Rebuilding an india made mle. 1777 "charleville" musket

[Florida airgunner]

Hi guys,
I just started to rebuild my indian made musket to make it more like an original. I'm not expert by any means, in fact this is my first gunbuilding project. However I've done about 2 years of research and I'll be using "the art of building the Pennsylvania longrifle" as a guide occasionally.

The big issues with indian made muskets is obviously a fatty stock, so most of my work will be thinning down the stock, especially the wrist, lock mortise and forestock, and I plan on refinishing the stock and metal as well. Im also going to try and sharpen and define everything on the stock. Thinking of browning the hardware too, as I heard overseas French soldiers near the equator in hot and humid climates were known to brown their guns. Being in florida it seems like a smart move.

I've already sanded down the stock and I plan on shaping the lock mortise today.

If anyone's got tips and tricks, even the simplest ones, please tell me!

 

[wiscoaster]

Nice work. Go for it!!

 

[Banjoman]

One of my favorite muzzleloaders is an India made Fusil de Chasse. It was purty good originally but after a gunsmith thinned and refinished the stock, tuned the lock and refinished the metal to gray, it’s now a dandy. It was amazing how much wood he took off it.

Hope yours turns out well.

 

[Trot]

You'll probably need new bands to fit the slimmed down stock. You may be able to use bands from the Rifle Shoppe.

 

[Florida airgunner]

You'll probably need new bands to fit the slimmed down stock. You may be able to use bands from the Rifle Shoppe.

I was thinking of that too, thanks

 

[Clark Badgett]

You'll probably need new bands to fit the slimmed down stock. You may be able to use bands from the Rifle Shoppe.

You will definitely need these. Will also need a new buttplate.

 

[wganz]

Been working in Louisiana and staying at the farm to help with Mom. Today back in Plano for an eye doctor appointment tomorrow. Went by the local toy store & found a Navy Arms Mississippi musket for only $400. Arrgghhh, like I need yet just another musket. 'Fraid that I cannot resist temptation though....
The farm is still way too wet to get that bullet trap set up in the back. Yeah, it's August & too wet. Hard to even imagine.

 

[Florida airgunner]

Been working in Louisiana and staying at the farm to help with Mom. Today back in Plano for an eye doctor appointment tomorrow. Went by the local toy store & found a Navy Arms Mississippi musket for only $400. Arrgghhh, like I need yet just another musket. 'Fraid that I cannot resist temptation though....
The farm is still way too wet to get that bullet trap set up in the back. Yeah, it's August & too wet. Hard to even imagine.

That's an amazing deal!

 

[Florida airgunner]

Finished a rough reshaping of the lock flat. The old one was really fat, fuzzy and undefined, so I redefined it (to the best of my ability) to be much closer to the lock like on the originals. I removed about 1/2 inch of wood on the flats, so I'm pretty happy with it so far

*first pic is before, 2nd two are after