Building short N.W. Trade Gun ...

[Rob M.]

Hmmm....posted twice . Weird ....oh well ...

 

[Rob M.]

You'll see them in the pics where I put the steel rod in the stock . And MAN ! In that pic it really shows ! Looks worse than in real life ! Darn glad I put the rod in there now ! GEESH !!!

Rob in the last picture I couldn’t see any cracks did you fill them or get quite a bit sanded out of the stock.How would you go about filling them if you don’t mind me asking.

 

[Rob M.]

Rob in the last picture I couldn’t see any cracks did you fill them or get quite a bit sanded out of the stock.How would you go about filling them if you don’t mind me asking.

If I filled them I'd just mix up some authentic colonial era slow set epoxy , mix in a tad of inlet black , then push it in the cracks and let set over night ...and repeat each night till full ...then when I'm taking it to final I'd work it down smooth. This way is when you are , of course , enhancing them while trying to strengthen the wood . I have no clue how one would do it to try and make them disappear . With my patina finishes I was hoping the enhancement of them wouldnt look so bad but ...I'm having second thoughts now ... I think I'm going to leave them ....and see how it turns out . I wish I had picked out a better piece of wood ....oh well

 

[Cayman like]

Looks great,shoots great.l'd would have liked to had that when trapping on the (Aux)Des Plaines river long ago.l used Japan Charleville cut down barrel 30 inces. Lot of lead. 24 gauge more reasonable.

 

[Rob M.]

Looks great,shoots great.l'd would have liked to had that when trapping on the (Aux)Des Plaines river long ago.l used Japan Charleville cut down barrel 30 inces. Lot of lead. 24 gauge more reasonable.

Itll be a good carry around gun I think . Wow ! That Charleville would be a chunk to carry around ! This NW gun is 4.6 pounds ...

 

[WALT53]

If I filled them I'd just mix up some authentic colonial era slow set epoxy , mix in a tad of inlet black , then push it in the cracks and let set over night ...and repeat each night till full ...then when I'm taking it to final I'd work it down smooth. This way is when you are , of course , enhancing them while trying to strengthen the wood . I have no clue how one would do it to try and make them disappear . With my patina finishes I was hoping the enhancement of them wouldnt look so bad but ...I'm having second thoughts now ... I think I'm going to leave them ....and see how it turns out . I wish I had picked out a better piece of wood ....oh well

I’m interested in hearing how that little 24 gauge patterns with shot beings it’s a shotgun barrel.I ment seeing it pattern geeze.

 

[Rob M.]

You

I’m interested in hearing how that little 24 gauge patterns with shot beings it’s a shotgun barrel.I ment seeing it pattern geeze.

Youll know soon ! Gonna be big wide pattern for sure .... Good for gettin bunnies but nothin else

 

[Rob M.]

Rob you are quite the craftsman! You have a lot of talent! What is your next project?

Very kind of ya bud ...its just a d@mn ole trade gun !! LOL ...but I love em ! I got to finish up a French Fusil de Chasse next ... I got the build on here ...gotta get the butt plate on it soon then start roughing in the buttstock ....

 

[Rob M.]

Rob thanks for your input. That is my thoughts exactly. Of the guns I have built. I try to put the vent hole about a 16 th in front of the breach plug.
It seems if a vent liner is so much better ? Why'd they wait almost 300 years to do it...?

Oh dont get me wrong bud , touch hole liners are good , they do make ignition faster , they bring the main charge closer to the prime and usual cone it too ....I just dont like how the liner and the longer breech plugs push everything forward which can complicate things ... Coning can be done with out a liner .I saw this great original gadget that coned guns from the inside , just like a liner would be , and much closer to the breech face ...I'd love to make one one day ....among 100 other things !! LOL .... Wish I had the pic to show you ...

 

[Rob M.]

Tr

I wouldn't call it ugly, it just gives it character. You certainly won't think twice about dragging her through the brush chasing rabbits.

True enough . I hope she turns out good but ... man ...thats crappy wood ! LOL

 

[victor#0]

I think it's pretty awesome that you can take some pieces parts and add it to a crappy piece of wood and make a decent looking gun that will be a blast to shoot! I hope someday to have a Rob Miller trade gun, been saving my pennies ;0)

 

[Reno]

Nice work. It is fast ignition.

 

[Travler]

Much appreciate you posting all this! Working up the courage to do a build! This helps!

 

[Rob M.]

Reinforcement ...done ....gonna clean , put it in the house and get back on the Frenchy ....back to work hippie !!

 

[Rob M.]

Much appreciate you posting all this! Working up the courage to do a build! This helps!

Thx... If you start a build and get in a spot , just holler at me ...might be able to help. Be sure and get Hershel House's VDO from 1991 . Its great !! Take care

 

[Rob M.]

I worked the butt stock down a bit yesterday ...much happier with the shape , size .... took the wrist to final .reinforced the crappy buttstock a bit . ..I want to thin the long wrist a bit on bottom and I have to refine the wrist where it goes into the comb but , for now ....the shape is very close to final and I need to quit f%$# in a round and get back on Frenchy ... Got her all cleaned up and even polished the bore ...she goes back in the cabin above the door now

 

[WALT53]

We'll see . Maybe I ll turn out ok or even nicer but ....thats one crappy piece of cherry ! Never know ....

I worked the butt stock down a bit yesterday ...much happier with the shape , size .... took the wrist to final .reinforced the crappy buttstock a bit . ..I want to thin the long wrist a bit on bottom and I have to refine the wrist where it goes into the comb but , for now ....the shape is very close to final and I need to quit f%$# in a round and get back on Frenchy ... Got her all cleaned up and even polished the bore ...she goes back in the cabin above the door now

Rob what do you use on your guns after you clean them up ,gun oil or something homemade.

 

[Rob M.]

The barrel ? Just oil . I have a big ole thing of gun oil , found it , but many times its just motor oil ....

Rob what do you use on your guns after you clean them up ,gun oil or something homemade.

 

[le125verne]

Barrel back in , pin ... Run drill bit up new tang screw hole , it'll mark the tang on inside . barrel out ... See mark inside tang . no matter what , mark with punch but center it ! Then drill tang and do it at angle , bit close to bolster ... Thread tang ...long tap is nice for this ...

I do not often say much. I have enjoyed reading and watching your progress with making this firearm.

 

[Rob M.]

I do not often say much. I have enjoyed reading and watching your progress with making this firearm.

Cool , glad you like it . I'm fairly new to the forum , couple months , and its a great way to talk to other folks that like Muzzleloaders , esp. flintlocks .