I'm making a pipe bomb !!!
 

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