Finally the Trade Rifle is ready to finish

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 19, 2024

Was wondering if I would ever get to this point on this thing. This was a plain maple blank that had probably been sitting in the workshop for over 30 years. Man that wood got hard, I think I spent more time sharpening chisels than I actually spent working on it. I have wanted a trade rifle for as long as I can remember but Now wishing I had made an English Pattern instead of the Lancaster pattern. I don't really like Lancaster rifles. OH well this was about the finish anyhow. Did a final test strip for the finish and will start on that now.

EndoftheLine · Nov 21, 2024

ronaldrothb49 said:
Was wondering if I would ever get to this point on this thing. This was a plain maple blank that had probably been sitting in the workshop for over 30 years. Man that wood got hard, I think I spent more time sharpening chisels than I actually spent working on it. I have wanted a trade rifle for as long as I can remember but Now wishing I had made an English Pattern instead of the Lancaster pattern. I don't really like Lancaster rifles. OH well this was about the finish anyhow. Did a final test strip for the finish and will start on that now.

Looking good! Where did you get your hardware?

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 21, 2024

EndoftheLine said:
Looking good! Where did you get your hardware?

Modified parts I had laying around

wiscoaster · Nov 21, 2024

I vote for #3.

IanH · Nov 21, 2024

I vote for wrap it with iron baling wire and wave a propane torch along the wires for faux stripes, then I second #3.

ead · Nov 21, 2024

Awesome, it looks just like a J. Henry trade rifle.
I always wanted to build one. If you don't mind my asking, Were you able to buy this patchbox on the market and what brand is the lock, Chambers perhaps?

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 21, 2024

ead said:
Awesome, it looks just like a J. Henry trade rifle.
I always wanted to build one. If you don't mind my asking, Were you able to buy this patchbox on the market and what brand is the lock, Chambers perhaps?

I am pretty sure that the lock is probably an old DGW lock. It is a little smaller than an actual Henry lock. It has a roller on the frizzen spring and I could modify it to look like a Henry. Chambers does have a lock that is close to the correct size and could be modified to look right. I am trying to use up parts that I have in stock got to stop buying parts and use what I have I will be 75 next month. The patch box was a plain kit. I made a pattern from the Trade Rifle Sketch Book and cut it out by hand. Not hard to do.

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 21, 2024

IanH said:
I vote for wrap it with iron baling wire and wave a propane torch along the wires for faux stripes, then I second #3.

Pretty sure they didn't have propane torches 200 years ago.

IanH · Nov 21, 2024

ronaldrothb49 said:
Pretty sure they didn't have propane torches 200 years ago.

Okay, then heat a poker orange hot in your coal forge and use that.

Norman Brooks · Nov 22, 2024

I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

olskool · Nov 22, 2024

I vote for nothing fake, let it be what it is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Johnny Too-Tall · Nov 22, 2024

I vote you paint it pick your favorite color then draw the designs on it.

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 22, 2024

Norman Brooks said:
I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

That site has been gone for awhile. I have seen a couple of original Leman's. There does seem to be a pattern on them so I think that is probably how Leman did it. What did you use for the stripes? Your rifle does look nice.

Norman Brooks · Nov 22, 2024

I used Laurel Mountain Forge stain to stain and stripe with two different colors. I would recommend practicing on a scrap piece of maple before jumping into it.

ronaldrothb49 said:
That site has been gone for awhile. I have seen a couple of original Leman's. There does seem to be a pattern on them so I think that is probably how Leman did it. What did you use for the stripes? Your rifle does look nice.

ChuckJonesWagon · Nov 22, 2024

Your rifle, your choice and whatever you do I'm sure it will look great.

Have you ever considered red?

reddogge · Nov 23, 2024

Here is your gun as pictured in the book "Into the Wilderness". It is identified only as a Henry rifle. I used it as a model when building my son a copy of it in the early 80s. As you see it has some curl to it and the patch box is engraved. I took a class from Greg Dixon on engraving and engraved my son's patch box. Not perfect but serviceable.

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 23, 2024

reddogge said:
Here is your gun as pictured in the book "Into the Wilderness". It is identified only as a Henry rifle. I used it as a model when building my son a copy of it in the early 80s. As you see it has some curl to it and the patch box is engraved. I took a class from Greg Dixon on engraving and engraved my son's patch box. Not perfect but serviceable.View attachment 363624

I know that the Trade Gun builders made Fancier ones that are called Chief's grade so I think that is probably what that one is, Just one a little nicer than the regular rifle. I thought about engraving some beauty lines around the patch box but I only have about 60% use of my right hand now so engraving can be somewhat painful. Just not into it hurts so good so going to leave it plain.

ChuckJonesWagon · Nov 23, 2024

You're correct that the second picture that reddoge posted is the "Chief's grade" build. The pic I posted is the "regular" Trade gun trigger and trigger guard.

LongWalker · Nov 23, 2024

Norman Brooks said:
I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

Check here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110423080527/http://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/theclassroom.htm You'll need to scroll down a ways.

ronaldrothb49 · Nov 24, 2024

LongWalker said:
Check here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110423080527/http://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/theclassroom.htm You'll need to scroll down a ways.

I have been looking for that site for a couple years but could never find it. info from others on how to find it always came back site not found. Has some interesting info on different subjects. It doesn't seem to have the extensive info on doing the stripes that people have told me was there but some of the other info is very interesting. Thank you.

Finally the Trade Rifle is ready to finish

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

45 Cal.

Attachments

32 Cal

45 Cal.

75 Cal.

Klatch

32 Cal.

45 Cal.

45 Cal.

Klatch

45 Cal.

Attachments

32 Cal.

62 Cal.

45 Cal.

45 Cal.

Attachments

45 Cal.

45 Cal.

45 Cal.

45 Cal.

40 Cal

45 Cal.

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!