What would this rifle be called?

[Grenadier1758]

Now I have seen some eastern rifles in the late percussion period with enough decoration that the pictured Sharon Hawken in the original post would be considered quite tasteful. Still is a bit much for this plain old Swiss.

 

[pilot]

You could try steaming the holes. They might close up some. It works with dents in wood stocks. Place a wet towel over the holes and press a hot iron on the towel.

 

[Col. Batguano]

I agree that steaming them first will close them up a bunch. Do that first before you go the filler route. Then you can keep your beard.

 

[TC Tommy]

Well now didn't a lot of old timers back in the day add some of this stuff to personalize their guns
at rendezvous. Heck they used to trade that stuff.
I can see having a row of of tack heads sticking up on both sides of the forearm you could feel and
always have the same hand placement and grip.

 

[Josephg]

View attachment 59825
Bought this used a few years ago at a gun show. Seller didn't know much about it. Some people tell me it's a Hawkin, some a Lehmen, still others call it a trade rifle. it is .62 caliber, has a Sharon barrel, 1-72 twist, L&R lock and trigger. Steel furniture. Barrel is 34"and coned. Does anyone know what is it? Thanks, Stu

I like the look and shape of that rifle. I see no reason not to add mother of pearl inlays to balance out the embelishment. I'd like to see the other side of it. .62, man that's a real whopper!

 

[rickystl]

In a private European collection, there is an original hand gonne dated to 1470's. Incredibly, it still retained about 2/3rds of it's original wood stock. The simple, square pole stock (the proper name escapes me at the moment) had simple punch mark decoration for most of it's length. What I found interesting was that people attempted to decorate their gun stocks even this far back. I thought I saved a photo of this, but can't locate it in my library. I'll try to locate it from another source and post it here.

Rick

 

[flntlokr]

If the tacks are removed, the holes can be filled with a little sawdust made from a hole drilled into the buttstock, taken from under the butt plate, with a two-part epoxy.

The method would be to remove the tacks and apply a paste wax (Johnson's come to mind) to the stock wood, being careful to not get any wax into the holes - do not buff the wax yet.

Mix the epoxy with stock sawdust to help with making the repair invisible, and with the tip of wooden toothpick, place a small drop of the epoxy mix into each hole, wiping the top of the hole lightly with a clean portion of a rag for each hole. Try to be careful not to wipe the stock beyond the hole(s).

Polish the wax off the stock after the epoxy has cured.

All good, but I would suggest usung sander dust rather than sawdust; it makes a paste which you can more easily work into the holes. I use 5 minute epoxy with enough dust to make it almost dry.=; work a small amount down into each hole using a small spatula or knife tip, and leave it flush with the surface. A light sanding, a dab of finish, and done.

 

[Shotgunblast]

In a private European collection, there is an original hand gonne dated to 1470's. Incredibly, it still retained about 2/3rds of it's original wood stock. The simple, square pole stock (the proper name escapes me at the moment) had simple punch mark decoration for most of it's length. What I found interesting was that people attempted to decorate their gun stocks even this far back. I thought I saved a photo of this, but can't locate it in my library. I'll try to locate it from another source and post it here.

Rick

Tiller is the proper name.

 

[rickystl]

Tiller. That's right. Thanks.

Rick

 

[Stubert]

What would you think about filling the holes with round toothpicks and either staining them to match or leave them natural as an accent?

 

[Grenadier1758]

The ends of the tooth picks are end grain and will show a very much different color than the wood. Very difficult to stain them to match the wood in the stock as the tooth picks are a different species of wood.

 

[Patrick Thomas]

I think your idea of darkening the tacks is a good one. Some sort of patina. I really like that rifle.

 

[Josephg]

Add more ornaments or remove the tacks and cover the holes with inlays. Most of us have more than one rifle. Why, a man just aint completed lesen he has at least one real gussied up smokepole! Sorry, I been watching to dern many old westerns with Gabby Hayes in um........

.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The ends of the tooth picks are end grain and will show a very much different color than the wood. Very difficult to stain them to match the wood in the stock as the tooth picks are a different species of wood.

Yes. But that contrast can be very attractive.

 

[Josephg]

I've seen few rifles that had tacks removed. They all looked like a rifle that had the tacks removed. Better to add more or leave it alone. Looks nice now.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I saw (at a gun show) a table with zip lock sandwich baggies full of "real Indian tacks"
$3.50 for a 25ct baggie.

That's about right for "real" brass tacks, not brass plated steel, that came out of... India.....

LD