Is this possibly a joke?

[hatchetdan]

You guys mean that their not supposed to look like that? C**p! looks like I need to get back to work on mine!

 

[aap2]

As Turner Kirkland used to say in the old DGW catalog: "your first build may be a work of art, but that doesn't mean that it won't shoot with pinpoint accuracy (or something like that"..someone has a sense of humor.

 

[Trot]

Not making excuses for this, but I wonder how often something like this turned up back in the day. An unskilled frontier farmer or trapper breaks his stock and has to hack one out with whatever he has on hand.

 

[BobKrohn]

I believe this gun belongs to the Rube Goldberg school of gunmakers.

 

[Zonie]

J.D.

I agree.

I doubt that over 3 percent of our members have attempted to build a muzzleloading gun from scratch even using a factory barrel, lock and trigger.

It ain't as easy as it looks even starting with a pre-carved stock and starting with a plank of wood makes it at least 4 times harder.

Knowing this explains why I didn't jump on the bandwagon and lambaste the builder.

Actually, if I had my druthers I would like to see the builder join us and get some serious guidance with his next attempt to build a gun.

With the proper guidance (and some money for some quality parts) I'm betting he could turn out something that most of our members would like to own.

Of course, that statement is based on his willingness to ask questions and to wait for an answer before he charges ahead with each small task. If he is headstrong and has already made up his mind about how to do things and is therefore unwilling to take constructive criticism and to go slowly with his work his next gun would end up looking just like this one.

 

[jethro224]

It ain't as easy as it looks

That's a fact!
I tried. :grin:
I failed. :shake:
I sent my parts away to a real builder. :thumbsup:

 

[ChrisPer]

He has finished one more build than I have. Well, almost finished.

I have pictures of another rifle that is by today's privileged standards only a bit better than this one. The barrel was draw filed from a Model T steering column by a 16 year old boy, about 35 years ago, on the other side of the world from Pennsylvania. All he had was a picture of a long rifle in a book to copy. He made all the other parts too.

 

[ThreeToedWolf]

Guess I shouldnt laugh at the guy too much.

Heres my first build. I started it in 1991 from a pre-carved stock and a handful of parts I bought from Rays Beaver Bag in Las Vegas NV and finished it in 1993. 50 cal with a 36" barrel that 1" across the flats

Like i said above, it took me right at two years to finish, and this was using a pre carved stock that had the barrel channel inletted.

It is a tack driver though. Its taken deer here and elk in Idaho

 

[RonT]

Nice wood.... Would you be so kind to post pics of the butt, maybe quatering and full rear?
TIA,
R

 

[cowpoke1955]

Well, he is right about a few things. Parts are rust brown (and still rusting) and it sure is custom :rotf: :rotf: He needs to go to India and take lessons. If Mike did it, it was in his sleep during a bad dream :rotf:

 

[Tumblernotch]

I too agree. We don't know what handicaps this guy worked under, no proper tools, instruction, &c. I've built a few and without all the tools I needed, including a natural talent. It's not easy and I'll never have to worry about people beating down my door wanting one.

This guy may have knack for building if he was given instruction by someone who knows something.

Then again, this may be some kind of a joke played by a builder with a few old parts and a twisted sense of humor. :hmm:

 

[Walks with fire]

I bet it's genuine #2 pine 2x6 with furniture custom fit from a 58 Edsel. Looks like he kinda gave up on the ramrod and drilling the touch hole. Probably wasn't brave enough to shoot it anyway. Many feathers! He needs to cut that tang bolt down a little yet; litte more work and she's ready.

 

[ThreeToedWolf]

Like this?

The top and bottom insert on the butt was an after thought. It was recommended by a gentleman at a local shoot when I was a member of the Brushy Creek Rangers in Northern CA.

 

[RonT]

Yep....,thanks. Sometimes the simplest things just work.
R

 

[ThreeToedWolf]

Yessir, Simple is good, especially for me. :rotf:

I do have another 24" NW Trade Gun in the works....Been thataway for a few months now

 

[bingo1952]

The Indian guns are a work of art compared to that rust bucket.

 

[jderrick]

maybe it's not rust, it's just "browned"? :grin:

 

[FishDFly]

Interesting comments on the rifle, which for the most part, are not positive.

I do not see negative comments here, when a person posts, "How do I clean my gun?" or how do I adjust the sights on my gun?

Both of the above questions are very rudimentary to shooting and maintaining a rifle to a minimum safe conidition.

I am more concerned shooting next to someone who does not know how to clean their rifle, than someone whose rifle is not picture perfect.

Seems one person can make a rudimentarily gun and others need help in cleaning a high dollar gun and the fault finding is found with a beginning builder or someone who does not have the talents or maybe the tools of others.

How come the fault finding?

RDE

 

[ian45662]

Maybe it wouldnt be so bad if he were not trying to sell it

 

[FishDFly]

Yep, no argument.

But then again, why do some think because they re-finshed their T/C Hawken and added some brass in lays in the stock, the value has increased?

Not much difference is there?

RDE