F&I - Colonial Period Rifle question

[Artificer]

Really miss Gary Brumfield, he was lost to us much too early. This is from his old website:

"A 1773 Letter written by Christian Oerter, gunmaker of Christian's Spring, to Martin Bauer, friend and customer in Lancaster County PA."

" Christiansbrunn, the 9th September, 1773

Most valued Friend Martin Baer,

At your request I have prepared [completed/finished] a good rifle and sent it over to Mr. John Hopson together with 4 pounds of Powder. The rifle is decorated [inlaid] with silver wire and well made, as well as tested and she shoots right well. It has a double trigger, so that you can fire with the triggers either unset or set. Between the triggers there is a screw with which you can make it lighter or harder to fire. There is also a ball puller with which you can pull the ball out no matter how rusty she gets. She costs 8 pounds all together and with the powder @ 3 shillings per pound makes twelve shillings, for a total of L8.12.-. Because it is very good powder I have added two pounds more than you requested. I hope it will suit you well. You can write me a couple lines to let me know how you like it. Together with friendliest greetings I am your faithful

friend and servant,

Christian Oerter

Gunmaker"


Gary made some very interesting comments on the letter that can be found here:
http://www.flintriflesmith.com/about_frs.htm

Gus

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Refocusing on the original thread....


OK so the question was about patch boxes being a regular part of the majority of the rifles made in the colonies from the 1750's on to the revolution.

Although there are very few actual examples, there are some records showing rifles in the colonies as early as the end of the 17th century.

Arguments for the majority of the rifles having a patch box are:

They are nifty gizmos,

They are simple to make when made of wood,

The Germans did it that way,

They hold patches,


..., so why then, did the Southerners switch to the tallow hole, or omit them entirely after the AWI...all of the above being true?

They would still be nifty. Wood was plentiful in the South as it was in the North. The Southern rifles with tallow holes or nothing at all are very simple rifles for the most part. Those rifle builders descended from rifle builders who descended from German rifle builders, so the idea of a patch box should have continued...as it did in the North though it went to metal, AND the Southern rifles also used patches.

LD

 

[nchawkeye]

Money or lack thereof...

The early settlers that moved into the Blue Ridge Mountains simply couldn't afford anything but a basic rifle...That's why many don't have stock carvings, a butt plate, nose cap or rear ramrod thimble as well...It's also why calibers were smaller as well, to conserve lead and powder...

 

[Mickc01]

Really miss Gary Brumfield, he was lost to us much too early.

DITTO! :hatsoff:

 

[Alden]

Arguments for the majority of the rifles having a patch box are:

They are nifty gizmos,

They are simple to make when made of wood,

The Germans did it that way,

They hold patches,


..., so why then, did the Southerners switch to the tallow hole, or omit them entirely after the AWI...all of the above being true?

LD

The novelty wore off, people were able to afford and flaunt quality possibles bags more readily, style, they weren't as German as they once were (but who amongst us is?).

 

[Turtle Creek]

Well looks like I'm going to put a simple early brass patchbox on my Colonial period .54.
The rifle is sweet and not simple enough to be a barn gun so should have a period box....going wood would be too much work and make me refinish it and don't want to do that.
Like this first one... http://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssup...t_id=6756813.29820&next=25&product=Patchboxes

Figure I can work that one in place without bunging up the works. Just have to figure a release system but I'll figure that out but am open to suggestions.

 

[okawbow]

I used that same patchbox on my .54 colonial rifle. I modified it to look more like the original on a Shroyer rifle.

engraved patchbox york rifle by okawbow, on Flickr

 

[Turtle Creek]

Nice, post a picture of your release mechanism...
I've a similar butt plate and want to carry it out to but not into the brass.

 

[okawbow]

I'm afraid I never took a picture of the release mechanism. I used the release shown in "The Gunsmith of Grenville Co." for the Shroyer rifle. The release button goes through the top of the buttplate just behind the screw. It pushes on a spring catch, that hooks to a catch riveted to the lid. It's a fairly simple system, and works well.

 

[Turtle Creek]

Thought you still had the rifle...nice job on that PB btw.
Thanks

 

[okawbow]

I still have the rifle. The release doesn't really show unless the butt plate is removed. Here is the release button.
Colonial York co. rifle 11 by okawbow, on Flickr

The button pushes the spring catch off the rivet catch.
P9050622 by okawbow, on Flickr

I made the spring part from 01 tool steel. It only needs to move a fraction of an inch to release the lid. The spring is filed to a sharp edge, and driven into the end of the stock. The rivet is made from 1/4" mild steel. The notch can be left thick, and filed a few thousands at a time, until the spring just catches when the lid is pushed all the way down.

I used the lid spring that came with the patchbox kit to pop the lid open.

 

[Turtle Creek]

Hey, thanks for the effort.
I appreciate it.
PB should arrive in a few days so I'll get busy.
Thanks again.

 

[Alden]

Note: sometimes a lid spring has to be purchased separately -- don't assume it is included with anything you buy.