Showing these first builds, we certainly have some talented members! My hat is off! I built some nice Hawken's, but no guns with nice carving.
Hey, time to show your first build!!
- Thread starter Larry (Omaha)
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I am in awe! All who have posted so far, your rifles are incredible! I’ve never built one, but I’d like to try. Probably going to order a Kibler Colonial this year. I have a piece of cherry cut from my own property…8 feet long, 6” by 8”. Was going to use it for a fireplace mantle but used a piece of ash instead. Hopefully it will work.
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Very cool!
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Beautiful rifle! You have talent right out of the box. Your craftsmanship shows you are no rookie to working with your hands.
Larry
Onojutta
45 Cal.
Beautiful rifle! You have talent right out of the box. Your craftsmanship shows you are no rookie to working with your hands.
Larry
I think it looks good from far, but far from good. Thanks for the compliment though!
Actually I have no formal training beyond a couple of shop classes many years ago in high school. I am handy and there are a lot of great books and videos out there for reference, but I couldn't have done it without a ton of advice from this forum.
I'm on my next build now which is a kit. Although the blank was a lot more work, I actually prefer that instead of working from a pre-carve because you have more control over things like the relationship between the lock and the breech plug, etc. I also find it easier to start a job from the very beginning as opposed to trying to pick up where the carving machine left off. When you do it from the beginning, you have an intimate awareness of the smallest details that carries through each subsequent step.
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HighUintas
45 Cal.
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My first and only build is a Kibler Southern Mountain 40 cal. Now I'm starting a more involved build.
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Y'll are leaving me in awe. I have built from kits, but no carving, engraving or plank builds. The world outside needs to see this form of art. Thank you for sharing... Dale
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really nice
very niceView attachment 118524View attachment 118525View attachment 118527View attachment 118528View attachment 118529View attachment 118530View attachment 118531View attachment 118532
If you have built any muzzleloader, kit or blank, this post is asking for photos of your first. Details of the build are encouraged.
My first (early 70s) was this Roman Nose style semi copy of a DGW (Italian made) long rifle, along with my thoughts. I purchased a stock blank from a Nebraska rifle smith, Bill Ihm for $17.00, Numrich 45 cal, 13/16” X 42” barrel with threads, but no breech plug. ( I think about $50) DGW was my major supplier for these components: Dixie lock, triggers, trigger guard, butt plate, nose cap, sheet brass, RR blank, RR ends, screws, aquas fortis. I made the ferrules, blind tennons, sights, RR drill bit, patch box, PB spring, latch, breech plug, tang, toe plate, lock side plate. My memory of the cheek star is a blank (LOL) It came out crude in some areas, but it is a slim, nicely balance rifle with the 13/16” barrel. It shoots well, but now after shooting it, a Roman nose style is not for me. The comb really bites the cheek bone. If ya rare up, then you are OK for the hurt, but then you are off the sights
In 1971, I turned out as a journeyman union carpenter. My on the job training and daily work at that time was primarily wood forms for concrete construction.
OK boys, your turn.
Larry
beautiful
The Appalachian
Feral American
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Some fantastic work here, really, superb.
My first builds were from when we didn't have anything but a Polaroid camera and the internet wasn't even thought of yet beyond the Jetson's cartoon on TV.
I do have pictures of one build I did for my oldest son about 20 years ago but it's not one that many here would want to see. I'll just post a picture of the ebony nose I inletted to the walnut. That and the checkering were the hardest parts. I suppose you'll just hafta guess what the rest of it is. It's burned a lot of FFg over the years and accounts for literally truck loads of deer.
My first builds were from when we didn't have anything but a Polaroid camera and the internet wasn't even thought of yet beyond the Jetson's cartoon on TV.
I do have pictures of one build I did for my oldest son about 20 years ago but it's not one that many here would want to see. I'll just post a picture of the ebony nose I inletted to the walnut. That and the checkering were the hardest parts. I suppose you'll just hafta guess what the rest of it is. It's burned a lot of FFg over the years and accounts for literally truck loads of deer.
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Cooleys
32 Cal
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My first “build” was a Chambers smooth rifle kit that I built with my father, who made a left handed PA Fowler. He’s 82 and has built many rifles, but built his kit alongside me during COVID to pass along some of his knowledge. We are making several more guns together now, what a great experience. I’ve always made leather goods and shot muzzleloaders, so I’m not sure why it took me 50+ years to start making guns! Now for a plank build…
My first build and from a blank way back in the Hawken craze of the 1970s. I had a mentor who helped me along with this attempt at a full stock flint Hawken. I killed the deer with this gun on Thanksgiving Day of 1978.
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I had built two kits, a T/C Hawken and a CVA mountain rifle. Those were assemble the parts and stain. My first true build in about 1976 started off as a 1 1/8" 45 caliber barrel about 32" long that was rescued from a pile of barrels. There was a special sale on Hawken blanks, so I decided it was time to build a Hawken rifle. A Cherry Corner's lock followed and the rest of the rest of the parts. The rifle is special as I needed help from my father (tool maker) to do all the threading of the breech plug and lock bolts. Made more than a couple of beginner mistakes, but the rifle turned out to be quite a performer. Back then wrestling that 12 pound rifle was doable and shooting metallic silhouettes at up to 200 yards was fun. Yes, my 45 caliber ball being pushed by 90 grains of Gearhardt-Owen powder was more than capable of knocking over the bear silhouettes.
Still accurate on target although I find I need to use a rest.
I was doing load testing. The slow twist 1 in 56 likes 70 grains of GOEX.
I see so many of these first builds that are just so nice.
Still accurate on target although I find I need to use a rest.
I was doing load testing. The slow twist 1 in 56 likes 70 grains of GOEX.
I see so many of these first builds that are just so nice.
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