Finally the Trade Rifle is ready to finish

ronaldrothb49 · Tuesday at 8:11 PM

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 · 2024-11-21T15:54:32-0500

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 · 2024-11-21T17:08:30-0500

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

Modified parts I had laying around

wiscoaster · 2024-11-21T17:41:15-0500

I vote for #3.

IanH · 2024-11-21T18:05:54-0500

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 · 2024-11-21T20:06:56-0500

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 · 2024-11-21T21:32:47-0500

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 · 2024-11-21T21:37:04-0500

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 · 2024-11-21T22:10:53-0500

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 · 2024-11-22T04:58:18-0500

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 · 2024-11-22T06:11:58-0500

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

Johnny Too-Tall · 2024-11-22T07:52:47-0500

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

ronaldrothb49 · 2024-11-22T09:03:57-0500

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 · 2024-11-22T14:21:07-0500

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 · 2024-11-22T14:31:40-0500

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

Have you ever considered red?

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