Bedford Co. progress

[okawbow]

After starting this 36 cal. rifle over 20 years ago; I'm finally making a little progress. The carving is roughed out, and the stock shape is nearing completion. I've got a lot of scraping and smoothing to do. The toe plate and patch box are next on the list.


SANY0090 by okawbow, on Flickr

 

[Bon Sauvage]

WOW! It look worth the wait to me. :hatsoff:

 

[Lock Nut]

Looking good. I now how you feel, I started mine about ten years ago and I'm about as far as you are with the build. Are you replicating anyone in particular?

 

[okawbow]

I started out with the idea of doing a generic Bedford co. style. I only had a couple pictures in a gun history book to go by. It turns out, that except for a couple of smaller details; the rifle looks almost identical to one of Jacob Stoudenours' 1830's rifles. For the past couple weeks, I've tried to change whatever I can on the rifle, to match the picture of the Stoudenour.

I have an L&R percussion lock on it now, but I'm thinking of converting to the flintlock. The barrel is a 36 cal. Green mountain. I inlet the toeplate today, that I made from 3/4" wide brass strip. I'll be doing the patchbox this weekend.

 

[bioprof]

Those pierced patchboxes are "fun" to inlet.

 

[okawbow]

Been busy last weekend. I modified and inlet the patchbox, inlet the cheekpiece oval, and teardrops. I installed the barrel keys and made and installed the sights. Finished the ramrod from a corner split off of a hickory bow stave. I also made a brass tip for the ramrod, and a brass cleaning jag. The rifle is finished except for fine tuning the carving and smoothing and scraping the stock.

I think I started this rifle in 1987 or so, after driving down to DGW to buy the lock and barrel, and the brass fittings. I've looked at the partly done gun everytime I went out to my workshop for over 20 years. I'm happy with the way it's turning out. It is 36 caliber, in a 13/16", 42" straight barrel. The weight on my postal scale is 8# 13 oz. The lock is an L&R, the barrel a Green Mountain. I bought the sugar maple plank for the stock locally. It won't stand up to some of the guns I see others building here, but it balances and comes to my eye perfectly when I shoulder the gun.

SANY0097 by okawbow, on Flickr

SANY0096 by okawbow, on Flickr

 

[okawbow]

Once I got started, I couldn't stop! I got her stained, finished, and browned. Put everything together this morning and shot about 20 rounds. Shoots a squirrel head size group at 25 yards with 20 gr. 3f and a .350 ball.


SANY0111 by okawbow, on Flickr


SANY0108 by okawbow, on Flickr

 

[peter hawbaker]

Looks really good ! Looks like you made up for lost time.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Looks good? I can't really tell anything from those pictures. Enjoy, J.D.

 

[kaintuck]

I like her...and with a puff of 20gr powder.....might not even hear her shoot!!!!!!

no recoil!

now what's next?????????????

 

[okawbow]

Sorry, I don't really have a good camera for gun pictures. Here are a couple closer at least. As I said earlier, I started this rifle over 20 years ago. I only had a couple old photos to go by. I probably made several mistakes in design because I just didn't know any better then. I really just wanted a good looking squirrel rifle that has the right feel. I'm happy with it.

My next gun will be an early George Shreyer-ish longrifle. I have 6 months to research and hopefully get to see a genuine gun or two from the 1770 era.





SANY0115 by okawbow, on Flickr


SANY0113 by okawbow, on Flickr

 

[jamesthomas]

Looks good to me! Needs to be a Flintlock though. :grin: I thought I would go ahead and mention The Flintlock bit cause somebody was bound to say it!.

 

[dbutch]

Congrats on the completion :thumbsup:
I shoot a 42" gm 36 cal swamped ..it likes 000 buck.. cotton duct patch at 50 yd it likes 40+gr. 3f Swiss or Goex.
Small calibers are more fun!
Enjoy your new rifle....dan

 

[okawbow]

I may get a flintlock and convert it, but the rifle I made before this one is a flintlock, and the next one will be also. I've always thought the Bedford Co. percussion rifles were the best looking by far of the 1840 and later guns.

 

[okawbow]

I used .350 speer balls that I bought with the parts over 20 years ago. They were corroded, but still worked ok. For patching, I sacrificed a 100% cotton Arrow shirt. With spit patch, I didn't have to wipe between shots for any of the 20 rounds I fired. I can shoot several times for the same powder as 1 shot with my .62.

 

[jdkerstetter]

No fear....Bedford's look good in percussion with their trademark hammer styly....and most were anyway.

I really congratulate you for hanging in there and completing this piece after so long. Great job.

Thanks for posting. Enjoy, J.D.

 

[TinStar]

You did a very nice job on that! You should be proud. Now get a bunch of bushytails and woodchucks!!

TinStar
Soli Deo Gloria!

 

[Robby]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: okawbow!!! I think it looks great with the cap lock.
Robby