Neil Fields 40 Caliber Vincent Rifle

[BP Addict]

My new-to-me rifle finally arrived. It came from fellow Forum member, Dave at AZ Muzzleloaders. It was packed in a nice wooden box. The barrel is signed by Neil and marked 347.

I wanted a Vincent but with a 32” barrel. It’s almost the same dimensions as my Traditions Crockett rifle except I believe the LOP is shorter. The barrel is a Green Mountain. The lock and triggers are Davis.

I took it to the range yesterday. I usually burn 3F in my smaller calibers but this one likes 2F.

I thought about having one built that would be interchangeable but was told that nobody makes a lock of the type that was used on a Vincent in flint.

I don’t mind a Crescent Butt Stock except when Bench Rested while sighting in!

Thanks for looking.

Walt

 

[BP Addict]

Here are a few more!

PT = Pillow Ticking, .017-.018. Lube was Bumbling Bear Grease from October County. The powder was Goex.

Walt

 

[derrickman]

Great looking rifle!
After the Hawken style, I really like the Vincents.

 

[BP Addict]

Great looking rifle!
After the Hawken style, I really like the Vincents.

Me too! I've seen photos of some "Local" guns the Hawken Brothers made which look quite similar to the Vincent.

Walt

 

[Kansas Jake]

Very nice rifle.

 

[derrickman]

Me too! I've seen photos of some "Local" guns the Hawken Brothers made which look quite similar to the Vincent.

Walt

Plus, after 70 winters those Hawken rifles get heavy to tote.

 

[BigAl52]

Very nice looking rifle and I know it will be fun to shoot. I have a Hawken squirrel rifle that I love to shoot in the same caliber.

 

[derrickman]

Yes I lusted after a Hawken squirrel rifle for many years but Brant Selb's wait time is about three years.
Big Al, yours is a beauty no doubt!

 

[hanshi]

That's a gorgeous rifle you have. 2F rather than 3F, interesting.

 

[Bnewberry]

Lovely rifle! So is that really a 32” barrel? Looks longer for some reason.

 

[BP Addict]

Lovely rifle! So is that really a 32” barrel? Looks longer for some reason.

Thanks! It's probably because the LOP is only 12.5".

Walt

 

[BP Addict]

That's a gorgeous rifle you have. 2F rather than 3F, interesting.

Thanks! Both my Traditions Crockett and Chambers Issac Haines Rifles love 3F! So does my English Flintlock Pistol. This one, not so much. The tightest group was with 2F.

Walt

 

[Bnewberry]

Thanks! It's probably because the LOP is only 12.5".

Walt

I was wondering about that, Thanks! I asked because I am building an Ohio rifle styled after the Vincent only with a side hammer lock and am wondering how long to leave the barrel. I have been considering 36 inches but don’t want it too nose heavy with a straight profile .40 caliber barrel. But I also don’t want the barrel to look short!

 

[BP Addict]

I was wondering about that, Thanks! I asked because I am building an Ohio rifle styled after the Vincent only with a side hammer lock and am wondering how long to leave the barrel. I have been considering 36 inches but don’t want it too nose heavy with a straight profile .40 caliber barrel. But I also don’t want the barrel to look short!

I thought about the Pecatonica Kit but didn't like the 36" barrel. However, the LOP on theirs may be longer.

I've bought from this person before so when he said he had one that was pretty close to the dimensions of my Traditions Crockett, I decided to "pull the Trigger" and purchase it.

What I REALLY would like to have is something along those lines that can be converted from Percussion to Flint.

Good Luck!

Walt

 

[nit wit]

I had a Vincent built with a flintlock, nice rifle.
Nit Wit

 

[Bnewberry]

I thought about the Pecatonica Kit but didn't like the 36" barrel. However, the LOP on theirs may be longer.

I've bought from this person before so when he said he had one that was pretty close to the dimensions of my Traditions Crockett, I decided to "pull the Trigger" and purchase it.

What I REALLY would like to have is something along those lines that can be converted from Percussion to Flint.

Good Luck!

Walt

I went with 36 inches. I am happy with it so far. A convertible, with percussion and flint would be interesting. I saw a guy post about making a convertible Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle. It was sweet!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Percussion/flintlock convertible firearms are nice in theory. I have two. One is a rifle and the other is a pistol. I have found that I tend to avoid changing the locks from one method to the other a bit of a pain. I leave the rifle with the flint lock installed and the pistol is more often left with the percussion lock installed.

If the breeching system starts off with a simple drum and nipple percussion system, it is relatively easy to convert the firearm to flint lock configuration. Remove the drum and replace the drum with a properly threaded touch hole liner. It also depends on the configuration of the breech. The CVA/Traditions breech with the drum or touch hole liner drilled through the breech plug can weaken the breech when converted.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Wow that’s really purdy. Congrats!

 

[ohiochuck]

Really like the squirrel on the percussion lock

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Rifle is very nice. The Davis lock is great and is a copy of one used on Ohio rifles of the period.

I don't if John Vincent ever made a flintlock: I have never seen or heard of one. I know his son John Caleb did not make one.