A few friendly tips or critics, please don't take any the wrong way! Often times people on here can't take healthy criticism... Just trying to offer some friendly advice that will help down the road! :thumbsup:
Looks as if you could have given the stock a bit more heat during staining. Aqua fortis needs a good amount of heat for the reaction to properly take place. It can get scary, but with more heat the yellow tinge will go away. Obviously pictures are a little harder to decipher than seeing it in person.
Did you raise the grain and fill the pours of the wood? Also mounting to wood fitment as in contouring certain areas. Example, the front of the trigger guard in relation to the wood. It's nice to transfer the contour or angle's of the brass to the wood. I can't see the top of your tang area but that's a good area to shape, along with the lock areas.
Spend a little more time finishing the lock, I can see numerous rough areas from the casting process. Good quality jewelers files are a must have along with varying grits of a good quality wet/dry paper. I personally will spend many hours tediously filing my lock and all parts leaving a baby bum smooth surface, all parting lines and roughness removed.
Also finishing the brass, I can see some rough areas that remain. I despise polishing and finishing brass! However the results and efforts are worth it. Same process applies with your brass mountings as it does with your lock. Pictures again are hard to decipher.
How far did you go with draw filing? A fine mill file and finer grits of paper backed with a sanding block will give you a flawless finish.
Again, just some observations to help build skills down the road. Not trying to be mean, judgmental or start any arguments... I'm a VERY particular builder and the smallest of details will drive me personally :youcrazy: Haha! Well done though, be proud and enjoy that beautiful rifle! :hatsoff:
Just a few examples
You may find the mainspring and frizzen spring to be a tad bit strong. If so that is easily fixed by filing the springs and polishing all imperfections out. Most judge a locks reliability by speed which is good, but I myself like to judge reliability after multiple shots were the lock is fouled and dirty. That particular Virgina style lock is a workhorse and tank! You'll be very happy with it!
