Wheellock Project

[TobJohn]

Great posts!

 

[Henry Elwood]

Great posts!

Greetings,
Thanks, TobJohn. After having the Wheel off I realized I probably should have put the Grooves on before cutting them off so I had to figure out how to hold the Wheel while cutting them. I used some 3/8" W1 drill stock so I could use the Collet. Made a shaft with Square and Threads to hold the Wheel. Then cut the Grooves. The last pic shows how I cut the Grooves in the bottom of the Pan. I think Flint62 may have the better Technique to do this, using the Wheel to Grind/Cut them in with. Thanks, Hank

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

That worked! That is all that counts in the end! Keep up the good work, love watching this take shape!

 

[Henry Elwood]

That worked! That is all that counts in the end! Keep up the good work, love watching this take shape!

Greetings,
Thanks for kind words. Next is the internal part of the Tumbler. Carved out with Hand Hacksaw and Files. Moving on to the Internal Bridle. Back in 2013 or14 on another Forum a fellow had put several pics of making a Wheellock named Raszpla. I made a hard copy of the post and really helped me understand how the parts were done. I had made my prototype/mockup in wood then moved to Hot Roll. I hogged out a bunch of the metal with the Mill. Then back to my files and figuring out the Rectangular Hole in the forward leg. This really makes you appreciate the amount of time the 'ol Boys had to spend at their bench Filing out parts.
Thanks, Hank

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Oh my … LOVE the cam on the tumbler!

 

[Henry Elwood]

Oh my … LOVE the cam on the tumbler!

Greetings,
Thanks for the thoughts about the Cam. It's a slow process to figure out exactly what and how it functions. The next pics are of the Forward Post for the Internal Bridle and how it is secured to the Lockplate. It's very interesting how tight the Pin holds it. Then the Primary Sear Post is also held to the Lockplate the same way.
Thanks, Hank

 

[PathfinderNC]

It is mindbogglingly to me how you can create by hand such precision work in metal the way you do. These will be some amazing wheel locks, I am sure.
Thanks for posting your work.

 

[Henry Elwood]

It is mindbogglingly to me how you can create by hand such precision work in metal the way you do. These will be some amazing wheel locks, I am sure.
Thanks for posting your work.

Greetings,
I'm glad you are enjoying the process. The next pieces are the Primary Sear and the Top and Bottom Posts for the Secondary Sear. There is what I call the Safty Spur. It goes through the Lockplate and a "Safty Dog" engages it. The Secondary Posts are held to the Lockplate like the Forward Internal Bridle Post and the Primary Sear Post by a "Riveting" process. There may be a better terminology. If anyone has a more correct terminology I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Hank

 

[Henry Elwood]

Greetings,
I'm glad you are enjoying the process. The next pieces are the Primary Sear and the Top and Bottom Posts for the Secondary Sear. There is what I call the Safty Spur. It goes through the Lockplate and a "Safty Dog" engages it. The Secondary Posts are held to the Lockplate like the Forward Internal Bridle Post and the Primary Sear Post by a "Riveting" process. There may be a better terminology. If anyone has a more correct terminology I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Hank

Greetings,
Flint62, Thanks for the book suggestion. Yes, I already have the Georg Lauber book. I found it addictive to my over all understanding of the Wheellock. That lock is alot like Jess Melot's/trs Dutch 629. That was the first Wheellock Musket I made and it works great. The next pics are what I call the Forward Bolster. It is Dovetailed then Riveted in place. I was kinda worried about how it would hold because of it being open on top but it appears quite strong. The interesting thing when you're fabricating from scratch vs. from casting are how many seperate parts there are compared to castings.
Thanks, Hank

 

[Commodore Swab]

Beautiful work, I have not built their 629 but have done the 623, 535, and 786 (not a fan of that safety sear!). The puffers have been cool and its great to see someone building a pair. I've always loved those early relatively flat pistols in the graz book with the diamond lockplate. They are in my mind long and sexy, like an e-type jag . . . Too bad the closest you get to casting is incomplete castings from blackley if memory serves. Perhaps one day when my son is grown Ill be able to take the time to sit down and build one from scratch.

 

[Henry Elwood]

Beautiful work, I have not built their 629 but have done the 623, 535, and 786 (not a fan of that safety sear!). The puffers have been cool and its great to see someone building a pair. I've always loved those early relatively flat pistols in the graz book with the diamond lockplate. They are in my mind long and sexy, like an e-type jag . . . Too bad the closest you get to casting is incomplete castings from blackley if memory serves. Perhaps one day when my son is grown Ill be able to take the time to sit down and build one from scratch.

Greetings Commodore,
So glad you're liking the process. Those are some nice locks you've made. I've made the 535 myself but altered it to make a Renaissance style Jaeger. Keep building, for my 2 cents bring your son into the shop and have him help file, great learning and bonding experience. BTW I understand your love for the E-Jag. I had a '65 Fixed Head Coupe in early 80s. The next pics are of the Pan Cover Arm and Pan Cover. My first Arms weren't right so had to go back to the drawing board. I used some Cardboard from my note pad to help figure out the position. I worked out pretty good without making it in steel. Next was the Pan Cover. After cutting it in half I went to the Mill to cut a slot for the Arm to come into. Then to the Bandsaw to start the shaping and then back to my Files.
Thanks Hank

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Wow, wow ... just WOWZA !

Just so you know ... when I graduated my 3-1/2 year long apprentice machinist schooling at GE Aircraft Engines (graduating 1st in my class BTW) ... to be real machinists ... and not just "place the tool & work, set the offset & push the CNC tool start button" operators ... they would show us videos of German machinists trainees/apprentices who spent their 1st entire year on the bench with dykem, vice, vernier, hacksaw and files! I don't think they even touched a power tool or modern digital caliper or micrometer!

Your work reminds me of them, THE highest compliment that I could ever give you!

 

[Henry Elwood]

Wow, wow ... just WOWZA !

Just so you know ... when I graduated my 3-1/2 year long apprentice machinist schooling at GE Aircraft Engines (graduating 1st in my class BTW) ... to be real machinists ... and not just "place the tool & work, set the offset & push the CNC tool start button" operators ... they would show us videos of German machinists trainees/apprentices who spent their 1st entire year on the bench with dykem, vice, vernier, hacksaw and files! I don't think they even touched a power tool or modern digital caliper or micrometer!

Your work reminds me of them, THE highest compliment that I could ever give you!

I Thank you very much for your kind words. I truly mean this, when your work is recognized by someone with your background that's really something. Both in terms of being a machinist but alsi your knowledge and share it on the Forum.
Thank you, Hank

 

[Commodore Swab]

Keep building, for my 2 cents bring your son into the shop and have him help file, great learning and bonding experience.

The thought never occurred to me. . .
5 years ago I was getting him into it, currently we are building a 1640's french flintlock rifle for him.

 

[Henry Elwood]

The thought never occurred to me. . .
5 years ago I was getting him into it, currently we are building a 1640's french flintlock rifle for him.

Your son is very lucky. When I was growing up my Dad was into HAM Radio, CW/code only and collecting Telegraph Keys. My brothers and I were not allowed in his radio room. Sounds like you've got a good handle on it. I feel a little silly about keep working on projects. I see you are working on a Spanish Pistol. I really like Spanish firearms. I made this one from photo in Ricard Marti's Book, Catalan especially after Philip took the crown and brought in a French influence. Unfortunately at class in '16 at WKU one was stolen. Keep up your good work, your son is lucky. Hank

 

[TobJohn]

Keep building, for my 2 cents bring your son into the shop and have him help file, great learning and bonding experience.

Great advice. When I was growing up, my dad would let us hangout in his wood shop with him and I found it very formative and gave me a life long appreciation for the craft.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Henry that pistol is unbelievable!

 

[rickystl]

The thought never occurred to me. . .
5 years ago I was getting him into it, currently we are building a 1640's french flintlock rifle for him.

Commodore: How old was your son in this photo ? He reminds me, well....of me at that age. How old is ne now ?

My Father, who was the best Dad one could have, was an avid golfer. So I had to learn most everything on my own.

Rick

 

[Commodore Swab]

Almost 10 now, later this month. I recently did this Spanish piece. . .

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Wow, that’s awesome Commodore! Impressive!

Details? Scratch build? TRS kit? Caliber/bore?