Another option for a Bedford stock blank?

[chopperusa]

I picked up a beutiful piece of figured maple that was cut for a bedford county rifle. I wanted to use it for a early Allentown-bethlehem county rifel but i think the comb is to low at the wrist and teh butplate area is short. I also was thinking of using a nice octagon to round barell in .45 caliber.
Anyone have a sugestion as a school or maker to look at. I like early schools of makers by the way.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Likely, if it's cut for a Bedford, it has way too much drop for anything early. You could always rip it down into hockey sticks. :haha:

Seriously though, the best way to tell is to go through the books and find some profile pictures of originals from the lock back that you think will "fit". Blow 'em up full size. Cut 'em out and see if they will lay over the blank.

As far as O/R barrels? Love 'em, but they are not appropriate to all schools/styles of rifles.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[kaintuck]

you could always trade this blank for a blank cut in your choice of rifles.....call TOTW or Dave Keck~ +P for +P blank~?

 

[Zonie]

You could always build a Bedford style rifle.

In .45 caliber they are very comfortable to shoot and you sure won't have to cock your head to line up your eye with the sights.

 

[Stophel]

I got to handle an original Bedford rifle once. It was pretty neat, actually, but there's no way on earth I could ever shoot one!!!

:haha:

 

[Birddog6]

Same here. :idunno: I always say if you want to build a Bedford, you best go shoulder one first..... cause there is a Real good chance you will never shoot it comfortably. They are just a whole dif animal......

Keith Lisle

 

[chopperusa]

The comb area seams very low flowing into the small wrist area. I wonder what the differences are between the early and late models of Bedford rifles. I am thinking of building it with maybe a .40 or .45 cal. barrel, but maybe a .50 in a 7/8 barrel. These ussualy had strait barrels correct?

 

[Stophel]

By the way, I would suggest that you not attempt to build a Lehigh rifle until you have successfully built at least 10 rifles of another type, and studied Lehigh guns carefully for years. Anyone with enough skill and talent to build a rifle can make a plain ol' Lancaster rifle, but VERY FEW can make a Lehigh gun right! :haha:

 

[Zonie]

There were no great changes in the Bedford rifles stocks over the years.

In fact, as time passed and the gunbuilders in the other Pennsylvania areas decreased the amount of carving and the use of fancy patchboxes the Bedford builders continued in their traditional ways.

My Bedford (for what its worth).