Starting a Deringer trade rifle

[poker]

Thank you for the history Dave. Even an old dog can learn much by watching you or Rich.

 

[Thagomizer]

There was an Indian burial that was excavated near Ann Arbor Michigan many years ago that contained the remains of a Deringer rifle. Probably came from one of the forts near Detroit.

 

[plmeek]

Rich, the Deringer is looking good. The color case hardening on the lock is pretty much the same way Jack Brooks does his.

What years was the Deringer rifle produced?

Deringer was one of the earliest suppliers of trade RIFLES to Native Americans and for the western trade. Phil Meek is the better student but as I recall Deringer was making trade rifles as early as 1820. This one is 1820-1840.

You could extend the time period a decade earlier. Henry Deringer set up his gun shop in Philadelphia in 1809 and got his first government contract for Indian trade rifles that year. So during the four decades from 1810 through the 1840s, Deringer was producing rifles. By the time of the California Gold Rush, he had switched to making his famous pistol. I posted a little more history and info on Deringer rifles here.

 

[plmeek]

There was an Indian burial that was excavated near Ann Arbor Michigan many years ago that contained the remains of a Deringer rifle. Probably came from one of the forts near Detroit.

A lot of Deringer rifles have been found buried. This one was uncovered in the South. It has the "ghost" patch box finial that Deringer is also known for. This is from the William Basco collection.

A few years ago, I saw a collector with a similar set of parts from a Deringer rifle that were found in Oklahoma. All three of these examples show the wide distribution his rifles recieved.

 

[Thagomizer]

Phil, thanks for the photo of that remarkable find. interesting that the lock is at full cock and ready to shoot. Makes one wonder if there is a load in the barrel.
Also, looks like maybe a soapstone ball mold?

 

[plmeek]

Basco posted this picture on Facebook. He said the ball mold itself was made from lead. The item between the trigger guard and the cast balls is a pair of scissors. Note a few pieces of wood had not decayed such as the sections of ramrod in the forward pipes and a couple pieces of butt stock near the butt plate and patch box. The copper in the brass is mildly anti-bacterial and is the reason this wood was preserved.

 

[SingleMalt]

That's looking sharp, Rich!

 

[dd832]

The only other Deringer trade rifle I've seen made was by Jack Brooks (long ago). He shows it on his website - https://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=2331762
Too bad more aren't made, but parts are scarcer than honest politicans.

 

[rich pierce]

Some pix of other Deringer trade rifles.

 

[dd832]

The only other Deringer trade rifle I've seen was made by Jack Brooks (long ago). He shows it on his website - https://www.jsbrookslongrifles.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=2331762
Too bad more aren't made, but parts are scarcer than honest politicians.

I should have said "the only other Deringer trade rifle build I've seen made was by Jack Brooks (long ago)".

 

[rich pierce]

As you can see above, I’ve been working on and off on a Deringer trade rifle based mostly on one in the cool book “For Trade and Treaty”. I bought an inletted barrel , .54 tapered, 42” long, in a nice curly blank. I think it’s a Charley Burton barrel. The blank was bandsawed to profile for a Deringer trade rifle so there was not a lot of wiggle room.

I fabricated the patchbox and buttplate, had Mike Brooks cast me a guard from a model I carved in maple, and I made assorted other small parts like trigger and plate, thimbles, keys, nosecap, escutcheons, sideplate, and rear sight. The lock is an R.E Davis contract rifle lock that I reworked, making a new sear and sear spring. Works great now. I case hardened it.

After studying a few Deringer rifles including one in hand I wanted a deep reddish color. I stained the stock with ferric nitrate followed with a red LMF stain, diluted in alcohol.

The coolest feature is the running deer inlay on the cheekpiece. I sent photos and a digital file to Tom Curran (Acer) and he made a die and pressed this in thin brass, reinforced with solder on the backside. This inlay is 25% larger than the original, which is what I wanted. Comments and critiques are welcome.

 

[Pete G]

My only criticism is that it looks too good for a trade rifle.
Excellent work.

 

[Einsiedler]

Wow! That is a very nice rendition! Thank you for sharing!

 

[dave_person]

Great rifle Rich! It really looks credible as a better grade trade gun. Deringer made some pretty nice guns.

dave

 

[Grenadier1758]

Well @rich pierce, your Derringer Trade Rifle looks so much better than mine. As I expected.

 

[rich pierce]

Mike, yours shows some real trail miles! These were good sturdy rifles.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I've been making it for close to 30 years now. Still not quite done. Probably some lock tuning.

 

[Speedo]

As you can see above, I’ve been working on and off on a Deringer trade rifle based mostly on one in the cool book “For Trade and Treaty”. I bought an inletted barrel , .54 tapered, 42” long, in a nice curly blank. I think it’s a Charley Burton barrel. The blank was bandsawed to profile for a Deringer trade rifle so there was not a lot of wiggle room.

I fabricated the patchbox and buttplate, had Mike Brooks cast me a guard from a model I carved in maple, and I made assorted other small parts like trigger and plate, thimbles, keys, nosecap, escutcheons, sideplate, and rear sight. The lock is an R.E Davis contract rifle lock that I reworked, making a new sear and sear spring. Works great now. I case hardened it.

After studying a few Deringer rifles including one in hand I wanted a deep reddish color. I stained the stock with ferric nitrate followed with a red LMF stain, diluted in alcohol.

The coolest feature is the running deer inlay on the cheekpiece. I sent photos and a digital file to Tom Curran (Acer) and he made a die and pressed this in thin brass, reinforced with solder on the backside. This inlay is 25% larger than the original, which is what I wanted. Comments and critiques are welcome.

I can't stop looking at this rifle you did such a great job I hope you can talk the wife into selling it to me it fits my persona really good out here in the Rocky's I believe it's the nicest rifle I have ever seen
Take care
Kent Reichow

 

[poker]

Amazing workmanship Rich! Thats a keeper for sure, and thank you for sharing the build.