jacob dickert rifle (i want to build one)

[bill ropke]

The last rifle that I built was 1986. I built it entirely by hand (machine) with the help of my Dad. He was a machinist(modelmaker) and taught me how to built parts from scratch. At that time, we had access to his machine shop. Dad's retired now, so I don't have that luxury anymore.

I would like to build a rifle like the Jacob Dickert Lancaster County flintlock in .36 cal.

I found a website called Track of the Wolf and they had basically what I want. Does anyone have any history of dealing with them, and if so, what can you tell me about their company.

Also, does anyone know the history of how Jacob finished his rifles? Some folks say browned/brass furniture. But I was thinking due to the time that he built his guns, more than likely they would have been "in the white" with steel or brass furniture.

I guess you have the idea of what I'd like to do, so any information anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you,
ntn2it

 

[Arrowstorm]

I don't have any experience with buying thier gun kits, but as a customer of track of the wolf for over a year, buying other products, I can tell you that they're excellent in price and the stuff they sell is good quality stuff. In fact, I don't get my flints from anywhere other than these guys. I've bought a pair of holsters that are real nice... and if something is wrong, they'll do what is necessary to make it right. I'm sure they're just as dedicated with thier gun kits. In my book, they're an excellent source. :hatsoff:

 

[tnlonghunter]

There's a thread under the Builder's Bench forum (I think) about TOTW's kits. As far as the finishing, I've gathered from this forum (and it makes sense) that the wood was stained and oil finished, but the hardware was not finished per se. My understanding is that the hardware was just allowed to dull over time, and that the idea of browning came because the originals we see now have been aging for over 200 years, so the hardware looks brown simply by a natural aging process. Still, it looks great, so if you want to, it won't necessarily be wrong.

 

[George F.]

Over the years I've bought alot of parts from them, sometimes they have depleted stock and it takes time to get the parts in from a supplier, but they have always been good, also sometimes while ordering parts I'd ask them a techical building question and have always been curtious and helpful. Also another supplier in Ark, MUZZLELOADERS BUILDERS SUPPLY is also quite good Sussie the owner is also VERY good and KNOWLEDGABLE, also friendly and helpful. She can be reached at ...501-292-8866. Good luck on your rifle building project, don't get discouraged the first one always takes some time......George F.

 

Go to our links section and find the link for Pocontica River Longrifles.

They supply the wood to TOTW, which is usually the last thing TOTW actually ships 6 months after you got the rest of their "kit".

I built a Dickert smoothrifle from one of the Pecontica stocks and have enjoyed using it to the point of calling it my favorite.

If you study a bit you will find that Dickert rifles are mostly big bores (.45+) and I know of no Dickerts with iron hardware.

There are probably more Dickert origionals around than any other maker.

 

[rich pierce]

Dickert worked for a long time, from before the Revolutionary War through 1800 at least (don't have the books in hand). Most of the guns he seems to have made were larger caliber and had a fairly robust architecture that is hard to achieve with a small caliber, strsight walled barrel. So I'd just call their Dickert kit, which looks fine, "Golden Age to late Lancaster". As stated above, almost no steel (iron) furniture is found on Lancaster rifles or any Pennsylvania longrifles.

 

[George F.]

Hey Rich Why did you pick me to respond to. Be good or I'll get that mean puppy with the inletting black all over her/himself....( I loved that post, especially when someone coined the caption "WHAT ?"

 

[mikelange]

I agree with both Ghost's and Rich Pierce's comments in regard to Dickert rifles. While it's impossible to know for a certainty whether or not he ever built small-caliber guns (if I had to guess I'd say he probably did, here and there), getting the right dimensions for a rifle of his style would be hard without using either a larger-diameter (like 15/16") straight barrel -- very heavy in small bores -- or a swamped barrel. Which, come to think of it, would be correct on a gun of this type, anyhow -- though there is a very early Dickert (#50 in Shumway's "Rifles Of Colonial America", also featured in "Kentucky Rifles And Pistols, 1750-1850") with a straight octagon barrel. A sizeable, if not vast majority of rifles of the 18th and early 19th centuries had tapered or swamped octagon barrels.

The beauty of wanting to replicate a Dickert rifle is that his production included everything from severely plain "everyday" rifles to very fine showpieces. Assuming the ability to build a proper longrifle, to begin with, you can find an original Dickert that's compatible with your skill level.

The only other Lancaster makers I know of whose surviving rifles might be as numerous as Dickert's are John Philip Beck's or Henry Leman's -- and Leman, in a sense, doesn't count, since his guns were of a later period and were much closer to being mass-produced.

 

[Zonie]

No doubt about it. The Dickert rifles represent some of the best features of the Revolutionary War and later.
As was said, they were usually of fairly large caliber.

The only negitive thing I've heard about TOTW is they will sell the "kit" even though they don't have some of the parts in stock.
For this reason, it is best to call and talk to them asking "Do you have this in stock right now?".

 

[DRC]

I ordered a Issac Haines kit from them this last spring. Got it within 10 days {all parts}. Yes they were out of stock I ordered , but they up grated. I was very pleased with there product. Yes if I had to do it again I would. My opinion.

 

[crgabel]

I'm building a Dickert right now from TOTW in 40. cal swamped. Parts came after 4 days and all parts were there. TOTW has been a great company to work with so far for me.
Craig

 

[bill ropke]

Thank you all very much for your helpful answers to some of my questions.
I plan to order the parts that I want and assemble them. I have decided not to buy their "kit". From other things that I have heard, their wood is not the best(looking) and they backorder stocks quite often. I will jsut order a blank from some other place (any suggestions?).
I plan to use a swamped 44" .36cal[url] bbl.in[/url] order to keep the whole thing looking lean and trim, It should also help balance out the rifle for those offhand shots at tree rats.
Thanks again to all who responded, and if you have more info, please send it along.
Bill