.62 Rifle Build, 2nd Try

[PathfinderNC]

I am thinking to modify the Pecatonica Fowler stock a bit.
That small hump at the back of the wrist, at the base of the nose, has to go. I did a little photo-shopping and 'removed' it. This is how I am oping it will come out.

 

[TDM]

I am thinking to modify the Pecatonica Fowler stock to give it a bit.
That small hump at the back of the wrist, at the base of the nose, has to go. I did a little photo-shopping and 'removed' it. This is how I am oping it will come out.

Agree, much better without it.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I am thinking to modify the Pecatonica Fowler stock a bit.
That small hump at the back of the wrist, at the base of the nose, has to go. I did a little photo-shopping and 'removed' it. This is how I am oping it will come out.

I didn't notice the little "hump" until you pointed it out. Was it a carving error, or was it supposed to be there? I agree, the stock will look better without it.

Nice job with those photos, by the way.

Notchy Bob

 

[PathfinderNC]

I didn't notice the little "hump" until you pointed it out. Was it a carving error, or was it supposed to be there? I agree, the stock will look better without it.

Nice job with those photos, by the way.

Notchy Bob

Thanks Notchy Bob- that hump is on their Fowler stock. I suppose it's something some fowlers had, but is not suitable for this gun, so off it comes!

 

[Antelope Pete]

Man you are fast and it's also probably because I suck because it took me over 14 hours to inlet the butt plate and it was rough cut out. Good job.

 

[PathfinderNC]

That bump at the base of the nose is gone, and I think it looks better. I also inlet the rear ramrod pipe.
One BIG lesson I learned here is to leave plenty of wood where the pipe extension will lay. This pipe has a flair that needs you to have more wood back there than a regular straight or tapered pipe (that I am kinda familiar with). I was starting to panic as the pipe was going in deeper and deeper, and there wasn't much real-estate for it to land on. Luckily it finally lay nearly flush, and since its very thick cast brass, I will be able to fine-blend into the stock. It will be fine I think, but another few swipes of my rasp and I would have a big problem there.
This project is a really good learning experience for me. It's like flying solo when you don't even know what questions to ask until it's sometimes too late. Hopefully any other 'new builder' looking at this will avoid some on my mistakes and lack of knowledge.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

That bump at the base of the nose is gone, and I think it looks better. I also inlet the rear ramrod pipe.
One BIG lesson I learned here is to leave plenty of wood where the pipe extension will lay. This pipe has a flair that needs you to have more wood back there than a regular straight or tapered pipe (that I am kinda familiar with). I was starting to panic as the pipe was going in deeper and deeper, and there wasn't much real-estate for it to land on. Luckily it finally lay nearly flush, and since its very thick cast brass, I will be able to fine-blend into the stock. It will be fine I think, but another few swipes of my rasp and I would have a big problem there.
This project is a really good learning experience for me. It's like flying solo when you don't even know what questions to ask until it's sometimes too late. Hopefully any other 'new builder' looking at this will avoid some on my mistakes and lack of knowledge.

Nice work on that rear thimble, I had a Chambers kit of the British fusil that had a squared cutout for the thimble than the actual thimble that came with the kit that I had to modify with wood and glue. Seeing your thimble reminded me of it, you did a nice job on it.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Nice work on that rear thimble, I had a Chambers kit of the British fusil that had a squared cutout for the thimble than the actual thimble that came with the kit that I had to modify with wood and glue. Seeing your thimble reminded me of it, you did a nice job on it.

Thanks. I used to fear and hate putting them in but it’s a little easier now. I really need to look at the parts and see where they will fit more carefully though.
My new biggest enemy are the trigger guards.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I finished installing the other two ramrod pipes, which went relatively quickly and painlessly. Now I can skinny down the forearm in a more intentional manner.
It seems more and more to me that with all this Brown Bess musket hardware on a rifle, it’s quite the nonsense gun But it’s a fun and engaging challenge to build and for me, that’s why I’m doing it.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I rasped, filed and sanded the forestock to just about the right thickness. It will get finer sanding later in.
I did some butt stock shaping and then roughed in the lock and sideplate areas. But before I did too much of that I needed to install the Brown Bess trigger guard.
While cutting out the forward guard area I discovered the fam rod hole. Well, I have a little over 3/16” of wood to work with on the forearm. That meant I couldn’t get the guard in deeply enough so the bow rested flat on the trigger plate, leaving about 1/16” gap. I will address that later when I decide the best way to do it (I may solder a filler piece of brass ). Other than that it went well.
Next will be ti inlet the somewhat ornate martial themed side plate, and lastly the thumb piece.

 

[TDM]

Wrist contour looks great @PathfinderNC

 

[PathfinderNC]

Wrist contour looks great @PathfinderNC

Thanks- it’s getting there!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Got the touch hole liner in and then I cleaned up and slightly modified a nice sideplate casting. Next to shallow inlet it.

 

[Youngblood]

Thats a cool side plate! Are those cannons?

 

[PathfinderNC]

Thats a cool side plate! Are those cannons?

Looks like cannons to me

 

[PathfinderNC]

I had a little gap between the bottom of the trigger guard and the trigger plate which I couldn’t fix due to the shape of the heavy Brown Bess trigger guard. I decided to solder a small bit of brass to fill the gap. I think that much smaller forward gap will be closed when I swell the wood later.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Did more sanding down of the whole stock today. Next will be a shallow inletting of the sideplate, which is a casting of an American musket sideplate of English design (as per MBS description). Then the panel moldings…

 

[TDM]

You got it slimed down nicely.

 

[PathfinderNC]

You got it slimed down nicely.

It’s getting there!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Nice!