First custom flintlock

[Blackbruin]

I know a bunch of rifles banged around in pa's woods, several Allen Martin, mark wheland, dave dodds, Ron luckenbill, etc rifles, they wear just as good!

 

[Don Steele]

I had the same first impression when I looked at the website. The examples shown look more like what one would have gotten back-in-the-day when you needed a working rifle or fowler to protect yourself and feed your family.
Museum quality pieces with beautifully executed intricate carving, perfect inlays, etc. don't appeal to me as something someone like myself would have carried through the mountains into the wilderness.
To each their own. :2 and worth what it cost.

 

[Dean2]

All true but that appeals to some.....not all rifles of the period were made by 'masters' but by a local gunsmith.
Doesn't mean they don't shoot as well.
Sometimes a home made lookin gun is just right.

I understand your perspective but these are a little too home made looking for my liking. I can finish a kit and have it come out far better than these pictures and I am not nearly as talented as guys like Mike Brooks, Tip Curtis and guys selling guns in this same price range.

Even back in the day, any gunsmith turning out this kind of work would of had trouble moving them. Factory made guns are less money and better done. I don't subscribe to the view that a gun needs to look like a club so I don't have to worry about dinging it up in the woods. I am just as happy to have a real pretty gun with some character marks on it.

With really good kits, lots of in the White guns available at lower cost and people like Tip Curtis, Mike Brooks and guys like that around and right in this price range I know what I would be doing. But as I always say, to each his own.

Galaamb

I agree completely with what you have posted and you are correct that the Fowlers are slightly better than the rifles. Even at that, here is a picture from the "Fowler" section. Take a look at the inletting around the lock, the position of the touch hole and the shaping around the tear drop on the wrist.

I am trying to be as polite and respectful as possible but the OP did ask for input. For $1,500 to $1,900 dollars I would expect a LOT better than what I am seeing here.

 

[Col. Batguano]

And a hump.

 

[dikman]

Just curious, what's wrong with the touchhole placement? Too high? (Trying to learn something here).

 

[rich pierce]

High. Depending on camera angle, a touch hole can appear to be forward or rearward, so I would not trust the photo on that aspect.

Any gun can be critiqued. "too perfect" for example. And people's sense of what is good work or exciting will change over time. In the $1500 to $2000 range there are a lot of good serviceable guns but the best custom makers don't do much in that price range because of parts costs.

I know this does not make sense to folks used to buying a really fine centerfire for under $1000. I mean really fine and totally reliable for decades. Exceptional wood. Added features. But they are not custom built in the sense that longrifles are.

 

[lowcsp]

You forgot to mention that I did not get the trigger guard inletted deep enough, and thanks every one for your comments I have learned alot following this post.

 

[pgwilli]

We'll I almost added that I thought you were a much better builder than photographer in my previous post Steve, but I can't do any better :grin:
My rifle goes bang every time I ask it to, shoots as well as I hold it and has been admired by everyone who has handled it. I wouldn't trade it for any of the rifles I see at our monthly shoots.

 

[Dean2]

Just curious, what's wrong with the touchhole placement? Too high? (Trying to learn something here).

Yes, too high, and it doesn't appear centred but that could be camera angle.

Mr Losey

You may not appreciate the directness of my input but I do not believe the assessments are unfair, based on the pictures you published of your work. If your current work is of a much higher standard then I would strongly suggest you repost new pictures to your web site so we can all admire your new level of craftsmanship. The only way to get better is to keep building and to have the guns critically assessed by people who will tell you the truth.

All the best in the future.

 

[Alden]

I'm not 100% sure about that touchole. No, it's not where I might have put it with my Black & Decker, however...

...I might have put it lower and that might be TOO low. That pan appears to be really shallow in a waterproof lock. Any lower and, given that I don't cover my toucholes with powder, I'd have too few grains in that. That might actually be where I'd put the touchole over a shallow pan I have every intention of always filling to the brim in this case.

 

[swathdiver]

All true but that appeals to some.....not all rifles of the period were made by 'masters' but by a local gunsmith.
Doesn't mean they don't shoot as well.
Sometimes a home made lookin gun is just right.

:thumbsup:

Exactly!

 

[Dean2]

I'm not 100% sure about that touchole. No, it's not where I might have put it with my Black & Decker, however...

...I might have put it lower and that might be TOO low. That pan appears to be really shallow in a waterproof lock. Any lower and, given that I don't cover my toucholes with powder, I'd have too few grains in that. That might actually be where I'd put the touchole over a shallow pan I have every intention of always filling to the brim in this case.

It well might be where you would put the touch hole, just like this builder did, but it is the result of bad design and poor architecture. A touch hole "ABOVE" the pan is in the WRONG spot no matter what your opinion of the location is.

Properly located into the pan would still allow plenty of prime for those that don't want to cover the touch hole but if you review Pletche's results closely you will know that covering the touch hole does NOT slow ignition.

 

[lapierre1]

I've got a SL "Poor Boy Southern style" rifle in .54, my first flinter, and I like it alot. Shoots as well as I can and has the look I like. Won a tin of caps with it and anyone and everyone that handled it and looked at it that day seemed impressed.

 

[Kurt73]

First I will say Hello. I have been sitting out in the bushes for quite a spell reading and when I saw this post for the Losey rifle I just had to join and make a comment. Besides I also want to shoot some of Jethro's shoots. They look like fun.

Steve's rifle. I have one I got last year it is the J Henry on the bottom of his rifles for sale just above the knife. I like the looks of the rifles that the working man used back in that time period. Iron furniture nothing fancy. If I slide down a creek bank I want to dig in the heal of the stock into the dirt to keep me from sliding into the cold water with out worry of scratching the shiny brass. But more important to me is the rifle must shoot to the point I'm aiming at with out having to find a tree crotch to get the sights centered or work with the lock to get good ignition.
I have never seen a trade rifle that looked like a parlor rifle. But that don't keep them from shooting good. mine will cut holes and drive spikes through fence boards if I can see them.
Yes would buy another one of his rifles if it tripped my sear.

Hold tight and shoot straight.

 

[Turtle Creek]

Nice rifle....looks like one made by the local gun smith and a good shooter.
I like the look.
His prices, btw, are a good deal for something unique.

 

[kaintuck]

Steve, there a lot of good work in your guns.....I like your metal finishes, overall the guns are good. I have critics in my rifles, but I like making them, me and tomtom are just happy to chip away the hours in our shop. :grin:
I have learned to look at my piece, and then look at others, and see the differences. If, it is un-pleasuring flow of the geometry of the rifle...then I change it.....if it is my creativity, I keep it.
I just wouldn't want to put different schools or years together on one build..... :stir: it won't work out right.
Now I'm onto a area new to me.....and others, the KY rifle makers......4 different schools, and a blending over the years of 1780 to 1840s.......and, I like gillespies from tn too!
I'm a sick puppy :youcrazy: :idunno: :surrender:

Marc n tomtom

 

[glrerun]

I just did order a rifle from him. I looked at a couple of his works, one completed and ready for hunting and one in the white still on the work bench. I also spent a couple of hours talking to him and I am excited about having him make one for me.

I am glad my work assignment was an hour from his shop, gave me the opportunity to look at his work and talk with the maker.