Looking Smoothbore Builder

[Brant]

:idunno: :surrender: HAY GUYS HELP!! I have always really wanted to get a muzzleloader (smoothbore). However, I can't afford $700-$2,000 for a gun. I am looking to to have a plain smoothbore pistol built with a 15" barrel. It will be a plain Jane pistol with no carving. I have even thought about using a shotgun barrel blank for the barrel to cut down on costs.
Can anyone PLEASE direct me to a reasonably priced maker who will craft me one? All recommendations will be greatly appreciated! :bow:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Welcome.

Can't help you. Anyone with a name in the business will pound the stuffin out of that $700.

Suggest you hook up with a guy called "acorn" and get him working on a kit.

And here's one that is $635 for just the kit parts! And that's about average.
http://www.firelockpistols.com/wilsongeorgian.html

About the least expensive kit will be NorthStar West's trade pistol. $567 kit, $820 built. I've been lusting after one of these but so far my lottery tickets have been duds. And I'd like to give Matt the business. :thumbsup:
http://www.northstarwest.com/products/trade-pistol

 

[JohnN]

Muzzleloaders Builders Supply still has pistol kits in the $400-$500 range.

 

[Micah Clark]

Wow - that Northstar is not a bad looking pistol or price . . kind of impressive . . . not the same as Firelock, which has its own merits too and looks like a lot of the work is done, but a very different style too.

 

[Mickc01]

You may want to consider a Harper's Ferry pistol kit. It's not smoothbore but it is .58 cal (pretty big for a pistol). And the kit EASILY makes into a nice little gun. Here's a link to Dixie's page where it can be had for the low, low price of only $432.50.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_162_195&products_id=965

I put one of these together a couple of years ago and have been very pleased with it....Mick C

 

[Col. Batguano]

Look around garage sales and the like for abandoned build projects. Some times you can pick those up for a song, like $50-$75. You might be able to trade those (usually about $1000 or so retail) in parts for a completed gun. Of course, there ARE the factory guns like the Pedersoli's out there too that can often be had (used) in the $300-$400 range from the places like GB and GA.

 

[gunmaker43]

Is it a flint or perc. pistol you are wanting ?...Tom

 

[wattlebuster]

Your gonna have most of your 700 tied up in just parts an that dont leave much for labor. You can build it yourself or do what I do an rake an scrape 10 bucks here an there an put it away where you dont see it. Next thing you know you blink an eye an its a yr later an there in your little stash is some gun money. Buy it an you have not even missed it :hmm: Thats how I paid for this Joe Schell 62 smoothbore flintlock

 

[Brant]

Tom,
Plain Jane percussion unless I change my mind--THANKS!

 

[Brant]

Wattlebuster,
That is exactly what I plans on doing! Thanks for the advice. With 2 kids in college it takes every dime. Just checking around right now for makers to determine amount needed to save. Thanks again :wink:

 

[WKD]

If you look in the "handguns" section of this forum you will see "Unknown Target Pistol"
$400. and its yours :hmm:

 

[Zonie]

I've built several pistols and quite a few rifles so take it from me, building a pistol is not much less work than building a rifle.

The main differences are, the pistol has less wood to sand and the cost of the barrel and wood is less.

I mention this because you might want to consider saving a bit more and buying the parts for a rifle.

None of these "kits" sold by the major suppliers like Pecatonica River, Track of the Wolf, TVM and Muzzleloader Builder's Supply have anything beyond a roughed out stock with a barrel channel and ramrod hole, a lock mortise roughed out and a workable lock.

You will have to fit everything together, locate, drill and thread screw holes, cut dovetails for the sights and barrel underlugs and dozens of other things including doing the final shaping, sanding, staining and finishing the wood and applying the finish (if desired) to the barrel.

To build a full size rifle, count on spending over 140 hours of build time.
On a pistol, count on spending at least 100 hours.

This is not to say people can't build these guns faster.
Some can and they do a fair job.
Most people who rush things and cut corners end up with something only they could love.

 

[frogwalking]

Finished .50 Queen Anne flint pistol on sale for $425. Easy to assemble kit cheaper. I built the kit and it built and shot fine.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=9271

 

[leam]

Taking Zonie's comments to heart, you could get a Traditions percussion Hawken kit from Dixie for half your $700, and then invest in some reading material like "The Gunsmith of Grenville County", and have enough left over to find a local shooter who would be willing to trade some time for cash or kind. If you're willing to not worry about looks, it's very nice to shoot one you built.

The kit:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_162_192&products_id=2009

If you check with the NC NMLRA Field Rep they can probably help you find someone close by. Check this link, and the search for "NC"
http://nmlra.org/about-us-2/field-reps/

 

[Pete G]

Why not consider a "Poorboy" style rifle. They use less hardware and a plain grade wood in the stock in order to reduce cost. By squirreling away those nickels and dimes you might be able to buy a part here and there as you go. Start with a good book ("Gunsmith of Grenville County" or "Recreating the American Longrifle" are some of the best), then a lock, barrel, finally a stock and maybe a guard. The pipes, single trigger and trigger plate are fairly easily made from stock.