Build an underhammer rifle

[tom in nc]

I just got my book "The Underhammer Rifle" by Jeff Baron. Thanks longcruise. The book tells pretty much all I need to know about several designs of underhammers. Some I am not familiar with. They are Carleton, Chase, Composite (an adaptation of the Cooper and Briggs lock), Cook, Cooper, Hilliard, and Wood. I like the designs that use the mainspring as a trigger guard. That includes the Carleton, Cook, and Wood. Right now I'm thinking I like the Wood best. I'd like to build my first one in .36 caliber. We'll see I suppose.

 

[longcruise]

I see that book has found it's way into the right hands.

 

[OLUT]

I just got my book "The Underhammer Rifle" by Jeff Baron. Thanks longcruise. The book tells pretty much all I need to know about several designs of underhammers. Some I am not familiar with. They are Carleton, Chase, Composite (an adaptation of the Cooper and Briggs lock), Cook, Cooper, Hilliard, and Wood. I like the designs that use the mainspring as a trigger guard. That includes the Carleton, Cook, and Wood. Right now I'm thinking I like the Wood best. I'd like to build my first one in .36 caliber. We'll see I suppose.

Yup, there are many under hammer firing mechanism designs. There were probably more guns made with B C Wood's design than any other. I've seen them used by several other gunsmiths, as Wood must have offered them for sale as well as using them on his many guns. Note that he had two distinct ways of attaching the mainspring trigger guard. The type with the pin (my TYPE 2) was probably a slightly weaker design, as over the years, I've seen a couple that split out from the pin. On his TYPE 1 design, he was able to incorporate a small screw for adjusting trigger pull.

 

[DrLaw]

So, uh, Longcruise, if you are giving stuff away, I am here to be adopted!

That said, I never really knew there were more underhammer designs than those I have seen at the Pecatonica website. Those photos are really interesting.

Previously, I put together a Pecatonica H&A underhammer and like the design for being able to easily swap barrels. I guess one of these days I should take photos.

The Doc is out now.

 

[smokepolehall]

UnderHammer's are way cool.

 

[tom in nc]

I have discovered that some of the underhammer designs included in my book do not include a half cock notch. Whatever I build WILL have a half cock notch.