Hand made rifles

[dwarvenchef]

My goal is to be able to build a rifle fully by hand, build my own lock, cut my own barrel, use wood from my folks ranch, and so on. If one doesn't copy a given era and builds to their own fancy along the general lines of traditional rifles. Would they have trouble getting into any events? I'm not talking about trying to fit a TC into a "period" set up, it's more like modified parts that would be from the flintlock that follow no one school of gunsmithing.

Personally I see no problem with this as I figure and inovative gunsmith of the period would tinker with parts till they found their own style. And any rifle made from scratch would be aforded a grace area

Just currious on what others thoughts would be on this subject.

 

[bkovire]

if you have the means and the know how then do it, i for one would love to see a hand crafted rifle, built form ones own hands, you have my vote :thumbsup: :hatsoff: i do have one request,pics pics pics,

 

[mykeal]

I doubt very much that you would be prohibited from attending and participating in a juried rendezvous or reenactment with such a rifle. In fact, I suspect they'd welcome you with open arms (human arms, not weapons).

Any jury members care to comment?

 

[nchawkeye]

When you say "any" that takes up a lot of ground...Are you talking about local black powder clubs that hold local matches or reenacting and being historically correct???

I would think you would be fine with the local shooters the other guys can get pretty critical...

 

[Rock Island]

I was under the impression that in the period before the 1820's or so every gun, rifle, and pistol was made entirely by hand, especially the ones made in small gunshops like Hawken for instance. Wouldn't a muzzle loading rifle made today entirely by hand be the most correct style at any event were muzzle loaders are welcome? Surely it would be more correct than a Pedersoli "Kentucky rifle" or 1816 Harpers Ferry musket made in a modern factory were machines controlled by computers do most of the work. I have a .31 double barrel cap lock pistol ( smoothbore) made by a local smith sometime in the 1830-40 period, it looks more hand crafted than any reproduction I have ever come across.

 

[Roy]

so far I have made everything but the barrel... still buy my stocks, cause I don't want to wait for the curing and drying of the stock... and I do not have anything here that would be appropriate gun stock material.

If your going to make one, might as well make it to the rough specs of the time you want to portray... it really wouldn't take any more time than to build a random gun. There is still a lot of room to do what you want though. :v

 

[der mike]

go for it chef,,,, here is a pic of my handmade, scratch built gun. Also a pic of prototype lock of my design, handmade. I admire a man that has the desire to create. opps,pics soon.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/poorhondamike/CIMG2277.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/poorhondamike/CIMG2227-1.jpg http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/poorhondamike/CIMG2277.jpg

 

[Coot]

The answer to whether a gun made from scratch would be welcome at a juried event is "maybe". You would certainly be admired for the range of skills required to totally make your own gun but the gun would still be judged on whether it's appearance conformed to known guns from the time period & locale of the event. A stunning version of a St Louis Hawken, no matter how or how well made would not be accepted at a F&I event. There have always been guns made from recycled parts but they still tend to reflect the styles and preferences of the time when they were made/assembled/restocked.

 

[dwarvenchef]

Interesting replies so far Nice to know I'm not the only nut out here

I've been going over paterns, pics of remade parts from old parts and none of them as a whole really jump at me. So I figured I'd just start drawing out ideas for a flintlock squirrel rifle and see what came up. I'd probably have to get a Bbl blank made and cut my own rifling as I'm still reading up on that. Not sure if I can bore my own hole yet...

So many ideas running around my head at the moment, only writing them down helps keep me from going nuts lol...

As I go on in my studies and experiments I'll post the mishaps... errr result... ya results of my labors

 

[dwarvenchef]

You weld the ancore points to the plate? I'm still playing with materials to use. I'm going to case color harden the lock pieces that show so I'll be testing a few steels to see what ones color up nice

So many ideas, so little time...

 

[LRB]

Quote:"I was under the impression that in the period before the 1820's or so every gun, rifle, and pistol was made entirely by hand, especially the ones made in small gunshops like Hawken for instance."

Not so much as you might think. A lot of hand work involved, yes, but a good many parts were imported making gun building very similar to what most do today. Locks, barrels, even cast brass parts were imported. These were done by hand, but not necessarily by one hand. Many specialized hands. Then, just as today, time was money, and it was cheaper in the long run to buy most of the needed major parts in a ready to go condition, and get the gun made and out the door. You need to watch "THE GUNSMITH OF WILLIAMSBURG". That will give you a real idea of what is involved, and the time it takes to build from real scatch. A noble endeavor, but few can pull it off without a lot of previous experience in gun work. Good luck to you. Keep us up dated.

 

[ohio ramrod]

No doubt there is some place that would not let you in. But by far the majority will welcome you as long as you stick to time period obvious parts. For example I have never been excluded from an event (national or local ) with my target rifle.( I don't take it to pre percusion era events ) And it has a spanish style stock ( the ramrod channel is enclosed in the stock, not below the stock ), hooked breech percusion , patriot pistol lock ( coil spring ). And a buckhorn style rear sight, with an Ivory front sight. Was there ever a rifle built of such a combination of parts? Not before mine, and not since either ! But then I don't do many "juried" events.

 

[rich pierce]

Folks worry a lot about who would let who in. Just call and ask what their guidelines are.

I'm with Wick- I know of no documentable scratch built flintlock period American rifle. By that I mean the gunsmith cut the tree, forged the barrel, forged and filed the lock, casted or forged all the furniture, and made all the rest of the parts.

Colonial Williamsburg gunsmiths recovered all those techniques and they did incorporate all of them into their products in order to demonstrate all aspects of 18th century gun smithing crafts. This gave some folks the impression that the average colonial gunsmith did the same. In reality, most locks and barrels were imported but the barrels might be breeched and rifled here, the gunstockers got planks from sawyers, and regional styles of furniture indicate there was a lot of specialization; that one smith might cast furniture and others buy from him.

Making guns from scratch is a laudable goal but does not represent common 18th century practice.