Bedford rifle update

[bioprof]

I finally finished installing the inlays on my Bedford rifle:

I have one question though. There are 13 inlays in this stock, not counting the patchbox and side plate. Is this number bad luck? Should I put in one or two more?

 

[Legionair]

Nice carving and inlays....

As for the number 13, do what hotels do and call the inlays 12 and 12a.

Just an opinion

Legion

 

Just think of it as a Bakers dozen, besides it's not that many compared to one oh Zonie's shootin irons :rotf: Seriously it's only Unlucky if you think it is. Are you counting the toe piece, that could make it 14, or put one 1/2 way up the underside from the toe. Or you could find a witch doctor to give it a blessing, and some MOJO> :haha: :blah: It's lookin good, needs a little sun though lookin kinda pale. Bill

 

[bioprof]

Actually, what I was trying to get at was that I read somewhere that some of the Pennsylvania rifle makers used 12 inlays to represent the 12 disciples of Jesus. You can get 13 if you add Jesus to the 12. Is this true or was somebody just speculatin'? :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

Anything with less than 18 inlays looks very plain to some folks! :rotf: :rotf: :grin:

I hadn't heard the thing about the disciples but it wouldn't suprise me. Religion played a large part in many folks lives in those days.
Interestingly, I have never seen a Christian style cross on a rifle and I've never understood why.
The fish, heart, "bleeding heart" are all Christian symbols and were commonly used but no cross?

By the way, you had me worried there with your 13 inlays so I pulled out my Bedford just to make sure you didn't out do me.
Counting the Vent Pick inlay under the cheekpiece I've got 15 :blah: (Just kidding )

 

[the skrat]

great looking gun bio, has nothing to do with inlays, but a man who trucks for me has a truck named lucky 13 becouse it had been his 13th truck btw he has had wonderful luck with the truck. i agree only unlucky if you think it is. what kind of inlays brass silver or german silver? zonie usually builds slim rifles like yours i think he should build earlier riles a lot more room for inlays :grin:

curly maple

 

[Wehrmacht]

There were 13 Colonies in 1776, weren't there?

 

[bioprof]

After putting in all of the inlays, I now have a lot more respect for the Bedford and Somerset rifles. The oval and round inlays are fairly easy, but the fancy wings and odd shaped inlays are pretty tough.

I learned a new trick today though. It was one of things where you go, "duh, why didn't I think of that before". I was inlaying the oval cheek piece and ended up with a gap on one side. I just used my 1/8" chisel to shave a curl over to the side of the inlet but left it attached to the bottom. I then put the inlay in the mortis, leaving the curl between the inlay and the side of the mortis. After I cut away the piece that was sticking up, the gap completely disappeared. I wished I'd thought of that when I was inletting the patchbox.

I still have two fish shaped inlays left, but I haven't decided if I am going to use them. I might file one into the shape of a cutthroat trout and put it in front of the toe plate because I like to fly fish.

 

[bioprof]

Here's a diagram of what I did. It will probably only work on small gaps, maybe 1/32 inch or less.

 

[bioprof]

There were 13 Colonies in 1776, weren't there?

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[paulvallandigham]

A minor suggestion for your next project, Bioprofessor: I can't help but notice that beautiful grain running from the top of the "C", to the corner of the buttplate. Too bad your carving could not have taken advantage of highlighting that grain as part of the design. The grain shown almost looks like an elm leaf, with the serrated edge. It would have been exciting if you had incorporated that into the design.