Building a Fusil de Chasse

[Hatman/2nd line]

Took clamps off , dont look too bad ... Decided barrel channel first ...started re beddin barrel at end , went well ... Barrel Down , slab off bottom ...start rough shaping ...

What did you use for glue, epoxy or something else?

 

[Rob M.]

What did you use for glue, epoxy or something else?

Slow set epoxy .... all I use .Works great ...

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Thanks Rob!

 

[Rob M.]

Thanks Rob!

No problem bud .... I hate reverting to the modern stuff BUT ... it works d@mn good ! Strong stuff !

 

[Rob M.]

Gettin buttplate curved to the stock ... Top looks good but the stock has bit of curve down by toe , has to be straight there ....straight down no swoop .... Take off wood then ...

 

[Rob M.]

Ok , trace that sucker .check gaps ..... Start inletting top soon ....

 

[Rob M.]

Giving me grief ....really bucking the grain ....P.I.T.A. !

 

[WALT53]

Giving me grief ....really bucking the grain ....P.I.T.A. !

I like your brass hammer Rob in your business it is probably handier than pockets in underwater.A good size to.

 

[Rob M.]

I like your brass hammer Rob in your business it is probably handier than pockets in underwater.A good size to.

Got two of em ... One fur tender , one fur tenderizer !!

 

[Cayman like]

Rob, your good with metal. That buttplate looks great!

 

[Rob M.]

Rob, your good with metal. That buttplate looks great!

Thanks bud ...man , its some really tough stuff though ! It is fighting me . I need to anneal it again .. I'm trying to bring it down flush to the wood and its like a spring ! LOL

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Giving me grief ....really bucking the grain ....P.I.T.A. !

A lot harder working with iron/steel than brass, huh!

 

[Rob M.]

A lot harder working with iron/steel than brass, huh!

Yeah , steel is tougher than brass , naturally but this old 100 yr. old banding material is really tough stuff ! Geesh ! Regular modern mild steel aint got $hit on this stuff ! LOL ... Gonna have to bug my buddy again and use his torch to anneal it so I can tap er on down after I get it all fit to the butt stock ....

 

[Bnewberry]

Yeah , steel is tougher than brass , naturally but this old 100 yr. old banding material is really tough stuff ! Geesh ! Regular modern mild steel aint got $hit on this stuff ! LOL ... Gonna have to bug my buddy again and use his torch to anneal it so I can tap er on down after I get it all fit to the butt stock ....

Old banding was often a spring steel with enough carbon to harden. Good stuff!

 

[Rob M.]

Old banding was often a spring steel with enough carbon to harden. Good stuff!

Its tough as Wang leather !! Its got this awesome bitted finish to it being so old ...it'll never frikken wear out I'll tell ya !!

 

[WALT53]

Its tough as Wang leather !! Its got this awesome bitted finish to it being so old ...it'll never frikken wear out I'll tell ya !!

You got your work set out for with that banding it’s sorta like leaf springs on older trucks tuffer than all get out ,good luck with that it can be done but your gonna know you done something with it forsure .

 

[Rob M.]

You got your work set out for with that banding it’s sorta like leaf springs on older trucks tuffer than all get out ,good luck with that it can be done but your gonna know you done something with it forsure .

Funny thing is this is like the 6 or 7th buttplate I've made with the stuff ....but ....I dont know ...I make a lot for English guns than Frenchy so either I forget over time , shocker ...or I just picked the hardest piece in the half mile if banding I have !! I'm still fighting it today ! $hits tough ! After this gun ...I'd say I'm done with this metal for cold forging !! LOL !! Back ta work !!

 

[Rob M.]

Most buttplate on a trade gun , couple hours , tops ....this one ? Three days !! LOL !! Lordy ! And it still needs some work .I dont know ... I annealed the other buttplates from this material in the forge and in the wood stove ...maybe it did a better job of annealing ? I annealed this o e twice but with a torch . I've never had this kind of misery and trouble before , could not work this metal , very tough and springy .... All that metal I have ...I hate to waste it , not use it but we'll see ... When I get the forge going I'll make a buttplate and anneal it then make my decision from that...oh well .... Any who ....still a little gap around the edges . I have to get or make some different wood screws and keep working it down tomorrow ... Theres a rendezvous close by too so wanna go check it out tomorrow or Sunday ... Hopefully I can get this f$#@ing buttplate on and start roughing in the buttstock , notices back .... Lordy ....

 

[Rob M.]

Starting to rough in the shape off stock , mortices back ... Gotta cut the bottom of buttplate off and re round it though

 

[Rob M.]

....I got BP shortened and rounded at bottom.again too ...