Chambers Lancaster build thread

[Pete G]

Do not ever think that you can build a rifle without a patchbox and add one later. Adding it later will always look like an add on. A patchbox is inlet and then filed flush with the wood. Might be possible if you are refinishing and taking the stock back to bare wood, but otherwise no. Some of the Reading guns were built with no engraving in the brass, but most other schools were engraved, albeit some none too well. That is a good thing because it makes it possible to build a really good representation of an historic rifle without having to be a master craftsman.

To my eye a rifle without a patchbox looks unfinished. Original rifles were sometimes built without a box, but they were invariably plain rifles built cheaply; hardly a candidate for highly figured wood.

The best thing to do with any build is to get some books and study. You really don't want to build a rifle that you will look back on years from now and think "I wish I hadn't done that".

 

[Lock Nut]

I couldn't agree more. Gotta have the brass box and curl. That's what drew me to the Kentucky rifles in the first place. If I'm gonna spend the time and money building one, Might as well make it worth it.

(just my 2 cents :wink: )

 

[Birddog6]

I think you are responding to the wrong guy. :hmm:

Keith Lisle

 

[vacca rabite]

I just got in Battle Weapons of the American Revolution and Guns of the Early Frontier.

The Pennsylvania Kentucky Rifle will be at my door in the next few days.

The kit has not gotten to me yet.

Still have not made up my mind on this.
Zach

 

[vacca rabite]

So, a long overdue update.

The rifle kit got to me in July. The following week I was able to meet the good folks from Chambers at Dixons Gunmakers Fair.

While at Dixon's I did get new brass pipes to better fit the rammer. Theses were formed and brazed instead of cast.

Barrel, lock and sidplate have been inlet to the stock.

Barrel has had the lugs installed for pins.

After practicing on some brass sheet, I finally built up the courage to engrave the side plate, patch box, and a hunters star for the cheek rest.

Pics...

Will need to clean up that mark from the file while I was inletting the barrel.

Side plate engraved and inlet. Not the best engraving, but its my first piece and I am proud of it.



Zach

 

[vacca rabite]

For the past two nights I've een up till 2am or 3am working on the rifle after the kids went to bed. Its starting to actually look like a rifle!

Barrel and stock got drilled and pins inserted. The pins are very long so they can be removed for building and shaping as needed.

Nose cap inset. It needs to be filed a bit to match the wood. I did a lot of filing last night, but it needs a little more.

Butt plate is getting very close, but not there yet. At ths point last night I was getting to the point where I was a bit loopy due to exhaustion so I made myself pack it in. Will finish that task tonight (YEAH long weekend!)

Very first time engraving steel. Very amateurish, but I am an amateur to engraving. I'm like my 2 year old boy with a new toy. I don't know what the heck I'm doing with it, but having a lot of fun figuring it out.

Zach

 

[vacca rabite]

Small update tonight.
Wish I had taken a "before" shot.

I picked up this Jaeger sight at Dixon's during the fair, but it was WAY too big for the lines of my rifle. Easily removed 1/3 of the metal and altered the shape from how it was as cast.
Lots of filing. This rear sight started as thick as the widest part. Wanted my early Lancaster flintlock rifle to have a little Germanic influence. The round divot is a casting flaw I uncovered. Was considering welding it shut, but decided that I like the little "eye." This little part is 3 hours with a bunch of files from big to small, flat to round. Still needs a little work, and buffing, but I'm beat and wanted to turn in for the night before I messed something up.

This is while I was working it down. The entire sight base to the point where it starts to "swoop" was as wide as where I am filing.

I did not get any further fitting done to the stock, but I'm very pleased with how this came out.
Zach

 

[vacca rabite]

I filed off my name from the top of the barrel and redid it.

I am much happier with it this time. Still not perfect, but way better then the first time around.

Zach