Clay Smith Trade Gun Build

[TDM]

Finally back on the build. Getting the inletting for the nose cap done. After a lunch break I’ll finish it up.

 

[TDM]

Got the nose cap/band fitted. Still have a little sanding to do for a flush fit. Also marked the top of the pan, pan centerline, and end of the barrel. I’m going to use a Kibler vent liner.

 

[50calBoone]

Looking Great !

 

[TDM]

Thanks @50calBoone

 

[TDM]

Continued narrowing the wrist and reshaped and flattened the relief around the breech. Still not finished but made some progress.

 

[Rob M.]

Man !! It all looks great ! Wish you had shown me how to do the nose band a few years ago ! You did great and made it look easy .... Looks great . File the band and wood flush before sand ...if you haven't already .... Carving at the tang looks great too ! Your good ! Looks like you've already finished or close but just wanted to tell ya , those finger nail board things that women use on their nails works well on those carvings to don't he edges ...sometimes hard to get paper in that close .... Any who ...looks great bud . . File that tang flat ...make sure its down tight first

 

[TDM]

Thanks @Rob M.

I’m trying, getting a little nervous toward the end, but I’m enjoying the process.

Oh, and I did get a couple of packages of the nail files. They are definitely handy.

 

[Rob M.]

Oh yeah , center punch your touch hole and then put your lock back on to check it out and make sure its in the right position . Actually ...I like to have the lock on , with frizzen removed , and center punch it ... then adjusting as necessary with center punch until I'm happy with it ... Then I undersize drill it a bit .....take off lock and do the real process ...

 

[TDM]

Oh yeah , center punch your touch hole and then put your lock back on to check it out and make sure its in the right position . Actually ...I like to have the lock on , with frizzen removed , and center punch it ... then adjusting as necessary with center punch until I'm happy with it ... Then I undersize drill it a bit .....take off lock and do the real process ...

Excellent advice, thanks.

 

[TDM]

Got the vent liner installed today. Started by rechecking my scribe mark, counterpunched the mark, and drilled a pilot hole. I used a Kibler vent liner which is 5/16” - 32 and used an “L” bit to drill the tap hole. Tapped it and counter sunk the hole. Tightened it down and used my borescope to check and it was protruding into the chamber. Did a little trimming, filing, and polishing. Got it flush after the second work over. Checked it with a jag and patch to make sure nothing was grabbing. Then put a bit of RIG on the threads, tightened it down, and sawed it off. Rechecked it again with the borescope and an oiled patch, all good. And filed the face smooth. The gun is alive now and could be assembled and fired in a few minutes. Did some more light rasping and sanding on the stock. It’s getting close now.

 

[Bnewberry]

Great progress!

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Looking good. Nice job on that vent liner.

 

[TDM]

Looking good. Nice job on that vent liner.

Thanks.

 

[TDM]

Great progress!

Thanks, it is starting to wind down now. Still going to remove a bit more wood, but not much. Clay Smith told me these early guns were a little beefier than later ones. Mike Brooks was gracious to do the engraving on the side plate and thumb plate. They’re in the mail headed back to me now.

 

[Rob M.]

Excellent advice, thanks.

Got the vent liner installed today. Started by rechecking my scribe mark, counterpunched the mark, and drilled a pilot hole. I used a Kibler vent liner which is 5/16” - 32 and used an “L” bit to drill the tap hole. Tapped it and counter sunk the hole. Tightened it down and used my borescope to check and it was protruding into the chamber. Did a little trimming, filing, and polishing. Got it flush after the second work over. Checked it with a jag and patch to make sure nothing was grabbing. Then put a bit of RIG on the threads, tightened it down, and sawed it off. Rechecked it again with the borescope and an oiled patch, all good. And filed the face smooth. The gun is alive now and could be assembled and fired in a few minutes. Did some more light rasping and sanding on the stock. It’s getting close now.

D@mn ! Like a pro man ! And that lock mortice border !! Beautiful !

 

[TDM]

D@mn ! Like a pro man ! And that lock mortice border !! Beautiful !

Dang Rob! Hope you and I aren’t disappointed when it’s finished! Still a few hills to climb.

 

[Rob M.]

Dang Rob! Hope you and I aren’t disappointed when it’s finished! Still a few hills to climb.

Ain't nobody gonna be disappointed when this baby is done , esp you cause you get ta shoot it ! Then ! ....your gonna want ta build another one ! LOL ...lookin great bud . Wish mine looked that good

 

[TDM]

Ain't nobody gonna be disappointed when this baby is done , esp you cause you get ta shoot it ! Then ! ....your gonna want ta build another one ! LOL ...lookin great bud . Wish mine looked that good

Hope you’re right! I’ve got a good teacher.

 

[WALT53]

Ain't nobody gonna be disappointed when this baby is done , esp you cause you get ta shoot it ! Then ! ....your gonna want ta build another one ! LOL ...lookin great bud . Wish mine looked that good

I want to see him shot her like in a video or at the least a photo,looking really good TDM.

 

[Rob M.]

I want to see him shot her like in a video or at the least a photo,looking really good TDM.

Me too ! That'd be great . Wish we three could shoot together