Finally the Trade Rifle is ready to finish

[ronaldrothb49]

Was wondering if I would ever get to this point on this thing. This was a plain maple blank that had probably been sitting in the workshop for over 30 years. Man that wood got hard, I think I spent more time sharpening chisels than I actually spent working on it. I have wanted a trade rifle for as long as I can remember but Now wishing I had made an English Pattern instead of the Lancaster pattern. I don't really like Lancaster rifles. OH well this was about the finish anyhow. Did a final test strip for the finish and will start on that now.

 

[EndoftheLine]

Was wondering if I would ever get to this point on this thing. This was a plain maple blank that had probably been sitting in the workshop for over 30 years. Man that wood got hard, I think I spent more time sharpening chisels than I actually spent working on it. I have wanted a trade rifle for as long as I can remember but Now wishing I had made an English Pattern instead of the Lancaster pattern. I don't really like Lancaster rifles. OH well this was about the finish anyhow. Did a final test strip for the finish and will start on that now.

Looking good! Where did you get your hardware?

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Looking good! Where did you get your hardware?

Modified parts I had laying around

 

[wiscoaster]

I vote for #3.

 

[IanH]

I vote for wrap it with iron baling wire and wave a propane torch along the wires for faux stripes, then I second #3.

 

[ead]

Awesome, it looks just like a J. Henry trade rifle.
I always wanted to build one. If you don't mind my asking, Were you able to buy this patchbox on the market and what brand is the lock, Chambers perhaps?

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Awesome, it looks just like a J. Henry trade rifle.
I always wanted to build one. If you don't mind my asking, Were you able to buy this patchbox on the market and what brand is the lock, Chambers perhaps?

I am pretty sure that the lock is probably an old DGW lock. It is a little smaller than an actual Henry lock. It has a roller on the frizzen spring and I could modify it to look like a Henry. Chambers does have a lock that is close to the correct size and could be modified to look right. I am trying to use up parts that I have in stock got to stop buying parts and use what I have I will be 75 next month. The patch box was a plain kit. I made a pattern from the Trade Rifle Sketch Book and cut it out by hand. Not hard to do.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

I vote for wrap it with iron baling wire and wave a propane torch along the wires for faux stripes, then I second #3.

Pretty sure they didn't have propane torches 200 years ago.

 

[IanH]

Pretty sure they didn't have propane torches 200 years ago.

Okay, then heat a poker orange hot in your coal forge and use that.

 

[Norman Brooks]

I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

 

[olskool]

I vote for nothing fake, let it be what it is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

I vote you paint it pick your favorite color then draw the designs on it.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

That site has been gone for awhile. I have seen a couple of original Leman's. There does seem to be a pattern on them so I think that is probably how Leman did it. What did you use for the stripes? Your rifle does look nice.

 

[Norman Brooks]

I used Laurel Mountain Forge stain to stain and stripe with two different colors. I would recommend practicing on a scrap piece of maple before jumping into it.

That site has been gone for awhile. I have seen a couple of original Leman's. There does seem to be a pattern on them so I think that is probably how Leman did it. What did you use for the stripes? Your rifle does look nice.

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

Your rifle, your choice and whatever you do I'm sure it will look great.

Have you ever considered red?

 

[reddogge]

Here is your gun as pictured in the book "Into the Wilderness". It is identified only as a Henry rifle. I used it as a model when building my son a copy of it in the early 80s. As you see it has some curl to it and the patch box is engraved. I took a class from Greg Dixon on engraving and engraved my son's patch box. Not perfect but serviceable.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Here is your gun as pictured in the book "Into the Wilderness". It is identified only as a Henry rifle. I used it as a model when building my son a copy of it in the early 80s. As you see it has some curl to it and the patch box is engraved. I took a class from Greg Dixon on engraving and engraved my son's patch box. Not perfect but serviceable.View attachment 363624

I know that the Trade Gun builders made Fancier ones that are called Chief's grade so I think that is probably what that one is, Just one a little nicer than the regular rifle. I thought about engraving some beauty lines around the patch box but I only have about 60% use of my right hand now so engraving can be somewhat painful. Just not into it hurts so good so going to leave it plain.

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

You're correct that the second picture that reddoge posted is the "Chief's grade" build. The pic I posted is the "regular" Trade gun trigger and trigger guard.

 

[LongWalker]

I was thinking that Jack Brooks had a tutorial on stripping a Leman Trade rifle. Can't find it though. I used a 2" wide camel hair brush cut down to almost the handle and notches cut into it. This is one I done a few years ago.

Check here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110423080527/http://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/theclassroom.htm You'll need to scroll down a ways.