Research on Tenn. style longrifle

[11th corps]

Well, I have received all the components for my Tenn. longrifle except the stock. Its on backorder-
My question. I purchased steel furniture for this. What type of finish should I use on the steel? Does it require anything? Or should I leave it and the barrel in the white?
If I leave it in the white, does the steel need some type of clear sealer?
Also I have Recreating the American Longrifle. Any other books you guys recommend for this sophomore rifle builder?

 

[Bubba45]

Foxfire 5 has a pretty good section on building from scratch by Hershal House and quite a bit of history in other sections of the book including Hacker Martin.

 

[CrackStock]

11th

Which collection of parts did you get?

People often brown with various rusting chemicals followed by scraping it back down to even things out a few times and when the color is where you want it, oil it. Web searches here or elsewhere will get you plenty of advice on this. Be sure that you manage the rusting in such a manner that you do not pit the outer surfaces beyind your desired look. Also be sure to protect the inner parts that might be damaged -- especially your bore.

Some will charcoal blue this which is a heating process. An internet search should get you a good idea of how this is done with a bed of coals.

Some will pay to have these blued commercially.

Others will blue it and then strip the blue off to get a sort of gray.

Some have artificially aged with various chemical processes such as bleach fumes, onion juice or other mildly acidic items to cause a bit of oxidation which is then "carded off" (this just means to smooth it out by wiping down with steel wool, 3M Scothbright pads or burlap)

Still others will polish to a fine smoothness often called arsenal bright and then just handle the gun to age it to a light gray patina.

CS

 

[MSW]

if you are an afficianado of the PC (period correct, not politically correct), you should give the browning solutions a good hard look. i've used Laurel Mountain stuff to good effect... looks fine, and it's easy to use.

if PC isn't a big issue for you, you might want to consider charcoal blueing. LSU Tiger has a really good post on this.

(just my .02) good luck

MSW

 

[Mike Brooks]

By the time tennessee rifles were in use browning was very common. I'd brown it. well, that's a lie... :haha: I'd antique it, but that's just me. :youcrazy:

 

[MikeChapin]

I browned everything on my Tennessee. I don't antique anything on my rifles. They get that look as time passes anyway. The Tennessee is 15-20 years old now and I have been asked how I got the antique look. I tell them that it is just a lot of use.

 

[Packdog]

I'm partial to a grey, slightly antiqued finish myself but I have to agree that rust browned finished would be the most correct for a TN rifle.
I suspect a lot were left in forge finished and have browned on thier own over the years. Much like some of my tools which were shiney when I got them.

 

[11th corps]

Thanks for the info guys. I have used Laruel Mt. Browning solution before, so that is the route I will go.
BTW, I got my components from T.O.W.
I was happy with what they sent me, I am still waiting on the stock. No biggie, I didn't expect to start on it till old man winter blows.

 

[Okwaho]

Which kit and especially the lock did you order for this "Tennessee Rifle".The gun should have a round or squared off tail lock and NOT a Germanic Siler[url] lock.In[/url] my opinion based on having looked at hundreds of these rifles over the last 40 years,the most appropriate lock is Jim Chamber's Classic Ketland 1810-1830 era although I had a restocked Charles Bean rifle with a squared off lock like the Ketland's late 1820 era lock.I have never seen a Tennessee rifle with a Germanic lock. Track offers one of their kits with a Durs Egg lock but I don't recall ever seeing one on a Tennessee gun.
Tom Patton

 

[11th corps]

I am not that interested in a PC rifle, rather one that shoots well and represents, but may not be an exact copy, of something built in the past.

 

[CrackStock]

Track has a special on a kit with Siler's Mountain rifle lock. The lock is not inlet, but the stock is cut to accommodate that lock. Are you familiar with this lock? I had never heard of it until Dave sent me the kit details.

I was thinking of ordering one.

CS

 

[Okwaho]

When I referred to a "Germanic Siler lock" I was referring to a flint lock,either the large or small Siler.The Siler mountain rifle lock {L-16}is a round tailed percussion lock typical of those found on Tennessee and other original mountain percussion rifles from Ca.1830 and were used as long as these rifles were made.I haven't seen the "special" from Track but both of their kits for Southern mountain or Tennessee rifles can be bought and used with the Siler percussion lock or others as the builder[url] wishes.Again[/url] I have never seen one of these rifles with a Germanic lock. The earlier Flintlock rifles are often found with English locks,generally Ketlands while later locks use a variety of English and American manufactured locks.
Tom Patton.