Light dragoon questions

[texcl]

Muzzleloader Builders' Supply makes a light and heavy dragoon pistol kit, I was considering building the light dragoon, mainly because I'm uncomforatable with inletting the heavy dragoon buttcap which had the long strips of brass terminating near the lock panels. I have a couple questions, first how do you even start the process of inletting a buttcap on a pistol, I take it that it is a little more involved than a rifle butt. Second I'm assuming you have to solder or braze on the lugs, what is needed to do this? Lastly have any of you built one of these kits?

 

[CaptainKirk]

Can you post a link to the kit?

 

[wmaser]

Although I have never built the MBS kit, I have built a few Dragoon pistols from scratch. The trick to inletting the bulbous butt cap is to carefully lay out the anticipated finished position, including those thin strips of brass. Don't cut any wood outside of your layout unless you're darn sure the layout is a bit off. Ensure that those strips always grow wider toward the cap. Begin inletting in an arc-like progression, ie. if the barrel is pointed right, begin with the cap under the trigger and proceed in a clockwise rotation. The sides of the bulbous portion of the wood to be removed will be as narrow as it is behind the lockplate. When completely inlet and the cap in it's final position, those areas will be hollow, underneath the cap. Take it slow and try to anticipate the final position. When you successfuly complete this, put a screw in the cap and have a beer. I hope that description makes some sense

 

[Mike Brooks]

Be aware the lock is incorrect for the pistol, if you care that is.....

 

[texcl]

Mike, after looking at the original light dragoons it seems that they all had flat twigg looking locks, I might end up getting the TRS heavy dragoon, they tell me that the butt cap is rough inletted to boot.

 

[JOHN ZUREKI]

Mr.B, I am not a pistol guy, but years ago I built one of these using a Chambers Queen Ann that Jim C. claims is suitable for this stlye of pistol. Do you think the Davis would be more appropriate or is there a even better choice? I will never build another, but in the event. TRS or Blakely's are sort of a pain.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Mr.B, I am not a pistol guy, but years ago I built one of these using a Chambers Queen Ann that Jim C. claims is suitable for this stlye of pistol. Do you think the Davis would be more appropriate or is there a even better choice? I will never build another, but in the event. TRS or Blakely's are sort of a pain.

There is nothing on the market that is correct othere than one cast from an original that TRS sells. If HC is a concern I'd bite the bullet and go the TRS option.