Christmas Flintlock

[Renegade Dan]

Nice lookin rifle ya got there! :thumbsup: Always liked those harper ferry rifles. looks like you stole that the one, the ones at Dixie gun works go for $1000.00 brand new.

 

[Grumpa]

Gonna try the 3f as my priming powder....might even shoot a few blank loads this New Years eve

All I ever shot in it was 2F, and once I started using 2F in the pan, I stuck with it.

Did a bit of New Year's Eve and 4th of July blanks with it, too. About 45 grains of powder and a big wad of newsprint shoved down on top of it.

Enjoy.

 

[JonnyReb3]

Many thanks Renegade Dan! I appreciate the post and more than ever really appreciate the pawn shop guy who doesn't think much of flintlocks.. :grin:

Grumpa you've sealed the deal. 2F too? i'll have to try that.
Will Promise to fire off a salute to another New Year..45gr. and the local rag it will be. Am looking forward to it too, first time i'll make smoke with this rifle, real black to burn, a new year coming.. will give the fireworks crowd over in the "new neighborhood" something to wonder about too.. can't wait :wink:

 

[Alden]

Jonny;
Your repro is almost certainly better quality than the orignals, believe it or not. Harpers Ferry did not have a good reputation for workmanship quite frankly. The employees knew their stuff but were a bunch of spoiled, lethargic, drunks to a great extent. The bore on mine is off center...

Hmmm..., don't remember a wedding band at the interface...

Click on the "IMG" routing for your PHOTOBUCKET pic and paste the "copied" link into the posting here and the pic should appear (as I made it)... But COMPRESS the pictures on Photobucket to internet web size first!!!

 

[JonnyReb3]

I'll be interested to hear what others with the same repro 1803's say about the barrel transition Alden,, or you mean the original is different?? Would love to see the two side by side.

Believe it or not, :shake: this rifles bored off center too and more than just a little. Haven't measured the opposing barrel walls yet but its noticeable. Still, it seems a heavy built quality rifle..have to say its about the best feeling and carrying gun i could hope for..love the carry point midcenter..is as slim and well balanced as any gun i could grab ahold of.

Just curious..any travesty in having this barrel bored to a .62 smooth bore? Have caught myself thinking about this more than once..would still be a fine deer hunter but would be capable of turkey too..it would become an all purpose gun.. Just kicking it around..

Thanks for the replies Alden. J.

 

[Grumpa]

Funny, since being on this Forum, I have thought myself about turning mine into a smoothbore, since I have a Harpers Ferry in .54.

 

[JonnyReb3]

Glad to see i'm in like company.. the way the H.F. comes to the shoulder reminds me of an old double barrel..or kinda like the TC 12ga. New Englander.. seems more at home as a shotgun than a rifle. As this particular rifle is already varying from its original parts in more ways than one, i don't see any harm in having it reamed. Will shoot this one as is first but won't be surprised to find i go ahead with sending it off to a competent smith. Bet it would lighten mine up a bit too, and would lighten your .54 up noticeably. Thats another plus.

 

[Grumpa]

The barrel transition on mine is about the same as yours, and is pretty close to the originals that I have seen.

The rear sight that came on mine was kind of crappy, a folded piece of brass as I recall, but a friend replaced it with a nice dovetailed iron sight.

I sometimes shot 2 30-06 cases full of powder under a PRB. Surprisingly, there was not so much of a kick, but more of an extended shove.

Mine's pretty much in the same condition as when I bought it. Casehardened lock plate, browned barrel, brass furniture and shiny wood.

I doubt that I'll smoothbore it, but I'd be interested to hear the results if you do.

 

[JonnyReb3]

I may well do that Grumpa, will surely post of it when it happens.

Took that excellent advice tonight and about 11:30pm i loaded up my first shot. Went out back and listened to other distant patriots making their noise..fireworks, pistols and various autos, sounded like one fella had a cannon. I attempted to touch off my 1st shot 3 or 4 times. It finally went, flinging a burning roll of the Charlotte Observer newspaper a pitiful 10 feet. Sounded awesome as the shot echoed up the valley behind the house....my next 5 or 6 shots went off with the first drop of the hammer..i was pretty elated. Between shots i'd use my trusty T/C pick\flintlock tool set to clean out the touch hole and sweep the pan. I'd load 45gr. and tamp with newspaper..3f in the pan and "WHOOM!" Another perfect and fast ignition..same as a percussion or unmentionable. Loved It! on shot number 7+ i started having trouble again..would have to drop the hammer 2 or 3 times to fire. I finished it out with what i think was my 10th shot right at midnight. I enjoyed the heck out of shooting the flintlock, the black powder smelled grand..tasted familiar too..yeah i ate a little.

Just spent the last hour cleaning the rifle..was really needing it and still needs more, especially around the touch hole which was a bit scarred from previous neglect. The barrel cleaned up perfect. I question whether this barrel had ever been out of the stock before..good chance it never had. She was a dirty one for sure.

Did order my rear sight from TOW a few days ago, along with other goodies, rb's, flints, etc..will be test firing this rifle within a week or so with live ammo..look forward to it. Happy New Year fellas.. J.

 

[Electric Miner]

Just curious Electric Miner, what loads do you use in yours?
Ever shoot a rb? I believe thats where i'll start..less recoil and cheaper ammo. Do you use 3 or 4f as a priming powder?

Haven't shot mine yet.