A little more progress on the matchlock.

[Sidney Smith]

I worked on my matchlock kit some the last two weeks. Inletted the lock plate, and the serpentine. It's been too hot to do anything outside, so this is a good time for inside projects. As it is, this is a back burner to the back burner to the back burner project, hence the few and far between photos. I've got no time limit on this project, so it may look like I haven't done much and that is why.

 

[TobJohn]

Is it left handed or is the image reversed? How tedious is the kit?

 

[Sidney Smith]

Yes, it's left handed. No more tedious than any other kit I've done. Absolutely zero instructions as is typical. The lock parts took a little while to figure out but it's going together. I like that I don't have to be as concerned with making it look beautiful. These guns were very primitive and they show in their appearance. So no need for fancy lines or tight tolerances as one would try for on a fine flintlock. I have no desire to finish the metal other than some light polishing. I'm going to let it patina on its own. I will work the wood into a nice shape and most likely stain and finish it similar to my flintlock kits, but to a lesser degree. Most matchlocks I've seen are not fancy and this one will be no different.

 

[PhDBrewer]

Looks great!
Glad to see you are making progress!

William

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

TRS kit?

 

[Sidney Smith]

TRS kit?

Yes. Left handed matchlock kit. It's the only one I've ever found. I wanted more of a fishtail stock. This one has more of a blunt bottom part of the buttstock but it was left handed which works for me. I went with the lever type of trigger. To me they just look cooler than the run of the mill triggered versions.