Help A First Time Builder

[JGMC]

I finally got all my parts from The Rifle Shoppe and I can start getting to work on my gun. I've never built a gun before so I am working slowly and will take all the advice I can get. I'm starting with taking the blank I bought from Track Of The Wolf and cutting the outline of the stock:

So, before I begin, is there anything I need to know? Is there something important that I need to keep in mind when I'm making the first cuts? I don't want to ruin the stock and have to buy a new one (which I'm not sure I can afford!).

Any and all help is appreciated. I'll make plenty of photo updates so y'all can tell me if I'm doing anything wrong before it gets out of hand.

- Joey

 

[Vaino]

Don't understand the layout of the butt stock....what style is it? Looks more like some modern design....Fred

 

[JGMC]

It's a Spanish escopeta stock. 17th and 18th century design.

 

[stude11]

If you're using power tools to rout the barrel channel, you're better off doing that while you still have flat and square surfaces to work with.
With hand tools it doesn't make as much difference. Stay outside the lines and remember it's a lot easier to take a bit more wood off than to put some back.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Measure twice and cut once...And I ditto: "Stay outside the lines and remember it's a lot easier to take a bit more wood off than to put some back."

 

[Raynor]

Have you checked out the tutorials that are around the net?

There's also some good books out there.

Take it one step at a time and don't rush.

 

[Birddog6]

I finally got all my parts from The Rifle Shoppe and I can start getting to work on my gun. I've never built a gun before so I am working slowly and will take all the advice I can get. I'm starting with taking the blank I bought from Track Of The Wolf and cutting the outline of the stock:

So, before I begin, is there anything I need to know? Is there something important that I need to keep in mind when I'm making the first cuts? I don't want to ruin the stock and have to buy a new one (which I'm not sure I can afford!).

Any and all help is appreciated. I'll make plenty of photo updates so y'all can tell me if I'm doing anything wrong before it gets out of hand.

- Joey

Well, you convinced me of 3 things. :wink:

1: You have the cart ahead of the horse & that usually = disaster........ especially after stating you cannot afford to screw up. Put the stock away, you are far from ready for it.

2: You need to read Mike Brooks tutorial over & over & over.

3: You need the builders book "Gunsmiths of Grenville County" & read it over & over & over BEFORE you do anything........

Good Luck ! :thumbsup:

 

[Onojutta]

I second what birddog said. There is as much theory involved with building a gun as there is craftmanship. Maybe even more so. You could be the best wood carver, inletter, machinist, etc. in the world but if you don't know where you are going, you won't end up with a correctly built gun.

I'm in the process of building my first rifle as well, and I would not have been able to do so without the following:

1) "The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle" by Chuck Dixon.
2) "Recreating the American Longrifle" by Buchele, Shumway, and Alexander.
3) This site! Seriously, you will not find a better resource anywhere. The guys on this forum are willing to offer advice that is second only to learning from an actual master.

The Gunsmith of Grenville County is currently out of print and hard to find. I recently just acquired a used copy. It's a great book, but I think it is a little overwhelming to the new builder. The other two books I mentioned seem more geared to rookie builders.

 

[billd]

One thing to keep in mind if using power tools. All they do is allow to to make mistakes faster. Slow and steady. and read, read, read. I didn't look at your profile to see where your from, but if you list it someone who lives near you may volunteer to let you look over his shoulder once in a while.

 

[Tinker2]

Joey
I like the Escopetas, you are using a Miquelet lock?
Which one? The stock layout looks like their #619

I had one of those locks two weeks ago. Nice lock.

Do look at Mike Brooks tutorial http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/tutorials/brooks/Brooks1.html

Welcome to the forum.
Good luck with it, and keep posting up dates.
You have my interest.


Tinker2

 

[david stone]

Well - looks like you are on the right track. Do make sure that your bandsaw blade is cutting square, if you are gonna bandsaw it. Don't sweat screwing it up - save the extra wood you cut off. It works well for me to leave the blank square till youve got the barrel pinned on - though this isn't important if its banded. Don't rush - barrel first, then lock, then trigger, then guard, then the other bits is as good a plan as any.
No way to learn but to jump in....

 

[wulf]

I would say to cut your outline...inlay the barrel
then the ramrod grove and hole. I next fit the
buttplate...that will give you all the necessary
information needed to organize the rest of the
parts [trigger distnce] Next I inlay the lock to
fit against the barrel, next the trigger and the
bolt from the barrel to the trigger plate, them
the guard...All this "I" do while the piece is
still flat...after all the inlay work is done then
I round the stock...stain and shoot...I know full
well that there will be some comments on this but
it has been my way even if wrong for 58 years.
I knew when I started that I would make more than
one so I made fixtures with which a router could
be used for the barrel and R.rod channels..That is
another story that is very long.......

 

[fitter]

If you do the butt plate first then figure the trigger from there the lock will have to go where the trigger will make it function. Gee then we have the touch hole or drum to consider. I guess put it in the middle of the barrel if thats where it falls. I think your going backwards.

 

[fitter]

I think you are doing well with your build. Grenville county has a lot of anal measurements in it. i.e. making it seem overwhelming to a beginner.Its not a bad book but you have to sort of sift through and glean the basic concept that he is talking about.

 

[fitter]

I would inlet the barrel and do the RR groove and hole before you saw out the profile of the stock. That way if somthing goes amiss you have plenty of wood to work with so you can make a correction.
i.e. RR hole too low etc.

 

Measure twice and cut once...And I ditto: "Stay outside the lines and remember it's a lot easier to take a bit more wood off than to put some back."

In that case he would want to stay INSIDE the lines (pencil), NOT outside the lines so he doesn't remove more wood that needed.
I agree with BirdDog on he should read and reread the suggested books several times to understand what the sequence is and to understand why there is a sequence. Also the golden means is something else he may want to look into . The 3 to 5 ratio that is used in arcituture.

 

[wulf]

Re-read my post but slower...next time...

 

What Birddog, and Onnajuta said. You may consider also one of the building videos from American Pioneer Video. com. It will put the books into motion. Take small steps. Next question, did they assemble the lock, or do you have a pile of castings. Also Woodsy left out the last part of the axiom- It's "Measure twice, cut once, and swear repeatedly"

Bill

 

[Lonstar]

The best advice has been given. READ READ READ BEFORE YOU START!!!
I started my first build in October 09. Read a few tutorials but only after I had the barrel in and the tang inlet and was going to start on the lock. I got my book in Wednesday this week. Gunsmiths of Greenville County. Now that I have the book, the build is going on the proverbial back burner. Had I not been so hard headed and got the book first, I would be a lot further along than I am and not near as frustrated. No major mistakes yet but I can now see them coming had I not gotten the book. Fitter is right about this book. A wealth of information but it will take some time to understand and use all the measurements and backtrack to see how close I am to what is recommended. Wish I had is sooner but GLAD I GOT IT WHEN I DID!!!!

 

[captvonbek]

I second the American Pioneer Videos in addition to the aformentioned prerequisite books. I purchased Hershel House's Building A Hawken Rifle. These detailed videos are well worth the price. :thumbsup: