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tom in nc

45 Cal.
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I just got my book "The Underhammer Rifle" by Jeff Baron. Thanks longcruise. The book tells pretty much all I need to know about several designs of underhammers. Some I am not familiar with. They are Carleton, Chase, Composite (an adaptation of the Cooper and Briggs lock), Cook, Cooper, Hilliard, and Wood. I like the designs that use the mainspring as a trigger guard. That includes the Carleton, Cook, and Wood. Right now I'm thinking I like the Wood best. I'd like to build my first one in .36 caliber. We'll see I suppose.
 
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tom in nc said:
I just got my book "The Underhammer Rifle" by Jeff Baron. Thanks longcruise. The book tells pretty much all I need to know about several designs of underhammers. Some I am not familiar with. They are Carleton, Chase, Composite (an adaptation of the Cooper and Briggs lock), Cook, Cooper, Hilliard, and Wood. I like the designs that use the mainspring as a trigger guard. That includes the Carleton, Cook, and Wood. Right now I'm thinking I like the Wood best. I'd like to build my first one in .36 caliber. We'll see I suppose.
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Yup, there are many under hammer firing mechanism designs. There were probably more guns made with B C Wood's design than any other. I've seen them used by several other gunsmiths, as Wood must have offered them for sale as well as using them on his many guns. Note that he had two distinct ways of attaching the mainspring trigger guard. The type with the pin (my TYPE 2) was probably a slightly weaker design, as over the years, I've seen a couple that split out from the pin. On his TYPE 1 design, he was able to incorporate a small screw for adjusting trigger pull.


Screen Shot 2022-03-09 at 10.59.02 AM.png
 
So, uh, Longcruise, if you are giving stuff away, I am here to be adopted! 🤪

That said, I never really knew there were more underhammer designs than those I have seen at the Pecatonica website. Those photos are really interesting.

Previously, I put together a Pecatonica H&A underhammer and like the design for being able to easily swap barrels. I guess one of these days I should take photos.

The Doc is out now. :cool:
 
I have discovered that some of the underhammer designs included in my book do not include a half cock notch. Whatever I build WILL have a half cock notch.
 
OLUT said:
Yup, there are many under hammer firing mechanism designs. There were probably more guns made with B C Wood's design than any other. I've seen them used by several other gunsmiths, as Wood must have offered them for sale as well as using them on his many guns. Note that he had two distinct ways of attaching the mainspring trigger guard. The type with the pin (my TYPE 2) was probably a slightly weaker design, as over the years, I've seen a couple that split out from the pin. On his TYPE 1 design, he was able to incorporate a small screw for adjusting trigger pull.


View attachment 368469
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I like the type 1 design better, but what I don't know about underhammer would fill a large book. But I want to learn everything there is to know about them. I'm memorizing the book I just got.
Screenshot_20241214-195751~2.png

Here's a pic posted by, I believe dusty traveler(?) almost a year ago. It's a very interesting lock style.
 
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I built a .36 caliber underhammer buggy rifle loosely based in the Billinghurst design and posted about it over two years ago. Here us the link to that thread: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/underhammer-buggy-rifle.147892/

Since then I have shot it quite a bit, settling on a load of 18 grains of 3f. My sources for my build were at first Ned Roberts and Hershel Logan’s book and Wolfe Publications book on gunsmith tips and project which has a section on building a Billinghurst gun.
 
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TOM IN NC, I'm not sure what type gun you will be building. Original under hammer firearms from the 1800's came in all types: pistols, buggy rifles, single barrel target rifle, over under two barrel and three barrel configurations, etc. Few had half cock notches. These days it seems like most modern under hammers are heavy single barrel guns. I doubt that many of this configuration have a half cock. Here's an original target gun by Barre Cole Wood as an example.

Screenshot 2024-12-17 at 7.31.03 AM.png
 
tom in nc said:
I just got my book "The Underhammer Rifle" by Jeff Baron. Thanks longcruise. The book tells pretty much all I need to know about several designs of underhammers. Some I am not familiar with. They are Carleton, Chase, Composite (an adaptation of the Cooper and Briggs lock), Cook, Cooper, Hilliard, and Wood. I like the designs that use the mainspring as a trigger guard. That includes the Carleton, Cook, and Wood. Right now I'm thinking I like the Wood best. I'd like to build my first one in .36 caliber. We'll see I suppose.
Click to expand...
tom,
You have a great selection of posibilities for a underhammer. My desire to make an underhammer took me to RJ Renner.
Here are some photos showing simplicity of his receicver and action. RJ's system uses a musket nipple, which of course helps for easier one handed cap placement.
Larry

Screenshot 2024-12-17 at 9.13.32 AM.png


Screenshot 2024-12-17 at 9.13.53 AM.png


Rice 54 cal tapered 30" barrel.

IMG_3528.JPG


IMG_3531.JPG
 

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