Scratch built longrifle

[Westporter]

Is anyone out there actually building a longrifle from scratch, .i.e., "lock, stock, and barrel." In other words, no manufactured parts and pieces.

 

[Bob McBride]

It’s being done fairly regularly, just at a price point most of us would need a home equity line to buy.

 

[Westporter]

It’s being done fairly regularly, just at a price point most of us would need a home equity line to buy.

Can't be more than the current price of a bespoke English game gun or rifle. Any names come to mind?

 

[Eric Krewson]

You can watch the Colonial Williamsburg gunmaker video on youtube and see just how much work is involved.

 

[Vaino]

The only shop that I know of that builds LRs completely from scratch is at Williamsburg and don't know if they still do it and if they do, the prices would be fantastic.
Probably there are some builders who approach a completely scratch build, but still buy some parts.....bbls come to mind because of the req'd machines.

Many of us build from a blank and make quite a few of the parts..... Pboxes and releases, triggers and trigger plates, sights, Mcaps, all sorts of inlays, keys, RR pipes and RRs, bbl lugs. If I had built Southern style LRs, TGs and Bplates would also have been made,......Fred

 

[Bob McBride]

Can't be more than the current price of a bespoke English game gun or rifle. Any names come to mind?

They are if the barrels and locks are hand made. Here, the only name that comes to mind is Dave Person but I don’t believe he does barrels. Hershel certainly did. Ian Pratt and Ken Gahaghan do here and there I think. On ALR there are quite a few who have and can but they are all bespoke. And most north of 20k$.

 

[MTGUNNER]

The only shop that I know of that builds LRs completely from scratch is at Williamsburg and don't know if they still do it and if they do, the prices would be fantastic.
Probably there are some builders who approach a completely scratch build, but still buy some parts.....bbls come to mind because of the req'd machines.

Many of us build from a blank and make quite a few of the parts..... Pboxes and releases, triggers and trigger plates, sights, Mcaps, all sorts of inlays, keys, RR pipes and RRs, bbl lugs. If I had built Southern style LRs, TGs and Bplates would also have been made,......Fred

There is a guy on youtube username "Homemade history" that builds from scratch, but don't know if you can order one from him or not.
>> Jan <<

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I think Brad and Shane Emig make complete guns if commissioned. I don't make barrels because it requires a substantial forge set up and there simply is no compelling reason not to use commercial barrels. Moreover, you cannot forge a barrel very well by yourself. You need help. I do make locks and other parts from scratch sometimes when the project requires it. I also cast a lot of decorative parts. I do that when I cannot get commercial parts that suit the project.

dave

 

[Bob McBride]

Hi,
I think Brad and Shane Emig make complete guns if commissioned. I don't make barrels because it requires a substantial forge set up and there simply is no compelling reason not to use commercial barrels. Moreover, you cannot forge a barrel very well by yourself. You need help. I do make locks and other parts from scratch sometimes when the project requires it. I also cast a lot of decorative parts. I do that when I cannot get commercial parts that suit the project.

dave

Brad and Shane. Right. Such detailed work.

The Emigs are ‘Cabin Creek Muzzleloading’ for those who don’t know, and build much like Dave here, in astounding 4K resolution.

 

[billraby]

I have made every part except a barrel. Making a lock is a whole lot of work. I did it just to see if I could. Its not likely that I will do it again. But then you never know. I think there a lot of people out there that are fully capable of making every part but don't just because there is so much commercially available. I pretty much just make parts if I can't find one already made. Pretty common for someone to modify commercial parts.

 

[KC Clem]

I think Mike Miller has and can build from scratch. Like Bob said, you can probably buy 3 or 4 custom built rifles or 15 to 20 Kibler kits for the price of a single scratch built rifle. Even 18th century builders sourced locks and barrels when they could.

 

[Capnball]

I watch this guy on YouTube called "homemade history" building scratch made guns. He even built his own rifling machine. He's got gibs of videos, I think I watched them all! He's in the middle of building a swivel breach flintlock double barreled rifle. Great guy and worth watching. It's amazing what you can do with a drill press, hack saw and some files!

 

[Capnball]

I have made every part except a barrel. Making a lock is a whole lot of work. I did it just to see if I could. Its not likely that I will do it again. But then you never know. I think there a lot of people out there that are fully capable of making every part but don't just because there is so much commercially available. I pretty much just make parts if I can't find one already made. Pretty common for someone to modify commercial parts.

Almost everything I've done is "just to see if I can do it" or just to say I did it! I've had alot of fun along the way to!

 

[Commodore Swab]

I usually get lock casting from TRS, on this one I found an original lock in need of repairs.. Sometimes its easier to buy a barrel but it all depends on what Im building.

 

[Capnball]

I have an original aft action percussion lock in beautiful condition I've been thinking about building a gun around.

 

[Capnball]

I have an original aft action percussion lock in beautiful condition I've been thinking about building a gun around.

Maybe a sporting gun? Smoothbore?

 

[ZUG]

Steve Bookout made his "hog rifles" from scratch but he is now retired here is his book on the subject -
<Notes From A Small Iowa Rifleshop Tips, Tools And Techniques Toad Hall Rifleshop And Yeller Tomcat Forge> you can buy the book on Amazon. I got mine from Steve and he signed it too boot.

 

[Westporter]

The only shop that I know of that builds LRs completely from scratch is at Williamsburg and don't know if they still do it and if they do, the prices would be fantastic.
Probably there are some builders who approach a completely scratch build, but still buy some parts.....bbls come to mind because of the req'd machines.

Many of us build from a blank and make quite a few of the parts..... Pboxes and releases, triggers and trigger plates, sights, Mcaps, all sorts of inlays, keys, RR pipes and RRs, bbl lugs. If I had built Southern style LRs, TGs and Bplates would also have been made,......Fred

Williamsburg is not currently taking commissions for rifles.

 

[Westporter]

Brad and Shane. Right. Such detailed work.

The Emigs are ‘Cabin Creek Muzzleloading’ for those who don’t know, and build much like Dave here, in astounding 4K resolution.

Spoke with them by phone yesterday. Approx. 3 years for delivery.

 

[pooch156]

I watch this guy on YouTube called "homemade history" building scratch made guns. He even built his own rifling machine. He's got gibs of videos, I think I watched them all! He's in the middle of building a swivel breach flintlock double barreled rifle. Great guy and worth watching. It's amazing what you can do with a drill press, hack saw and some files!

Yep! He's awesome!