Pete G
76 Cal.
First off, you CAN"T build just one, but you can build your first one. Don't try to be too ambitious right at first. Most of the old guns that we all admire and love are carved and engraved. There are a few folks that can pull that off on one their first attempts, but very few. Build a good solid gun that you can learn how to handle and you will be well on your way. In the meantime get access to all of the books that you can and study these things. Soon you will start to notice that these are in fact hand built objects and they do not have the perfection of parallel lines that are produced by machines. A few bobbles will show up here and there, but that is historically correct. Not all of the old guns were built by masters. Your first gun (or your tenth for that matter) will not be perfect, but it will still be a better gun that a machine made copy of a handmade gun. You can build a better gun than you can buy.
When you begin to study you will also begin to learn of the different "schools" of historical gun building. Soon you will be ready to start planning another and you might go for a swamped barrel and fancy wood; maybe even a pierced patchbox. Now you are on your way and there is no turnig back.
When you begin to study you will also begin to learn of the different "schools" of historical gun building. Soon you will be ready to start planning another and you might go for a swamped barrel and fancy wood; maybe even a pierced patchbox. Now you are on your way and there is no turnig back.