David Price Swivel breech rifle kit build-Updates

[duelist1954]

In this update I’m continuing to work on the right side fore stock panel of the swivel breech rifle from David Price. In this update I’ll cut in the lock molding and shape and rough sand the panel.

In this update you’ll get a look at a simple fixture I made to deal with those delicate side panels.


Just a reminder, I’m not a professional builder, nor am I an advanced amateur.

This is how I do things. There are probably better ways to do the work you’ll see in the video, but I don’t know what they are. I’m always open to learning better techniques.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQhCWMYTU28

 

[Mulebrain]

I have been really enjoying your build videos. Thanks so much for sharing :thumbsup:

 

[duelist1954]

This day just went south fast.

The forestock panel on the swivel breech rifle caught a fold in my sleeve, and just snapped in half.

The wood is so thin at the entry thimble, it broke in an instant when I moved my arm.

I am in total heroic rescue mode now. I'm trying to bond it with a layer of fiberglass re-enforced epoxy under the panel, and straight epoxy applied directly to the break.

If this doesn't work I'll have to make a new side panel from scratch...fingers crossed...

 

[Kansas Jake]

That is a bite. It has to be very frustrating. I hope the repair works.

 

[duelist1954]

I have been giving this some thought over a cup of coffee, now that I have a little more distance from the event.

If this doesn't work, and, maybe, even if it does, I'm thinking I will file and polish the entry thimble and epoxy it into place.

That will give support and rigidity to the area of the break...kind of like a big pin...any thoughts?

 

[Col. Batguano]

Once fixed in place it ought to be secure. Is there enough wood behind it that you could inlet a very thin piece of sheet metal, and epoxy that in place as well? that might add a little bit of stiffness too.

 

[Squatch84]

Oh no!!! The rifle is coming along though.

 

[duelist1954]

The fiberglass reinforced epoxy worked”¦whew!!

 

[Squatch84]

Cool you got it fixed!

 

[Billnpatti]

Oh my word, that had to have a high pucker factor. I have been following your build on You Tube. I am glad the repair worked. I am now wondering how, or if, the epoxy is going to effect the staining of the wood.

 

[duelist1954]

That's why I put some stain on the area before I glued it, and I colored the epoxy...so...hopefully, we'll be OK

 

[Col. Batguano]

Rather than using a chisel for many wood operations (such as rounding sharp edges) , you might consider using a coarse (and then fine toothed) file. It will engage the wood over a broader area, and, (due to the small tooth to sole ratio) be less inclined to have the cutting area dig in, especially in very curly wood. Effectively, that's the same reason that backed sand paper doesn't produce tear out.

 

[DanRum]

Glad everything worked out for you.

 

[Kansas Jake]

That looks like a nice save. I'm glad it worked out.

 

[duelist1954]

This video shows how I fixed the broken fore stock panel on the swivel breech rifle kit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFDCJxeYSaA&t=25s

 

[Shaggy]

On something like this i might have almost been fun to add a period repair to it, it'd add charecter. Something like the semi-common forearm breaks that were repaired back in the day with hammering a chunk of brass around it and tacking it in place

 

[duelist1954]

Here is the latest video update on the David Price swivel breech flintlock rifle kit build. In this episode I’ll fit the sliding wooden patchbox lid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3epHBJ8yvNI

 

[duelist1954]

 

[duelist1954]

The swivel Breech rifle I built from David Price’s kit is essentially finished.

I still have some polishing and tweaking to do, but it is good enough to take it to the Fort Frederick 18th Century Market Fair next week to show my friends.

I want to thank David for all the work he does getting the kits ready, and for the advice and help he gave me.

Also, a big thank you to David for providing me with such a fantastic piece of wood.

I have the footage for the last two videos in the series ready to edit, so, hopefully before I leave for Fort Fred, I’ll get them up.

 

[duelist1954]

I’ve known about swivel breech rifles for ages, but I really got interested in them after reading Raymond Chandler’s great F&I War novel, “The Black Rifle”, where a swivel breech rifle features prominently.
I followed that up with another Chandler book, which was a fictionalized biography of Timothy Murphy, who may be the man who shot British General Simon Fraser during the battle of Bemis Heights during the Saratoga campaign. Murphy was reputed to use a swivel breech rifle.
Next I read “Revolutionary Rangers: Daniel Morgan's Riflemen and Their Role on the Northern Frontier, 1778-1783” by Richard B. LaCrosse Jr., which is a history of Morgan’s rife regiment. Tim Murphy figures prominently in this book. LaCrosse has proof that Murphy used a swivel breech rifle during the war, but that he only used it during action defending New York forts because it was too heavy for field campaigning. Murphy had a single barrel rifle for the field.
There is some controversy about whether Murphy was actually the man who shot Fraser. LaCrosse believe he is, and he lays out a good case. But he thinks Murphy was shooting his single barrel rifle when he made that shot.
Those books inspired me to build my own swivel breech rifle.