Build your own

[H. E. Schwalm]

If anyone has the fantastic urge to build your first flintlock. Read, read, watch videos, find the subject in blogs and get to the point where you can virtually build the rifle. If you "jump the gun" on this one, it might prove to be expensive tuition to that school.
It took me one year to build it out of parts, with hand tools, but I also, did homework on the subject for about that same time before.
It is great to shoot it and I will build more.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

All good points, for me it helped to have a mentor while building. While it's good to visualize and have book knowledge, there's nothing like doing the actual work. For me I've found it's best not to watch the clock and take my time.

 

[Jeb]

Add a picture, I would love to see it. I am pining over all the information I could get and trying to get the nerve to build one myself.

 

[Supercracker]

I just finished my first one (an SMR) about 2 weeks ago.

Already can't wait to start the next project.

 

[hawk]

this was my first attempt at building a smoothbore from assorted parts and a free chunk of birdseye maple.

it's not the prettiest thing but she hit what i point at....most of the time

 

[MSW]

Isiah 51:7 ... be ye not afraid...

your courage need not be 'screwed to the sticking point,' BUT ...

(warning language here) you will start building one, and it will completely fascinate you. there is no recovery- no twelve step program, no clinic where the glitterati go to 'get straight,' and no sentitious 'personal trainer' who will tell you things are going to be fine as you hold hands and wander into Namby Pamby Land.

You will learn how to sharpen tools so well that you can shave. Your spouse will ask why there is no hair on your forearm and your response is likely to be "Hu? Who cares about that stuff?" then you will start sneaking small horns into really boring meetings and when everybody breaks for coffee, you'll notice that people are giving you a funny look and there is a pile of disgusting horn shavinngs on the carpet next to your chair. your response is probably "So? It's a project..."

then there will be a magic day of the completion of your fist flintlock, and you will descend further into the madness, and you'll start getting all excited about little bits of sharp rock, and all those expensive centerfire guns in your cabinet will start to feel neglected.

to paraphrase the little green guy with the lightsaber, once a flinter built have you, forever will it dominate your range time.

there- now you've been warned.

wish i'd started sooner, 'cause you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many flintlocks!

go for it- start that build this winter! buy yourself a really extravagant Christmas present, then make it, and then go forth and make good smoke!

 

[H. E. Schwalm]

What else can you ask for? It looks great.
As soon as I make this thing send pictures I will show some of my rifle...a cybermoron, here...

 

[Zonie]

While your listing reference works, don't forget the Gun Builders Bench right here on this site.

Although folks can see many fine guns made by our members there, the forum was set up to help anyone who is interested in building their own rifle or pistol. The beginner is as welcome as the people who have built hundreds of guns.

Speaking of folks who are professional builders, we have several of the most talented people in the world who regularly contribute and the great thing about it is, they will answer the simplest questions right up to the more complicated ones.

A word of warning to those who may build their own gun.
This is habit forming and about the time you are finishing your first gun you will start thinking about your next one.

 

[H. E. Schwalm]

Amen!..You will read/learn about re-boring touch holes, patching inletting with same wood and epoxy and carve some more, JB Weld becomes your friend and you feel awesome when what you tried shows up in a blog as the way to do things...It's just too good...go for it.

 

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

When I was heavy into 1911s (and I mean obsessed, like I am now with muzzleloaders), the man I was learning from (I'd use "apprenticed to", but it was not a formal arrangement, and he was kin besides) gave me some basic instruction.

I practiced a few things on cracked frames and slides.

Then he gave me a used, but uncracked, frame and slide one day, and a parts box. Told me to assemble a working 1911.

Wasn't hard, and he died shortly thereafter. I was one of his hucklebearers.

I began learning on my own after that. Never did fit a beavertail but once, so I figured I'd just build a MEU(SOC) 1911 to carry. It worked, and it shoots fine.

I'm finding it's a lot like that with muzzleloaders. It's really just been a CVA Bobcat and a CVA KY replica thus far, but both have been torn down and are back together, both working better than when I brought 'em home. (They were used).

Tomorrow I'm supposed to swap for a T/C New Englander .50, and that might be a bit of a different ballgame, but I don't expect it will be too different.

I plan on buying a boxlock and building a target rifle around it one of these days. That should be some different, but still the same principle.

My advice, rather than to watch a video, is to first get a .22 you don't mind messing up, take it apart, then reassemble it. Then find a cheapo sidelock ML you don't mind messing up, totally strip it down, then reassemble it.

You'd be surprised at the dexterity you get with the practice, and how much easier all firearms will be, especially after the .22.

I've honestly never seen a firearm that is not based around one of three or four basic operating systems. (I'm not talking operating types, but rather how the hammer engages the sear, locking systems, etc. All can be actuated by different means of course - lever can do a tilting block like an SKS, but it can also actuate a rotating bolt, like your average bolt action. A caplock is just a single action, like on a Colt 1873 revolver, or Ruger single action, etc, or even a modern revolver in single action mode or even a 1911 - forward, half cock, full cock, not much to it).

Josh

 

[Supercracker]

this was my first attempt at building a smoothbore from assorted parts and a free chunk of birdseye maple.

it's not the prettiest thing but she hit what i point at....most of the time

When i\I decided I was going to build one I did a CVA shotgun kit first that I got cheap. That was a good start. Then i decided to dive in and just bought the kit (really a collection of parts) from TOW and started building. I tried to view the whole thing as more of a training excercise than anything else. whenever I had time i would go work on it. 2 weeks ago I went back to work on it and realized I was almost done. I honestly did'nt even realize i was done except for wood finish.

I say get a CVA and redo it or a simple kit and then just dive in.

 

[Snow on the Roof]

this was my first attempt at building a smoothbore from assorted parts and a free chunk of birdseye maple.

it's not the prettiest thing but she hit what i point at....most of the time

When i\I decided I was going to build one I did a CVA shotgun kit first that I got cheap. That was a good start. Then i decided to dive in and just bought the kit (really a collection of parts) from TOW and started building. I tried to view the whole thing as more of a training excercise than anything else. whenever I had time i would go work on it. 2 weeks ago I went back to work on it and realized I was almost done. I honestly did'nt even realize i was done except for wood finish.

I say get a CVA and redo it or a simple kit and then just dive in.

Nice lookin' rifle there Superman.Particularly like the wood, very nice...one question though, are the sights mounted backwards?

Snow

 

[MSW]

Supercracker, that's a really nice looking rifle!

:thumbsup:

 

[Supercracker]

Nice lookin' rifle there Superman.Particularly like the wood, very nice...one question though, are the sights mounted backwards?

Snow

Thanks. Yes, they were backwards there. I put them on that way and tried it just to see what it would look like and to get a better understanding of why they're done the way they are.

It was a lot of fun to build. I really enjoy learning new skills and figuring out solutions to problems.

About the most tedious part of it was the trigger. I lost about a 1/4" of my trigger finger in a bike accident a long time ago. So doesn't work quite like it was supposed to. To be able to reach the front trigger I had to cut the stock trigger off of it and make a curved one from scratch. then attach it to the top part. That alone took a huge amount of tinkering to get right. The trigger guard is also heavily bent and reshaped.

Wasn't trying to make a show winner. Just something to run around the woods with.

 

[smoothy]

I finished my first one in '89. Sure wished I had the internet at that time. There is so much information and parts to be purchased on the world wide web. As it is, I built a 54 cal southern mountain flintlock that's a bit heavy with a 1" x 42" barrel and a Siler lock. But I've gotten a few deer with it and will be going again during Illinois December muzzleloader deer season.

 

[hoochiepapa]

C'mon, Jeb! Dive in!!
I built my first longrifle from a PR kit intending to hunt elk with it, then built a .32 small game rifle, and am now working on my third, which is a .50 Verner that I hope to sell. I have a Edward Marshall stock and parts, and a fowler block of wood and barrel, and a swivel breech kit from David Price. That should keep me going for about 3 years, and if I live long enough, I'll build more! More! More! :youcrazy: