can someone school me please PA long rifle

[Bellyup039]

I am new to muzzeloading.
I bought a TC 50 Renegede used. I Love it.
Hooked.

The wife told me I can get a Pennsylvania Long rifle 50 cal flinter for occasional target shooting, but mostly decoration for above the fireplace. (so It has to be pritty)

She also told me that a guy she works with has a friend who custom makes muzzeloaders and I can have one custom made.

Ok, As I drool, (I love her) so now I need to know what exactly I need to tell the guy.

1 in 66 twist?
what kind of wood?
what kind of finish?
What else do I have to ask about?

thanks.

:thumbsup:

 

[cmdrted]

It all depends on costs. If'n you want pretty any of tyhe old lancaster county styles, brass trimmed med to high grade curly maple,, 45 to 50 cal patch ball twist, 1/60 or slower will certainly fill the bill, check out track of the wolf for thier guns for sale dept, that'll give you an idea on base prices, the Avants at TVM have completed lancs for @ 1100 plus depending on what you want. good luck, does your wife have any unmarried sisters like minded like her! mine currently thinks muzzleloading is yet another of my foolish pastimes!

 

[Bellyup039]

funny storie about her sister.
My best freind married her.

true.

And his addiction is Drag race cars. $$$$$$$$$$ :blah:

 

[Bellyup039]

I do want to stick with 50 cal.
I am guessing $1500 or less.

I hope this friend will save us some cash. But I want to go and check out his work in person first.

I am sure you all understand that one. I just wanted to know, If there is any special lock I should ask for or anything else that might jazz it up some more.

thanks

 

[biliff]

If you're going to the expense of a semi-custom/custom gun there's alot to consider:

Style or school of maker, caliber, barrel length/profile,rifling type, sights (type and location), trigger type, wood grade, carving, engraving, LOP, furniture, lock etc...

Then there's the builder to consider. Lots of people on this forum can give you insight there.

Sit down with a paper and pencil, do some research, write things down and come up with a coherent picture that fits your budget. Then contact a builder and discuss what you want and see if its reasonable and within your budget.

 

[Bellyup039]

thanks bill.
That sounds more like it.
I think first I might just want to go and talk with the builder and see what he has. Maybee he can give me some personal ideas.

Then I can find out How much.

I guess i got my work cut out for me now.

 

[colmoultrie]

If you want it to handle and shoot right, ask for a swamped barrel. Remember, on most original longrifles, the barrel supports the forestock, not the other way around, so the stocks are slender.

Don't rush into this! Do your homework first. Get a copy of Kindig's Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in It's Golden Age and/or Shumway's Rifles of Colonial America (both of which you can get through interlibrary loan). then go through all the pictures first and bookmark each rifle that appeals to you at a gut level - yes, they all look good, but some "speak" to you more than others. Then read about them and make a decision.

Then wait at least a week (longer is better) and see if your decision holds. No use spending money on a custom rifle unless it's going to be just what you want.

Make sure that your builder friend is really good - not simply someone who has put a few kits together. See some of his work, if possible, and compare it to the pictures in the books and what you see on Track of the Wolf or on this forum - or on websites of gunmakers like Roy Stroh, Allen Martin, and others.

As a personal opinion, good architecture will trump flashy carving and inlays any day. If you want a rifle that you can both hang over the mantle and use, simpler is probably better. Here's a photo of a rifle attributed to Hermann Rupp - no fancy inlays or extensive relief carving, but simply a beautiful rifle. Any serious student of longrifles would be glad to have that hanging over the mantle!

This was at Dixon's Gunmakers' Fair in 2007.

On the other hand, sometimes fancy can look nice, but again the architecture is at the heart.

That's Keith Casteel's work, also from 2007. I like this, but to own and use, I'd prefer the plainer. Of course, all the engraving and inlay will also run you a pretty penny...

 

[torn moc]

I dont know quite how to phrase this...but hanging a nice frontstuffer above an active fireplace aint such a good idea....it drys the wood out...

 

[pulaskius]

Sit down and talk with the builder ... he may have samples of his work and surely he can help guide you to making a decision.

Just a thought

 

[Leonredbeard]

Just remember, those Casteel gonnes run 15 to 20 thousand, yep read it and weep. I was there and took a passel of pics of the wheellock and handled it, veeerrrrryyyy carefully I might add.
volatpluvia

 

[rabjr]

If you have a custom gun made, the man making it if he knows his stuff, knows not to hang one over a working fire place. Thats a good way to ruin a good gun. Find a better way to store your evestment. :thumbsup:

 

[tg]

Lots of good advise, take your time and breath in all the original ML aroma you can and make a studied informed choice and you will have a hunting/shooting companion for a lifetime.

 

[jimmytheshank]

There's nothing like having a rifle built by a friend. It would do you a lot of good to meet the builder and have a good conversation with him. Even if he doesnt build you the rifle, friends in the ML world are always great and the wealth of information you learn is priceless! This Late Lancaster rifle was built for me by a very good friend and forum member Mike (oldarmy) Woodbury. When I aint shooting it, it hangs on my wall so I can stare at it for hours on end.
If you are gonna hang your rifle over the fireplace, just remember to take it down when you decide to get a fire going. :grin:

 

[MikeC]

The wife told me I can get a Pennsylvania Long rifle 50 cal flinter for occasional target shooting, but mostly decoration for above the fireplace.

Hmmm..."The wife told me". Don't like that. I never have to ask I just decide to.

"mostly decoration"...To me a rifle should be built with one purpose in mind and that is to be shot, and for me that means hunting. When it's not in the field it should be properly stored and most importantly, out of sight and in a location that does not lend the rifle to storage damage.

 

[J.D.]

Someone suggested several books from interlibrary loan. That is a good idea, but black and white photos don't tell the whole story.

Detailed, color photos help one see the characteristics of a particular maker.

While these internet sites are great places for studying antique firearms, they are very limited as to what is available. They are really, just a way to pique someone's interest. The real research comes through reading.

That said; Gun Porn: :grin:
http://www.americanhistoricservices.com/html/home.html
http://web.mac.com/kettenburgs/iWeb/Site/Home.html

Contemporary makers, but exceptional work. http://www.jwh-flintlocks.net/
http://www.msilverartisan.com/pages/intro.html
http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/

God bless

 

[Bellyup039]

wow. Lots of info. thanks all.

I like the idea, "dont forget to take it off the wall when lighting a fire."

time to start reading.