First Build - Jacob Dickert .50 Cal. Transitional Period

[McGuire2003]

Pretty cool distribution …
Set triggers finished and trigger guard completed.

 

[BillKilgore]

Nice job. I enjoy following your build.

 

[apachesx2]

You are doing very well for your first time... May I ask your references or guide you're using?

 

[zerosprk]

Looking good to me!

 

[tnlonghunter]

And here I thought it meant Piled higher and Deeper…

Can confirm.

Nice progress on the build, too!

 

[McGuire2003]

@apachesx2
I have two mentors helping me. The local mentor is currently working on rifles #367 and #368, which are currently on his bench. The second mentor is an experienced hobbyist with several dozen under his belt. The example rifle I am roughly following is the Early Dickert - "Fleur-de-lis" rifle outlined in George D. Moller's, American Military Shoulder Arms - Vol. I. I also have color photos of the same rifle from when it was up for auction at Rock Island Auction Company in Sept. 2021.

I also bought about a dozen books over the past year, and have read each one several times. All dealing with building, and/or included specifics on Dickert's work. Been researching this build for over two years before finally deciding just before Christmas to go for it.

 

[McGuire2003]

April 10, 2022
- Entry pipe and thimbles inlet, nose cap fitted. Still have the pipe and thimble pins to drill and install, and the nose cap is still a little crooked, but it's getting there. Once i get the nose cap right, I'll be installing brass rivets.

 

[McGuire2003]

Ramrod moulding cut and shaped. Barrel sides lowered and shaped. Ramrod cut to length and fitted. That forward barrel pin, who’s placement wasn’t well thought out in advance, will be fixed soon.

 

[McGuire2003]

Shaping and carving the lock and plate areas …

 

[BoomStick]

Looking good. Excellent work, especially as a first time builder.

 

[McGuire2003]

@Artificer

Gus …

 

[Artificer]

@Artificer

Gus …

VERY impressive for a first time builder.

Gus

 

[McGuire2003]

Butt Stock cut and fitted for Butt Plate. Butt Plate has been rough installed. A little more shaping of the butt stock and it’ll be time to fabricate the Patchbox.View attachment 138390View attachment 138391View attachment 138392View attachment 138393View attachment 138394View attachment 138395View attachment 138396

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[hanshi]

And here I thought it meant Piled higher and Deeper…

That too. I'm a good example of the "Piled higher & Deeper" and the knowing more and more about less and less. But I think it's a little absurd to call myself "Dr. 'Hanshi'".

 

[hanshi]

McGuire2003, You've pretty much posted your own tutorial, and a good one.

 

[McGuire2003]

Got a lot done already today (It's only 1:30pm, Sunday).

Patchbox Cover and Finial cut out, pin hinges formed for each part, knuckles cut and fitted, Side Plates cut and hooks created at front end (under the hinge during installation), and layed it up to get a rough idea of Cover shaping and finished location.

 

[McGuire2003]

@hanshi

Thank you. A lot of little details left out, but the order of progression is well represented.

 

[Joemolf]

Shaping and carving the lock and plate areas …

Beautiful nice and neat!

 

[SOLANCO]

Well done indeed!
I simply do not have those sorts of skills. My stock would be ready for the woodpile and I'd be trying to sell the rest of the parts.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

@TreeMan
That is a liner. There’s a White Lightnin’ in there. The draw filing makes it nearly invisible. The picture makes it look worse than it is. It is in fact inside the frizzen, and is 1/32” forward, and 1/64” high of the horizon-center of the pan. The picture below is of an original Dickert. Obviously a working rifle at one time.

I had one just like that years ago and had no problems with it!