Gentleman,
I am new to this forum, though not altogether new to black powder. Some thirty years ago I attempted a Pennsylvania long rifle based on components I purchased from Dixie Gunworks: a Russ Hamm P.F. Gonter-style lock, a swamped barrel, a stock blank, and various necessary furniture. I never completed it. Graduate school and various moves intervened--all the distractions of launching a professional life. Nothing in this story can be new to you.
In recent years I've taken up target shooting with various pre-war Smith and Wessons, but as I was fondling the Russ Hamm lock a few weeks ago, I felt the sudden, irresistible urge to return to the site of my earlier failure. I've full shop now, have learned how to make artful sawdust, and am generally handy in ways that I wasn't in my wayward youth. I want to build a percussion target pistol, and I've found the one I want, more or less, to duplicate on a European auction site. The description there is as follows:
"English Proofed Target or Buggy Percussion Pistol
44 cal., single shot, 14"oct. bbl., 19" overall length. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and a two-leaf fold-up rear barrel sight. The steel barrel retains a Damascus pattern finish and is British Proofed. This is a quality pistol with the original metal ramrod secured under the barrel. The lock, hammer, trigger guard, top tang, and breech block are engraved in a feather and vine pattern. Very fine walnut stock with German silver fore-end, barrel key escutcheon, rounded butt, and checkering. Silver nameplate on the wrist. A quality piece manufactured circa 1830-1840."
My skills are manifestly not up to checkering and metal engraving, so I imagine a somewhat plainer version of the piece. I've searched all the common suppliers, so I have a fairly good notion of whats available, but I'm curious to have your insight into what components would most readily help to duplicate the lines and character of this beautiful pistol, or, perhaps more usefully, how would the most experienced of you go about it. the lock profile, for instance, is unusual, nor have I seen a comparable trigger guard anywhere.
In the event, I would much value any insight or advice you could provide in going about the recreation, in style and spirit, of this wonderful firearm.
I apologize for the length of this post, which combines an introduction with a very serious question.
I will thank you for any and all comments.
Chandos
I am new to this forum, though not altogether new to black powder. Some thirty years ago I attempted a Pennsylvania long rifle based on components I purchased from Dixie Gunworks: a Russ Hamm P.F. Gonter-style lock, a swamped barrel, a stock blank, and various necessary furniture. I never completed it. Graduate school and various moves intervened--all the distractions of launching a professional life. Nothing in this story can be new to you.
In recent years I've taken up target shooting with various pre-war Smith and Wessons, but as I was fondling the Russ Hamm lock a few weeks ago, I felt the sudden, irresistible urge to return to the site of my earlier failure. I've full shop now, have learned how to make artful sawdust, and am generally handy in ways that I wasn't in my wayward youth. I want to build a percussion target pistol, and I've found the one I want, more or less, to duplicate on a European auction site. The description there is as follows:
"English Proofed Target or Buggy Percussion Pistol
44 cal., single shot, 14"oct. bbl., 19" overall length. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and a two-leaf fold-up rear barrel sight. The steel barrel retains a Damascus pattern finish and is British Proofed. This is a quality pistol with the original metal ramrod secured under the barrel. The lock, hammer, trigger guard, top tang, and breech block are engraved in a feather and vine pattern. Very fine walnut stock with German silver fore-end, barrel key escutcheon, rounded butt, and checkering. Silver nameplate on the wrist. A quality piece manufactured circa 1830-1840."
My skills are manifestly not up to checkering and metal engraving, so I imagine a somewhat plainer version of the piece. I've searched all the common suppliers, so I have a fairly good notion of whats available, but I'm curious to have your insight into what components would most readily help to duplicate the lines and character of this beautiful pistol, or, perhaps more usefully, how would the most experienced of you go about it. the lock profile, for instance, is unusual, nor have I seen a comparable trigger guard anywhere.
In the event, I would much value any insight or advice you could provide in going about the recreation, in style and spirit, of this wonderful firearm.
I apologize for the length of this post, which combines an introduction with a very serious question.
I will thank you for any and all comments.
Chandos