Has anyone built this rifle from TOWT. I am looking to purchase this rifle in 45 cal with a 7/8 barrel. What are some of the negative aspects or difficulties in building this kit. The write up in TOWT's catalog indicates that the Vincent rifle "is one of our easiest rifles to build". I have built several Pedersoli kits and feel that it is time to move up to something with more of a challenge.
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TOWT Vincent Rifle
- Thread starter greymount
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The Vincent rifle kit from TOTW was the first rifle kit that I built, just last winter. It took me about 2 months to finish it, working a couple of evenings a week and a few hours on weekends. I was really pleased with how it turned out. The hardest part for me was installing the screws for the butt plate, but if I had followed the directions more carefully in "Recreating the American Longrifle", I wouldn't have had as many problems. This wasn't the fault of the kit though, it was just my lack of knowledge and experience. I installed the lock and trigger with a minimal amount of inletting; those were probably the easiest to install. You do have to bend the tang to fit the contour of the stock, inlet the breech area of the barrel, inlet the tang, and finish inletting the sideplate, lock, ramrod thimbles, trigger, buttplate and toeplate. Since this was my first build, I had them install the breech plug and underrib. Since then, I have started a Kit Carson Hawkens, and installed the underrib myself without any problem. You do need a drill press for a number of operations for any of these kits. The Hawkens kit with the patent breech has proven to be much more of a challenge. Below is a picture of my Vincent rifle.
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It sounds like you have the basic skills, but the biggest part of the Totw kit is that it is just a box of parts, with no instructions. You really need a couple of books to help you with the process. The Gunsmith of Grenvill County, and the book Bioprof mentioned are among the best resources you can have. They are well worth their price, and will become your partner in building, along with this site. Bill :imo:
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ayup, what bioprof said. same goes from me.
good luck, go slow, sharp chisels and a light hand on the file is key.
Bioguy- that's a lovely piece of wood made into a really nice looking rifle.
good luck, go slow, sharp chisels and a light hand on the file is key.
Bioguy- that's a lovely piece of wood made into a really nice looking rifle.
If you buy from TOTW, be sure and call them and ask them if they have all of the parts in stock.
They will sometimes send you part of the parts and put the rest on backorder. This can be very frustrating, especially if the missing part is needed to locate the other parts.
They will sometimes send you part of the parts and put the rest on backorder. This can be very frustrating, especially if the missing part is needed to locate the other parts.
rabbit03
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My first kit was a vincent from TOTW also. I found it pretty easy but being the first time I had built one I made dozens of mistakes. Most of them I was able to cover up though. the only thing I did not like about the kit was the fact that on the preinlet of the ramrod entry pipe and the center line of the forarm was not in line. I made up the difference at the pour of the pewter forend cap. the pour was another story also! It took me about 5 times to pour it before I got it right and by the time I was done it ended up being about 90/10 lead to pewter. LOLOL Had to replace it with something.
But all in all I think it is a good kit especially for a first time. The rifle was for my son and it was a 13/16 in .45 / 36". Not sure if I can post a photo or not but I will try, good luck.
Rabbit03
Guess I am not smart enough to send the photo just yet. Can anyone tell me how?
But all in all I think it is a good kit especially for a first time. The rifle was for my son and it was a 13/16 in .45 / 36". Not sure if I can post a photo or not but I will try, good luck.
Rabbit03
Guess I am not smart enough to send the photo just yet. Can anyone tell me how?
Rabbit, that is a great looking rifle. Looks like you nailed it as far as lines are concerned. Plain wood shows the builder's skill every time. Would love to handle it.
rabbit03
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Hi Rich and thanks for the compliment on the rifle. The rifle was an effort to get my son to come to the shoots with me, and it worked. I enjoy him being with me and shooting alongside.
I have a strange notion about how an offhand gun should be or perhaps what they were like years ago. I am not about to go against all that is said here on this site about what was and was not since I am just a shooter and (new builder). However I have been shooting Blackpowder Rifle since 1972 and just feel that the rifles, reproductions and custom builts are just too bulky in their design for the most part but in no way every case. I prefer a rifle which is more slender in design in the width at the lock area and wrist section of an offhand gun, offhand being my favorite. If I could afford one I would have a rifle made for me similar to what Allen Martin builds. I shoot with some folks that do a fine job of building rifles but most people would be more familiar with what style Allen Martin makes.
Again, I will not even try to debate what a period correct rifle should be but for me it is along the more slender lines when it comes to an offhand rifle.
The photo is not the best in the world and you really can't see the grain of the wood (notice I didn't say figure) but I did get lucky I think and got a good piece from TOTW for the first project.
I am in the middle of a projest right now where I am taking a standard 13/16 in .40x44 and turning it down to a octagon to round and swamped. The reason is that I wanted a barrel that was even thinner than the A weight barrels you can buy and I still wanted it swamped instead of octagon all the way out. The barrel is finished at this time, I have the lock, a small Siler, (my first time to try a flint) and I just sent off the drawing of the stock to Dunlap for a blank. Needless to say I am anxious to get the wood in so I can start on the rifle.
Thanks again for the comment on the Vincent,
Toney
PS I will be forwarding photos as the rifle progresses.
I have a strange notion about how an offhand gun should be or perhaps what they were like years ago. I am not about to go against all that is said here on this site about what was and was not since I am just a shooter and (new builder). However I have been shooting Blackpowder Rifle since 1972 and just feel that the rifles, reproductions and custom builts are just too bulky in their design for the most part but in no way every case. I prefer a rifle which is more slender in design in the width at the lock area and wrist section of an offhand gun, offhand being my favorite. If I could afford one I would have a rifle made for me similar to what Allen Martin builds. I shoot with some folks that do a fine job of building rifles but most people would be more familiar with what style Allen Martin makes.
Again, I will not even try to debate what a period correct rifle should be but for me it is along the more slender lines when it comes to an offhand rifle.
The photo is not the best in the world and you really can't see the grain of the wood (notice I didn't say figure) but I did get lucky I think and got a good piece from TOTW for the first project.
I am in the middle of a projest right now where I am taking a standard 13/16 in .40x44 and turning it down to a octagon to round and swamped. The reason is that I wanted a barrel that was even thinner than the A weight barrels you can buy and I still wanted it swamped instead of octagon all the way out. The barrel is finished at this time, I have the lock, a small Siler, (my first time to try a flint) and I just sent off the drawing of the stock to Dunlap for a blank. Needless to say I am anxious to get the wood in so I can start on the rifle.
Thanks again for the comment on the Vincent,
Toney
PS I will be forwarding photos as the rifle progresses.
rabbit03
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The Vincent also is very light and a dream to shoot offhand. Several of the shooters in Brady this year said that it would make a heck of a hunting rifle since it is so light. The under rib was fastened by driling and tapping the barrel and inserting studs and peaning those studs to the under rib instead of holding it with screws. So once I filed them flat and sanded the underside of the under rib you can not see them. The stain was one gotten from the Foxfire Books which was what alot of the old timers used, nitric and water and steel shavings. I didn't want the barrel to have a bluing but rather a patina that would make it look like it had age to it so I used some of the stain solution on the metal parts (not enough to pit anything) and I got a great looking old time look to it. I like it anyway!
I made so many mistakes on the rifle, none of which I will get into here but you can't learn until you try.
Rabbit03
I made so many mistakes on the rifle, none of which I will get into here but you can't learn until you try.
Rabbit03
rabbit03
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I appreciate the compliment on the Vincent. I wanted to do something a little different on the nose cap and the line I ended up with was close to what I was after. It took 5 pours to get it right, LOLOLOL, when they say make sure the wrap is tight before pouring they really mean it! Each time I poured the cap most of it would run out on the floor and I would lose some. So each time I made up the difference with a little lead. Well by the time I made the final pour I think I had about 90 percent lead and 10 percent pewter. What is it? A labor or love they say!
Rabbit03
Rabbit03
rabbit03
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That stick in front of my garage that resembles something that might be held and sort of maybe resembles a rifle is the general shape of the flintlock I am working on right now. Just wanted to let yall know that that had nothing to do with the Vincent. Also the barrel being turned on the lathe is going to be for the new project. I know you can't tell in the photo but the pull on the prototype is only about 12 1/2 inches and the bottom of the but from a line measuring down from the top of the barrel is about 10 1/2 inches! The drop at the heal is about 5 1/4 inches. It is going to be different without a doubt but hopefully I will make it a good shooter. Again this is not going to be anything PC but for competition only.
Rabbit03
Rabbit03
