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  1. R

    I am Interested in making muzzle loaders the old way. Need advice how to.

    Williamsburg demonstrates all aspects of building longrifles for educational purposes. Almost zero colonial and Federal period gunsmiths did all the things - forge their own barrels, drill, ream, and rifle them, make their own locks, etc. The vast majority bought locks and barrels, cast their...
  2. R

    Tacks…were they an Eastern thing?

    Seed beads were used in the east by Native Americans to decorate many things including guns.
  3. R

    Rust removing & refurbishing a lock

    It’s not likely fire blued. It may be color case hardened or niter blued. Most attempts to clean up with abrasives or chemicals will remove the color. A very soft wire wheel mounted in a drill press will often clean things nicely enough and leave most of the finish intact. The wire must be very...
  4. R

    Rust removing & refurbishing a lock

    It’s not likely fire blued. It may be color case hardened or niter blued. Most attempts to clean up with abrasives or chemicals will remove the color. A very soft wire wheel mounted in a drill press will often clean things nicely enough and leave most of the finish intact. The wire must be very...
  5. R

    Tuning, reshaping flintlock lock

    Good problem solving. Often on original flintlocks that had a lot of hard use, repairs or additions were made to the **** “ledge” (for lack of a better term) by brazing on a piece of iron there. Just another option for those who don’t weld.
  6. R

    An odd pachbox lid

    Because of the way the hinge was made on #42, the builder added a miniscule trough in the wood on the hinge side, as when the lid is fully open, the lid edge wants to dig into the wood. Later side openers avoided that by rolling the hinge knuckles as part of the lid.
  7. R

    Poor man’s guns

    Timeframe? Location?
  8. R

    English Rifle Finish

    That looks great.
  9. R

    English Rifle Finish

    I’d search posts by dave_person on the subject. Here’s one: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/building-the-kings-muskets-and-a-bit-more.167825/page-3 Oops he beat me to it!
  10. R

    Help identifying inherited percussion rifle

    Late percussion rifle, maybe New York, not signed, more of a wall hanger than a collector.
  11. R

    Kibler Fowler vs Trade Gun

    Regarding barrel whip: it’s real and one main reason why bench shooters using rifles choose heavy barrels. It isn’t a safety issue. But since we are talking about knuckle-balling round balls down range in a smoothbore, I don’t think barrel stiffness is the main variable impacting accuracy. Your...
  12. R

    54 Sharon

    These were high quality guns. Small features depart a bit from original S Hawken rifles but they were close. Not sure you can do a lot better.
  13. R

    Kibler Fowler vs Trade Gun

    Seems like you are thinking of a Northwest Trade Gun style with the large guard comment. Your choice should depends on preference and how confident you are to do the inletting on a kit that requires those skills, versus assembly and finishing of a Kibler kit.
  14. R

    NWTG in the Colonies?

    They couldn’t drop off guns promised to trading posts. This discussion has 2 points of view among those posting. 1) “I have or love NWTGs and want to represent a white colonist and use one, and so I want some historical justification for that.” The same thing happens for fusils de chasse. In...
  15. R

    Groundhog/Whistlepig Tallow

    It’s more of a light oil than tallow. Same with raccoon. Works fine but unless a raccoon trapper, hard to get enough to render down.
  16. R

    Gunmakers Fair at Kempton

    It’s a rare event, where many craftsmen and crafts women teach and demonstrate and are available to discuss things and show skills one on one. Some of the very best horn, bag, knife, and gun makers are there. It’s for learning and sharing. Totally different from CLA. And entry is $5. It’s for...
  17. R

    Barely any sparks

    I’d visit an experienced flintlock shooter. Only consider re-hardening the frizzen if you’ve determined that you have a soft frizzen. If it’s soft, the flint will be gouging the frizzen. If you’re not experienced in hardening and tempering steel, it’s not a good idea to try to learn on your...
  18. R

    My 3rd Build

    Great to see your progress as a builder. So many never progress to the point of designing a gun from a blank and carrying it to completion. Keep it up!
  19. R

    Help needed with age and identification of a Long Rifle

    I don’t think this is going to be a shooter. It will go bang, maybe.
  20. R

    Who's Going to the Gunmaker's Fair?

    I’m here with my wife Susan.
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