Patchbox or not?

[kevin madden]

I'm having a custom Pennsylvania flintlock rifle built. The builder said if the finest maple wood is to be used in the stock, don't have a patchbox installed because that would cover up the beautiful wood. Can't argue with that reasoning ”” but how historically-accurate is a Pennsylvania flintlock rifle without a patchbox?

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'd use a wood box out of the same wood as the stock . No cvering of the curl that way.

 

What style and period is it? There is an argument about the relative proportions of "plain" rifles to "fine" rifles and about what constitutes a "plain" rifle. Some folks (I am one) argue that plain rifles were common and would have been the common arm of the typical early frontiersman--fine rifles were owned by squires, etc--but in the later Golden Age it became fashionable for even the poorest hunter to try to get a fine rifle. But even if the early hunter had a plain rifle, did it have a box? Some did and some did not, IMHO. Also, I think the PA rifles more likely had boxes and southern rifles may have had a larger percentage of boxless guns--then there is the Shimmel-a plain PA gun with no box. One solution is to make a sliding wood box with the same maple as the stockwood. A relatively small brass box lid with simple top and no sideplates doesn't cover as much wood either...

 

[silverfox]

This is to both Mikes. Why is the wood patchbox cover stripe never in line with the stripe of the stock. Seems the stripe is always perpenduclar to the lid and then put in at an angle to the stock. Just wondering.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[Vaino]

What time period and style? I've built a few Bucks County LRs and install the small side opening Pbox so less wood is covered. If it's an early LR, a wooden box would be appropriate and if later, a small brass Pbox would suffice. I like something to fill that large expanse of wood. Possibly the rifle would be sold at some later date and some kind of Pbox would be more appealing and increase the price?......Fred

 

[Stophel]

There are plenty of "golden age" rifles that never had a patchbox of any kind. I have seen several myself. It is not uncommon at all.

The wood box lids were made with whatever piece of wood the maker had on hand to make the lid out of. He didn't bother with "lining up the grain".

The worst "compliment" you could ever give to a gunsmith is "nice wood".... :cursing:

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Here's a Reading style rifle with wooden patch box cover:

Click here for larger view.

 

[rich pierce]

I thought that Reading rifle looked awfully good. Then I found out who made it when I clicked on the picture, and it made sense to me.

 

Very nice piece. Would you kindly give some details?

 

[Many Klatch]

I've never had a gun with a patchbox. I honestly don't know what you would keep in one. Flint? Patches? Screw driver? They shoot just fine without a patchbox.

Many Klatch

 

[pegesus59]

:v I love the look of the sliding wooden patch box. Here is a pic of the one I made , and notice the curl runs the same direction on both the Patchbox cover and the stock. I just cut the cover out of the same wood, and aligned the curl before I did the final shaping. I kind of wish I would have used a darker stain. :redface: That would have made the curl more prominent. Too late now. I am not about to remove the ten hand rubbed coats of tru-oil.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

My first flinter had one. Didnt see no reason, and more brass to polish.

Opted not to on this one Im doing now.

 

[markinstettler]

I'm wondering is how practical patch box are. I could see using one for items that don't need to be used for every round fired (extra flints, patch screw, ball puller, etc.). I'd keep the balls, patches, and such in my possibles bag. Or am I misjudging how easy it is to get into a patch box?

 

[Mike Brooks]

Built properly they are easy to use. I keep cleaning supplies in mine and a spare flint.
Er...ah....that is I would keep that stuff in my patch box if I actually had a rifle.....

 

[wulf]

I put patch boxes on every ryfl I made..It was a
tradition that was on wheel locks and maybe even
earlier. After a number of brass lids I graduat
ed to attempting the wooden lids and found them
to be much easier..I don't put much in myne but
after all,,,it is a tradition....just my opinion
based on no facts what so ever. But,,,they do
look good..............Wulf

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Very nice piece. Would you kindly give some details?

Here's a discription from the gunmaker's website:

The profile of this rifle was copied form an early Reading Rifle #26 shown in Shumway's Rifles of Colonial America. The comb line on this rifle is straighetr than most from Reading and it's appearance more slim. Other than this, there was no attempt to copy the rifle exactly, the carving and furniture being typical of this area in the 1770-80's.
The .54 cal. Getz Barrel is 42 inches long, 1 1/16 inches at the breech, 13/16 inches at the waist, and 7/8 at the muzzle, cut rifled with round bottom grooves. 3 pin retention along a simple raised forestock molding.

The lock is a chambers golden age, highly tuned and finished inside and out, lightly casehardened, refinished bright and tarnished.

A "white lightning" vent liner level with the top of the pan should give instant ignition.

The stock is hard suger maple with perfect grain through the wrist and toe area. There is a moderate amount of figure throughout. A gun of this type would look as well with a dead plain stock or perhaps a subtle pinstripe. Vivid tiger stripe seems out of place here.

The front sight is made from folding sterling silver sheet. Drawing silver solder into the seam makes it one piece for finishing. The rear sight is forged from steel sheet.

The butt plate is 1 15/16 inches wide and 5 1/8 inches high. The rifle points beeautifully and despite the size of its components, has a very trim look. The length of pull is 13 3/4 inches.

The rifle is in new, unfired condition, signed and dated.

Click Here to link to Bill Shipman's Gallery, well worth looking at. Just click on the detailed gallery for each rifle. I don't have any interest or affiliation with Bill Shipman, I just thoroughly enjoy his fine work.

 

[Ephraim]

I keep m&ms in mine.



Ephraim

 

[Titus]

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Are you being serious?

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I keep m&ms in mine.
Ephraim

melts in your patchbox...not in your hand... :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Titus]

pegesus59, Great work on your rifle BTW! :bow: :hatsoff: