Building rifles. Lots to learn, and where to start?

[Smokestack]

I've been eyeballing this section of the forum for some time now, and I've been getting more and more interested in giving this kind of thing a shot.
Being in Canada might make things a bit difficult as far as sourcing parts and such goes, but I think it should be doable. I think i'm going to give one of those Traditions Kentucky Rifle builders kits a try to start, since there is at least a local shop that can provide it, but providing that goes well, I'm certainly interested in going the next level and working from a more elaborate set of parts.

Going into this, what literature/books would you folks recommend for getting set up? I want to get into doing this the correct way and hopefully create some beautiful rifles in the future. Any help would be much appreciated for a beginner into rifle building.

Thanks!

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

If you are going to build a rifle or want to know about building one there are several books out there. The first two I purchased in the early 70s are:
"Recreating the Kentucky Rifle" by William Buchele, and "The Modern Kentucky Rifle" by RH McCrory. Those two will get you started. The boys here will chime in and post other selections.
Flintlocklar

 

[Cherrybow]

“The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle” is another good one. It is also a less expensive book.

 

[eggwelder]

Where are you in Canada?
The gunsmith of Grenville county is a good resource as well

 

[Kozmo]

+1 on gunsmith of grenville county. I read through this great reference book twice before I started my build. Also check out the numerous build videos on YouTube. I found Bill Rabys videos to be a tremendous help.

 

[Smokestack]

I'll be ordering these books shortly. Thankyou!

Eggwelder, I'm from Manitoba, bit in the middle of nowhere but its home for me!

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
The books mentioned are good choices. Be very careful about videos posted on You Tube. There are quite a few inexperienced builders with little knowledge posting videos there. Some are at best demonstrations of what not to do.

dave

 

[billraby]

Hi,
The books mentioned are good choices. Be very careful about videos posted on You Tube. There are quite a few inexperienced builders with little knowledge posting videos there. Some are at best demonstrations of what not to do.

dave

I am one of those fairly inexperienced builders on You Tube. I do my best to get things right. Dave is correct. Don't think of anything that I do on You Tube as the "correct" way to do things. Get the books and study them. Do what you can to learn different ways to do every step and decide what is going to work best for you. Don't assume someone knows what they are doing just because they are making videos.

 

[Kozmo]

Well said Bill. For me, as a complete novice, your videos have been very enjoyable to watch and a great help to me on my first build. Thanks for making them and sharing them.

 

[eggwelder]

I`m Originally from middle of nowhere Saskatchewan, i have relatives in Dauphin, Winterpeg and Brandon.
can`t wait to get of this rock and go home myself.
make sure you post your progress, i`m researching my second build that i will post.

 

[Smokestack]

It'll be a little while yet before I get started, still sourcing books and doing research before I dive in nose first.

How are you going about getting parts for these builds? Still trying to figure out whether its legal to buy barrels and such from across the border.

Excited to see what you do for your second either way!

 

[eggwelder]

I get almost all of my parts from another forum, Canadian one. want to buy adds and keep an Eye on the parts for antiques thread. PM incoming

 

[fishmusic]

I am one of those fairly inexperienced builders on You Tube. I do my best to get things right. Dave is correct. Don't think of anything that I do on You Tube as the "correct" way to do things. Get the books and study them. Do what you can to learn different ways to do every step and decide what is going to work best for you. Don't assume someone knows what they are doing just because they are making videos.

Bill, I and many others have enjoyed your videos. They have inspired me to take on the task of building something besides "in-the-white" kits. Keep up the good work. I am going to post later some questions about what to build and where to find the prototype information.

 

[galamb]

Sourcing parts in Canada is not difficult at all but a touch expensive.

Track of the Wolf usually has everything you could want, they have online ordering, calculates the shipping to Canada right on the page etc and they have the (customs numbers) down pat so the stuff sails through the border. Of course though, all in US bucks which are expensive at the moment. Most parts ship for 20 bucks but a barrel or a pre-carved stock will set you back close to 100 bucks in shipping (I make my own stocks from a chunk a wood - costs me under 40 bucks a stock).

Muzzle Loaders Builders Supplies is another great source - can't order right on-line (to Canada) so I "fill my cart" and then email it to them - they email back and I follow up with a phone call to give credit card info - similar shipping costs as Track.

If you want/need a more custom barrel, I "know" that both Rice and FCI ship here as well, but being custom/semi-custom you need to plan ahead - if you want something to match a specific rifle you plan to copy figure on upwards of 6 months "or more" to get the barrel. Of course, if they have something in stock and you aren't picky they will ship right away.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Recreating the American Long Rifle. Though similar to "Gunsmith..." it covers different things.
Engraving Historical Firearms (that will give you good ideas on both engraving and carving)

 

[Donnie Dickson]

Check out Bill Raby's videos on youtube. He's doing some pretty good stuff

 

[Pete G]

Don't waste money on cheap tools.

 

[Bob McBride]

I am one of those fairly inexperienced builders on You Tube. I do my best to get things right. Dave is correct. Don't think of anything that I do on You Tube as the "correct" way to do things. Get the books and study them. Do what you can to learn different ways to do every step and decide what is going to work best for you. Don't assume someone knows what they are doing just because they are making videos.

Well said Bill. I had to change a water pump on an old Ford truck last month. After I got it all apart I realized every bolt was a slightly different length. Needed a YouTube video to get it back together. Ol’ Shade Tree was far from a hair-sprayed Certified Ford Master Mechanic with a name badge over his shirt pocket, but he sure walked me through it.

Watching your videos makes me wish Al Martin or Hershel would’ve videoed all their builds from day one. Maybe you’re the one who did. Keep it up.

 

[Smokestack]

Thanks again to everyone that has contributed to this thread. Tons of great information.

Curious though. And this is more to the Canadian repliers. But is it possible for me to order one of the complete kits from track of the wolf without issue from the border? Haven't been able to get a solid answer on that from other sources.

Thanks!

 

[tenngun]

Check out Bill Raby's videos on youtube. He's doing some pretty good stuff

Bill is a #1 builder and very good at demonstrating what he is doing while he is explaining it. Kibler also does the same thing. Reading something and looking at good photos and drawings is handy, watching some one do it a step beyond. These two on you tube is like being in their shop, or having them in yours. I built my first gun in the 1970s, learned more in the last five years watching these guys then all previous years put together.
I also want to give a shout out to Duelist ‘54.