how involved.. building a totw kit/rifleshoppe?

[mgy100]

How much work is involved in building a track of the wolf kit (say the trade gun)? How much work is involved in building a Rifle Shoppe gun? Say, rating 1 easiest (simply put together and stain) to level 5 (stock blank needs turned into a stock, inletted, etc).
I'm interested in building my own gun, but I'm not a master gun builder. I figure I might want to start with either a snaphaunce parts from rifle shoppe or the trade gun from track of the wolf.

 

[Wayne Combs]

Welcome mgy100,I'm assuming you have some shop skills,and would think that a trade gun would be an easier first build.On the rating I would say 3.5-4.0,whichever you decide to build keep us posted. :results:Wayne.

 

[mgy100]

I'm pretty much decided on the trade gun. I do have shop skills, and I can learn quick. The flat butt plate and simplicity of the trade gun make it look like something I wouldn't loose my religion on.
Also, the price of bp guns has seemed to skyrocket in the past two years. Why pay someone that sort of cash when you can fiddle around and build one yourself. Winters are LONG LONG here, I need something to keep me sane (I can't pack up and move to a condo in Florida and play shuffleboard like the older folks around here can, would if I could )

 

[LSU TIGER]

A point to consider is that The Rifle Shoppe is known for being slow to ship items to the point of pulling your hair out. You can call TOW and find out if the stuff is on hand.

 

[Trot]

I built a TOTW Trade Gun this summer. Most of the inlets were cut but all needed additional work, especially the tang and lock. The tang had to be cut and shaped. The stock is cut square from ahead of the lock panel to the muzzle, so this must be completely shaped. The rest of the stock needed to be smoothed down and extra wood removed in most areas. All holes must be drilled and tapped, not bad if you have a drill press. The sight and barrel underlugs have to be soldered on, they will do this for you for an additional charge but it isnt too hard. The breech plug must be installed, not hard but you have to be very careful. Touch hole drilled and liner installed if desired. All iron parts need to be smoothed and polished. I don't think any of it is too hard if you take your time, and it makes an excellent gun when finished. Good luck.

 

[Donny]

My standard answer is; I think it would be foolish to build a trade gun without Hanson's Trade Gun Sketch Book, abt $7.00, AND Pryor Mtn. Bills Book, $5.00. :hmm: One can easily turn a bunch of $400.00 parts into a $200.00 gun, :cry: or, maybe a $800 gun. :thumbsup: Hamilton's book on fusils is worth the money, abt $15.00. My first gun turned out better than some of my later ones, when I thought I knew all about it. I did better because I read the directions, and proceeded carefully. Remember, most first timers leave too much wood on the stock, trade guns were VERY VERY slim. Hanson's book is good because it has templates to show the exact dimensions at many points along the stock. Take your time, You can do it. :m2c:

 

Way back in the dark ages there were no instruction books, or vidios. I built my first gun using the Foxfire 5 instructions given by Hershal House, and Henson's sketchbook.

I wound up with what can only be called a French poorboy/barn gun. 16 ga shotgun tube fron Numrich, French style stock and a lock that looks like a bess reject! Solid as a rock, shoots good and handles great.

I live near and re-enact with some of the best in the nation and have never had to explain this smoothie to anyone.

They look and say "Neat! What is it?"
"Something some smith on the frontier threw together." is the answer they get.

Of course the stuff we carry around here is supposed to look durable but well used. This was the frontier.

I have no more ability with tools than the next guy, much less than some on this forum. I have 2 guns on the bench right now, # 23 & 24. Some have not been pretty, but they have all shot well (except for this #@&&>$ lock I'm trying to use on the present project).

TOTW has also gained a reputation of filling orders slowly. I'd check with Tip Curtis, Caywoody and Jackie Brown for quotes on kits and partially finished guns before spending my money.

:imo:

 

[Donny]

I did about the same. One of my first guns I (built) was just a bunch of stuff from Dixie, they were one of the few supplyers in those days, barrel & lock from Italy, precarve from Dixie. It was supposed to be an iron mounted southern mt poorboy gun. I did not have any idea what I it was supposed to look like, just a few pics,but it turned out OK, I guess. Looks like a backwoods degenerate artsy craftsy blackmithe made it. It is still my favorite caplock, but I'm trying to wean myself to 100% flinters, but haven't yet.