John- I build all my rifles exactly as you say. The best of workmanship I can do, of the best parts, and they are all tested for accuracy and velocity in sighting in. I have copied original rifles I like, as exactly as I can from photos. Have not had many to handle so to copy them. If I make an original, and I have done maybe a dozen or so, they are correct within the school they are based on. Many photos of my rifles are in the archives, if you do a search on "Hawkens", Green River Rifle Works, etc., name of Herb, any date, you will find photos.
I am a guitar player. Play any written music I like, in any key, can sight transpose to any of 15 keys in six chord shapes with capo for ease of playing and singing. Play for assisted living centers weekly, plus have 7 guitar students (only one of whom I charge). Mostly play for myself, any kind of music but modern stuff. Even have to learn some rock 'n roll for two kids who want to learn.
There are other guitar players here who are interested, so my guitars are a 1953 D-18 Martin I bought new in Dubuque, Iowa just before I went into the army, a Washburn D-29S, a Sheraton VSB Epiphone by Gibson semi acoustic electric, a 1962 Gretsch Electromatic 6182, a Jasmine Takamine ES91C to give to a granddaughter, and four Morris: an MD-515, a 1974 W-40, a 1974 609T and a W-610. Gave my grandson a Fender Stratocaster and amp, I don't play electrics. In a blindfold test at Thanksgiving, he rated my Martin at the bottom for quality of sound. Called it "tinny". I had him do the test to confirm my opinion- those Morris guitars are really good. In fact, the builder copied Martin bracing at first until they sued him to stop. I don't really NEED more guitars (have given away maybe a dozen), but who needs another rifle? My interest is high quality acoustics, and Morris are a lot cheaper than Martin, Gibson or Washburn.
fw- thanks for the comment. I shoot only black powder in my rifles, except to test other powders that most everyone says won't work. How I load Triple 7 is to pour the measure full, say 100 grains, then tap the side to settle it five grains (line scored inside barrel of measure). Fill to the top with Goex 2F and dump it down the bore. This is easier than the five grains of 4F that Hodgdon says to use for a booster charge. Then I can prime the pan with the same 2F powder. This is no more trouble than a powder horn and a small priming horn. Triple 7 burns hotter, so I used an overpowder wad. Otherwise the patches can hole or burn. I think in this test I used 5/8" leather scraps, cut with a punch, and soaked with Murphy Oil Soap-91% alcohol, 2 parts to 1, my lube. I'd coned the muzzle, so center the OPW and start it down about 3/4" with short starter, then put the patched (heavy pillow ticking) ball in the cone and seat together with a range rod. Leather OPWs are bad news, hit the shades of my Oehler 35P chronograph. Have also used heavy wool, but heavy felt would be good, too. I had no hangfires or trouble in this test due to the Triple 7. Did have flashes in the pan with that White Lightning liner with any powder until I opened it up from about .055 to 1/16" (0.625). Lost about 20 fps with the larger hole, but it should be about .070 to eliminate flashes in the pan. It is not the powder but the size of the hole.
