Package from the Rifle Shoppe!

[kb466]

After starting a thread and whining about the long wait and delivery time for a M1795 Springfield Musket parts set I ordered back in November 2008, I thought it only fair to report that today, I received an email notice from UPS saying that The Rifle Shoppe had shipped a sixteen pound package to me. It should arrive early next week. I hope it is all there, but if it weighs sixteen pounds, I figure it probably is all there.

How do I feel about all this? Well, I seriously had thought about cancelling my order, but I am really glad that I did not. I wanted these parts, and now that they are on the way, I am glad I waited. I will provide a report when they arrive.
Bill M.

 

[widget350]

Good news! Hopefully it's complete!

 

[Pork Chop]

did you run right out and buy a lottery ticket?

 

[J.D.]

Good news! Hopefully it's complete!

Yeah, I hope so. The several parts, each, in a coupla different orders I received from TRS arrived in separate shipments of one part in each shipment, over a coupla months, so I do hope its all there, but I would be a little skeptical until a full inventory is made.

Good luck and God bless

 

[kb466]

Well-- Happy News! The package from the Rifle Shoppe was delivered today and inside was my complete parts set for my first model M1795 Springfield Musket. Everything looks great. The lock was assembled as I had ordered, but will still need finishing and polishing. The barrel looks excellent and well-made-- I think it was made by Colerain. The stock is made of a beautiful dark reddish piece of walnut with quite a bit of figure. In fact, I worry that it might have too much figure for the length of stock it is. If I'm careful and it doesn't get broken, it should turn out beautifully. All the other metal parts are what I expected. They are nicely cast and all will need finishing. Also, all screw holes will need to be drilled and tapped. All this was expected. The main thing is that they look like very accurate representations of M1795 parts. So, I have to say, I am pretty happy with what I received and I am glad I waited for the parts. This should build into an accurate and correct M1795. I am thinking of moving it up to the head of my building projects.
Bill M.

 

[widget350]

Excellent! Nice to know that you finally got everything and that you're happy with them!

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Bill, congratulations on receiving you parts set. If you had them assemble your lock that would explain the long delay in receiving the set but well worth the extra time I am sure. Are you building the Type I, II or III?

 

[kb466]

I am building the Type I Springfield. One thing that I find very attractive about the M1795 Springfield and the 1766 Charleville it was copied from is the slim and graceful profile and feel. This is something that I have not seen duplicated on the repros, except perhaps for the early Miroku Charlevilles. All of the repros seem to be heavy and clunky, particularly in the breech area, where I suspect weight has been added to prevent the ignorant among us from blowing up his musket (and himself) with smokeless powder. However, it looks like this Rifle Shoppe parts set will build into the slim profile I was looking for-- even more reason to be pleased.

 

[kb466]

I received an email asking as to the quality of the Rifle Shoppe parts-- All the metal parts are very cleanly and crisply cast. Relative to other parts I have worked with, surface polish and clean up should not be bad at all-- nice parts! However, all the casting gates and sprues are there and will need to be removed. Also, you need to plan on drilling and tapping all holes and screw holes. None of this was done except on the lock, which was assembled. So, careful use of the drill press is called for. The stock is nicely shaped and inletted. I haven't looked to see how closely inletted, but I would have to say at least 95%. A lot of the smaller work needs to be done on the stock, such as cutting the slot for the trigger and band springs. I can also see that some of the inletting for the lock internals needs to be done. There is minimal shaping and sanding needed to be done on the stock. It will be mostly the detail work and fine cleaning and sanding.

One question I have has to do with the inletting on the stock for the trigger guard assembly-- should it be inletted or did the assembly just lie flat against the stock? I have been told both ways and, unfortunately, I do not have an original M1795 to examine. The stock has a shallow inlet for the trigger guard.