Grease hole

[reddogge]

I use a lube made by a late friend. It is more of a solid consistency and won't run. You just wipe the patch over it.

 

[Banjoman]

To each his own of course. I been a studying some southern mountain rifles from this area of East Tennessee, southeast Kentucky and western North Carolina and noticed several guns had grease holes in their stocks. So thinks I, if them old fellers did it, so can I.

I ain’t worried about the ‘grease’ running out for a couple reasons. First, it’s more of a waxy paste made of a secret formula that I ain’t revealing. Also, my hunting and most of my target shooting is done in cooler weather.

Ain’t worried about a little dirt either cause I won’t be low crawling with my rifle like I did for Uncle Sam. But, if a stray squirrel hair or grain of sand happened to get in the mix, it won’t hurt anything. I’m igniting a charge of black powder in the bore, not operating in a sterile lab.

Anywho, as soon as it cools off and I get the time, gonna see how it works.

Life is good.

 

[BEP]

Years ago - a lot of years ago - I had a CVA "Kentucky" .45 caliber, two-piece stock, you all know the one I mean. Percussion, shot pretty good. Because it was a plain rifle and my skills to add anything were and are limited, I added a grease hole to the stock. I used a beeswax based lube to fill it and for protection I simply covered it with a patch when hunting or at the range. Seemed so obvious to me. Worked pretty well too.

 

[Banjoman]

Finally got to take the $75 Jukar to the range and test the modifications I made to it.

First, I filed down the front sight some and opened up the rear sight. Now I can see and hit what I’m aiming at.

Next, I cut off the annoying little tail at the back of the trigger guard. It looks better and feels much, much better.

Finally, the grease hole. I’m glad I did it. It was mighty fine and worked with pre-cut patches or patches cut at the muzzle. After twenty shots there was still enough grease for a few more shots, so plenty for a deer hunt.

30 yards, standing, off hand.
50 grains of 2f, patched .440 home cast round ball.
I’m a fan of flintlock smooth bores but this gun is definitely my favorite rifle.
Not bad for $75 and old eyes.
Life is good.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Added a grease hole to the .45 percussion rifle. Southern mountain rifles from East Tennessee and western North Carolina sometimes had these. We’ll see how it works.View attachment 349534

I got the idea from this,

View attachment 349538

Looks good. I actually like grease holes. I guess because when growing up I always wanted a BP rifle but couldn't get one. And seems like all the rifles I saw were SMR type and had grease holes. Pop and them had no interest in black powder so I had too wait about that. I guess that's how I knew I was adopted... Here is an example of an old SMR that's had the grease in the hole for at least 40 years. Don't know what the grease is because it was there before it was mine. But that grease is still usable if one wanted to. And much to my surprise, even in the heat, this grease has never ran. I think you made a good improvement to your rifle.

 

[Hermit Tim]

I used a 1” hole saw. Drilled down about 1/4” then chiseled out the center. Don’t know if this is how it was done back in the 19th century, but it worked for me.View attachment 349789

I think back then they used Forstner bits. At least that's what Davy Crockett said on his website.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Thanks, I've got Forstner bits that give you a flat bottom hole. I will post a picture after do it.View attachment 349816

Tis a beautiful rifle.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Finally got to take the $75 Jukar to the range and test the modifications I made to it.

First, I filed down the front sight some and opened up the rear sight. Now I can see and hit what I’m aiming at.

Next, I cut off the annoying little tail at the back of the trigger guard. It looks better and feels much, much better.

Finally, the grease hole. I’m glad I did it. It was mighty fine and worked with pre-cut patches or patches cut at the muzzle. After twenty shots there was still enough grease for a few more shots, so plenty for a deer hunt.

View attachment 35086130 yards, standing, off hand.
50 grains of 2f, patched .440 home cast round ball.
I’m a fan of flintlock smooth bores but this gun is definitely my favorite rifle.
Not bad for $75 and old eyes.
Life is good.

Yep, you got a deal on that one. They are much better guns then some folks would expect. And I'm glad you cut that stupid little tail off the trigger guard. Been thinking about doing that to mine but wasn't sure how it would look. Yours looks good so I'm gonna copy that. Thanks for posting.

 

[Hermit Tim]

I put one in my .32 I built back in the 80s but I wish I had not. It seemed to be the trend back then ala Hershel. View attachment 349987

Good looking rifle.