York Build Completed

[grey8833]

This is a Jim Chambers Early York kit that occupied a lot of my time during the current COVID19 mess, so I named it Plague Rider. This is my fourth build, but my first Longrifle. I have a Jim Bridger Hawken (ToTW kit) that I did 10 years ago and while the Hawken has scary clean lines (like an M1 Tank) the York is just a slim, almost delicate and simply elegant weapon (like a Ferrari). I did the kit to match the style of George Schroyer (there are several spellings for his name). The wrist transition and cheek piece are from RCA 94a and 94b, the patchbox is from RCA 91c, 91d, 91e. The tang relief carving and entry pipe incised carving are based on Schroyer's "Pea Picker" rifle as shown in Recreating the American Long Rifle, top of page 48. The 18th century lady at the trigger guard was taken from somewhere - don't remember. I used 4 keys to secure the barrel, as Schroyer mostly used keys as opposed to pins. Had to move the barrel back 1/8th to keep my liner in front of the breach plug. What a pain to adjust a swamped barrel inlet!

Sighted in the rifle a day or so ago. A lot of filing to lower the front sight. I have to say, the Rice A weight is a dream to load and shoot. The Chambers lock is a precision spark machine. Only misfires were me not knapping the flint after 20 shots. The barrel on my Hawken is a 60cal. Goodoien, accurate as all get out, but square bottom grooves are a pain to drive the ball down and keep clean compared to the Rice round bottomed grooves. Need to refine the front sight for 100 yard shooting, but hit the man sized gong at 100 already. I love the balance on the rifle, a lot. Now my official off-hand gun.

 

[Buckskin25]

Beautiful rifle. I think you did a fine job.

 

[Hondo1224]

Very nice

 

[Flintandsteel]

Nicely done. Carving is well executed. Finish is nice.
Question?
Where did you get the design for the patch box, and why a Lehigh liberty head on a York rifle?
inquiring minds want to know!

 

[grey8833]

Nicely done. Carving is well executed. Finish is nice.
Question?
Where did you get the design for the patch box, and why a Lehigh liberty head on a York rifle?
inquiring minds want to know!

Patch box was a copy of a G, Schroyer patchbox, as shown in Rifles of Colonial America (RCA) rifle #91, plates c, d, e. Copied the plate, sized the copy (ain’t technology great!) to match the depicted rifle size and transferred it to my rifle. Came across nicely, original errors and all! The patch box was not engraved in #91, except for an outline on the lid - so the engraving design is mine.

 

[Col. Batguano]

What caliber is it? A-weights are delightfully dainty, and equally difficult to build so that things look proportional. If you built it at maximum caliber (a 40 usually) that barrel can get surprisingly bendy when you load it! It seems that most parts sold are more properly proportioned for B for C weights, so they all seem to need thinning to be made to look right.

Did Schroyer have his keys come out the right side? Most key gun builders have the heads on the left. The reason is that most people lay the gun on the right side so they can take out the lock bolts on the left side, and withdraw the keys at the same time. Are they captured pins? You'll want them if you don't have them now.

 

[grey8833]

What caliber is it? A-weights are delightfully dainty, and equally difficult to build so that things look proportional. If you built it at maximum caliber (a 40 usually) that barrel can get surprisingly bendy when you load it! It seems that most parts sold are more properly proportioned for B for C weights, so they all seem to need thinning to be made to look right.

Did Schroyer have his keys come out the right side? Most key gun builders have the heads on the left. The reason is that most people lay the gun on the right side so they can take out the lock bolts on the left side, and withdraw the keys at the same time. Are they captured pins? You'll want them if you don't have them now.

The caliber is .45 - and it is dainty. I have a ToTW Bridger with a tapered barrel that is 1&1/8" at the breech. Looks like a tank next to the A Weight. Balance with that dainty barrel is amazing - but yea, bit scary to pull the breech plug. Took a lot of wood off the forearm to make it look even more dainty. And you are correct that the common mount for keys was left to right, but the RCA books on Schroyer were inconclusive. All the internet auction photos I could get showed the key right to left. So that is how they are, easy enough to turn around if proved wrong. Also the keys are cast, I believe Schroyer used sheet brass keys. I got lazy.

 

[grey8833]

The caliber is .45 - and it is dainty. I have a ToTW Bridger with a tapered barrel that is 1&1/8" at the breech. Looks like a tank next to the A Weight. Balance with that dainty barrel is amazing - but yea, bit scary to pull the breech plug. Took a lot of wood off the forearm to make it look even more dainty. And you are correct that the common mount for keys was left to right, but the RCA books on Schroyer were inconclusive. All the internet auction photos I could get showed the key right to left. So that is how they are, easy enough to turn around if proved wrong. Also the keys are cast, I believe Schroyer used sheet brass keys. I got lazy.

Oh, as to the pins, yea the Hawken has escutchens that hide the pins. There was so little wood left I was afraid to pin the keys, but again, Schroyer did pin his keys. I got scared as to where that pin would wind up.