Progress on my pistol

[ky_man]

Here are some pics of my first pistol project. I have been accumulating hand tools, but I don't have a bandsaw yet. As you can see, I've had to improvise. I'm going by "recreating the pennsylvania longrifle" and a video by Mike Miller.

Don't ask about all the crap on my bench, it's a catch-all for household junk.

Block of maple from TOTW.

Laying it out

Preparing to rough it out, drilled holes and cut with a fret saw (only took 30 minutes)

Carved channel by hand - took 6 hours, on and off, with a 1/4" and 1/2" chisel

Almost fully inlet, used candle soot and elbow grease

My workshop (what a mess!) Notice surprisingly realistic toy flintlock on bench.


The only thing I did wrong was the barrel is not exactly straight in the channel, it's off by about 1/4" at the breech end. I have plenty of wood to work with, so I think I'm OK. Any comments or suggestions? I'm going to finish roughing it in this weekend with a cabinet rasp.

 

[rabjr]

I'm sure its nice Ky_Man but dem lil pics hurt my eyes and when I clicky on em, all I get is a frog.

 

[rabjr]

Never mind! found the slide show. :haha:

 

[Old40Rod]

If you a building a flinter... may I suggest the Building Flintlock Pistols from American Pioneer Videos... its a 2 DVD set featuring Mike Miller. I just got them as a gift, couldn't be happier with the detail.
[url] http://www.americanpioneervideo.com/bkr.html[/url]

 

[ky_man]

That's the video I have, I rented it from[url] smartflix.com[/url]. My next rental will be the Hershel House video on building a longrifle. I have to finish this pistol first.

I don't have a large spoon chisel like Mike uses in his video, I used my square edge chisels. I'll have to visit a woodcraft store or order one online (I'm looking at a set of Marples) but will have to wait until after Christmas.

I just ordered a Siler lock and trigger assembly for it, so when that comes in after the holidays I'll begin to inlet these items. I also ordered some .050" brass sheet from ebay.

 

[Birddog6]

You can usually get that sheet brass from a local hobby shop, hardware, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. and save the shipping from a eBay source.
A brass door kickplate will make LOTS of pieces. Make sure it is solid brass, some are tin with a thin brass coating. Some have a magnetic material adhered to the back of them. Lift the edgde take a 1500 watt hair dryer or a heat gun & heat as you lift the edge of the magnet material with pliers & once that is started put the hear at the adhesive between the magnet & sheet brass, lift the magnetic material off as you heat the adhesive. After it is off take electrical cleaner, brake drum cleaner or lighter fluid to disolve the remaining adhesive & wipe off with a paper towel. (Do it Outside or you wife will be having a fit ! :haha: )

 

[ky_man]

Thanks, I didn't think about the kickplates. What thickness are they? Seems they might be thicker than .050?

 

[Bob Riegl]

:bow: Lot's of luck to you in your endeavors---the fact that you are building from scratch is a tribute to your love of the hobby. If you think your workbench is a mess---as my daughter said at age 13...."neatness is a sign of a sick mind"....at age 45 still believes that. I still hang my clothes as I did when in the Corps---this used to scare my wife. Hey, if you can find your tools, your a "neat freak". But, nontheless my adage is ...."when done with the tools, put them back where they belong"...it is truly a disease :youcrazy: :youcrazy: :rotf:

 

[Doc Arroyo]

The only thing I did wrong was the barrel is not exactly straight in the channel, it's off by about 1/4" at the breech end. I have plenty of wood to work with, so I think I'm OK. Any comments or suggestions? I'm going to finish roughing it in this weekend with a cabinet rasp.

If the breech is off by 1/4", then the inlet needs to move back.

But if you are saying the the inlet is good and tight, and that it is not square with the outside of your blank...not too much of a problem. You are going to be taking most of that material away anyway!

But I would advise to leave it mostly square and blocky until you get barrel, lock, trigger, triggerguard, ramrod hole and groove, and the thimbles inletted. Don't go too far with that rasp yet!