my edward marshall build

[ehoff]

Hmm can't say I've seen a second rifle attributed to being owned by Edward Marshall. The rifle shown as no. 42 in RCA Vol.1 is in the hands of the Bucks County Historical Society it resides at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA. Most of the recreations are of this rifle. Now there is a rifle made by Christen Oerter at Christians Springs for Edwards second son William Marshall. This rifle with its carved Griffin horn and wire inlay is probably the finest example of the rifles made at Christians Springs.

 

[bioprof]

Have you checked with Reeves Goehring for the buttplate? He has a pretty good selection and the quality is top notch.

 

[Capt. Fred]

Speaking only for myself, I don't find the idea of copying a gun that interesting. If I had the original on the bench, and was doing an exact copy, that would be one thing. I would find that real fun. But, copying from pictures just doesn't excite me.

I try to start with the overall architecture, then try to get "into the head" of the builder/builders of that style of gun by looking at pics of as many of the original works as possible. Then, once I feel like I have a feel for it I take it from there. On every gun, I try to stray a little, but not too much, just so it has some of "me" in it too, but I do try to stay in the same personality of the style.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Yessir, that's me, too. I want to get the architecture right, but the carving and engraving will be me. I've heard that the original is also a chunky, heavy gun, and that wouldn't be fun to lug around hunting.
Got some decisions to make.

 

[bioprof]

Reeves does list an Edward Marshall butt plate like the one on RCA #42. The butt plate dictates a large part of the gun's architecture.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Does he have a website yet? I taked to him last year at Dixon's and he said his son was going to get one going.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Google Edward Marshall rifle, and the Kettenburg site will come up with a different rifle, claimed to be the one.

 

[rich pierce]

Does he have a website yet? I taked to him last year at Dixon's and he said his son was going to get one going.

No website. Have to call him up.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Thanks, Rich, I have his number.

 

[Stophel]

Probably the second gun that that you saw that is supposed to have belonged to Marshall is a German smoothbore gun from about 1770 or so.

The "Marshall" rifle is huge. Big even by German standards. The wrist is like 1 3/4" wide. Get the plan drawing by Harrison. Available from several vendors. :wink:

 

[ehoff]

The second gun shown on Eric Kettenberg's site is not a rifle but a smooth bore fowler. It was discussed on several boards when it was brought up for auction, but I am unaware of any serious study being done on it to prove it provinance. Along with the RCA books a good companion reference on the builders and gun of this period new book by the KRA "Morvian Gun Making of the American Revolution".

 

[hoochiepapa]

Yessir, Stophel, got it from Dixie. I think after all this cogitating I'm just going to build a "transitional" rifle, because I'd like it to have lean lines.
Went through my stash of brass, and I didn't have any thick enough to make a side plate. Gotta go shopping. Made the ramrod yesterday, has a horn tip on one end, and a copper on the other to screw in attachments. I'll post a pic after I put the finish on.
Thanks.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Inletting the side plate, it will be profusely engraved.

 

[hja4941]

That sequence is great advise. I certainly wish I had read this a month ago, it would have saved me a from a big headache.

 

[hoochiepapa]

The side plate is inletted, the front screw I turned down from 8/32 to 6/32 in my drill press. But the large screw heads will look nice, that's how they are on the rifle I'm using as a sample-not copying. Now I'll engrave the side plate, I have a copy of it to use for finishing the rifle, and I'm going to engrave the screw heads, too. You can see the original's side plate in the background, and in the lower pic, the rifle.

I'm supposed to be working...

 

[hoochiepapa]

First ever engraved screw head. Must practice!!

 

[hoochiepapa]

Here is the side plate with the initial engraving. Now comes the fun part-shading and stippling. Took me about 31/2 hours to do this, I will pace myself next time, I slipped twice because I was tired, and should have quit. I hope I will be able to hide the slips. Learning all the time.

 

[rabjr]

:thumbsup:

 

[rich pierce]

Real nice work- are the sideplate shape and engraving design inspired by an original or a new creative design?

 

[hoochiepapa]

Inspired by a Jaeger in Shumway's book. I really like the idea of profuse engraving, I like the way Jerry does things, although the guns in the book are mostly stocked in walnut, and mine is a pretty strong piece of maple. Therefore I probably will not do too much carving on this one.
If you have Shumway's book, it is near the front, I don't have it in front of me, so I can't give you the page number.
I have changed the pattern ever so slightly.