Finally fulfilling my Longrifle “bucket list” item…

[clifforddward]

Several decades ago as a young man I had a desire to build my own Pennsylvania long rifle…I bought a piece of wood, barrel, and a lock and several of the books available at that time. Unfortunately career, young family and other distractions got in the way and that project failed.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and a chance encounter in rural central Pennsylvania and I have come into the possession of a very nice old stock from an old rifle of the Lebanon school…unlikely to be a true period stock, but certainly at least decades old…it is a bare stock only save ramrod thimbles…I was able to match up parts shape to parts from Track of the Wolf for J.P. Beck furniture…things like the side plate were close but not an exact match, so I’ll plan to make those parts from scratch just as in the 18th century.

Looking forward to this journey and will share my progress here on the forum.

I’m certain I’ll have many questions for more experienced folks here on the forum.

Best Regards,
Cliff

Cliff Ward
Cary, North Carolina

 

[GrizzlyClaus]

Welcome from South Central PA.

 

[kelljp]

Welcome from East TN

 

[RangerRoodle]

Welcome from Missouri.

 

[CuNosecap]

Welcome from NC. We love pictures.

 

[BackDraft]

Welcome from South-Central Indiana

 

[2 shots]

welcome and pics. please

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Welcome Cliff. Please post some pictures of that stock!

 

[Eutycus]

Howdy and Welcome from Texas!

 

[Tumbledown]

If you have Facebook, the Kentucky Rifle Foundation may offer you good reference points. Although there are certain styles typical for particular regions and eras, I think there is enough variation where you might find something off the shelf that (perhaps with a bit of customizing) will suit your needs.

KENTUCKY RIFLE FOUNDATION

 

[Duk]

Welcome from North Dakota

 

[nit wit]

Welcome from Maine.
Nit Wit

 

[FlaminCrow]

Welcome, enjoy the journey.

 

[toot]

Welcome.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

Welcome from Pennsylvania.

 

[VA Hawken]

Welcome from Winchester, VA!

 

[Capnball]

Several decades ago as a young man I had a desire to build my own Pennsylvania long rifle…I bought a piece of wood, barrel, and a lock and several of the books available at that time. Unfortunately career, young family and other distractions got in the way and that project failed.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and a chance encounter in rural central Pennsylvania and I have come into the possession of a very nice old stock from an old rifle of the Lebanon school…unlikely to be a true period stock, but certainly at least decades old…it is a bare stock only save ramrod thimbles…I was able to match up parts shape to parts from Track of the Wolf for J.P. Beck furniture…things like the side plate were close but not an exact match, so I’ll plan to make those parts from scratch just as in the 18th century.

Looking forward to this journey and will share my progress here on the forum.

I’m certain I’ll have many questions for more experienced folks here on the forum.

Best Regards,
Cliff

Cliff Ward
Cary, North Carolina

My bucket list is deep and expensive!
Unfortunately my pockets are shallow and empty but I was able to scrape together enough original parts to restore an 1862 Bridesberg civil war contract rifle to working order. It was fun attacking each problem one at a time till I could make the gun as nearly as I could get it to original condition. The gun was well on its way being unsalvageable as it had been "sporterized" at some point in its history. Removing all historical value by modifying it like that, the gun ended up rolled up in a rug in the back of a shed that was in disrepair. (I actually took that gun and another as payment for repairing the shed.) I literally had it 10 years before I touched it. That doesn't mean I wasn't working on it, I was collecting all the missing parts at antique gun shows. A barrel band here, a butt plate there, etc, etc.
It came out ok. Not a museum piece but a functional piece of history I can hold in my hands.