An update on my rifle

[jimiowa]

Since it has been sometime sice I had mentioned it I thought some of you might have thought I had given up.
Actually it is coming along slowly and with some challenges.
Bookie is teaching me as we go.
When we opened up the barrel channel, it aparently had some internal stress. Because the previously straight grained cherry too a skew to the right for about 5" from the Muzzle.
After scraping the channel till I could get the barrel in We soaked that section of the stock in a bucket of water and sprung it enough to get the barrel down clamped it and let it sit for a week.
The Breechplug and Tang were inletted next. Bet Twomoons has been laughing up his sleeve over talking me into using the lollipop tang. Needless to say it was a bugger to inlet!
Looks good though. I am now filing the tang to match the back of the wrist and next is the ramrod groove and drilling the ramrod hole.
Plans have a way of changing slightly and the stock pattern was taken off Bookies own "Durty Nellie".
I had intended to use a Siler lock kit, but came across a new(never on a gun) Hatfield color casehardened lock at a price I could not pass up.
Bookie has offerred to teach me a bit of Blacksmithing, so I hope to make the triggers and triggerguard.
Finished is still a long way off, but wanted you to know I have not been blowing smoke.

[Bill]

You do have to say that it all is a labor of love. Why else would a man buy all the rough parts and rough wood and sit for hrs painstakenly putting it all together.
When you get done its all years and no one elses.

[dakota]

Jimiowa

If the fore end twists back again you might try heating the area that has the natural bend with hot oil and bend the fore end back.

[jimiowa]

Yes Bill I guess it's a labor of love. Or insanity but I won't even consider that possibility ;D.
It has been fun so far, and I'm already considering another when this is done?(hope that does't prove point two)?

Dakota: now that the barrel fits the channel and is straight I never take th barrel out except to work on it. I'll be cutting the barrel groove and ramrod hole. then install the barrel staples and pinning the barrel in.
When I get this done the forearm will be so thin it should not put much pressure on the barrel that it will present a problem.
Once this one is completed the barrel will not be removed even for cleaning, which should not give it a chance to warp.

[bounce]

To me your [so thin] says it all. Sounds like your building your self a realy fine quality smoke pole that you treasure and most all of us would likewise!!! Good luck and hope all your mistakes can be coverd up!!! ha ha ha. thats a sign of true craftsmanship.

[twomoons]

Do you want some scope mounts? How about a shotgun primer conversion? Or is this going to be a REAL gun?

[jimiowa]

twomoons said:

Do you want some scope mounts? How about a shotgun primer conversion? Or is this going to be a REAL gun?

Ah now don't be ridiculous!! Puttin a scope on a real Southern Mountain Rifle would be down right Silly. ;D
Besides the Buck Creek Muzzloaders Club would never let me shoot on the range. These boys are primitive to the bone.

If I wanted to shoot a inline with scope I could always get my son's 77/50 Ruger out of the closet. But I keep telling him I want to use it for a target ;D

[twomoons]

Oh Yuck, You KEEP that in the house?

[jimiowa]

Yes I can't for the life of me understand how a guy who lives to hunt hooks up with a woman who won't allow guns in the house.
I keep all his guns for him, he only lives about 10 blocks away so can come get them whenever he wants.

[deputydon]

Keep up the good work!!!!! When your done it will be worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill]

Jim, you need to take some pics of the progress on your rifles as you go along. Inquiring minds want to see.
I love a Southern Mtn. Rifle. My .32 is similar to that except its more described as a Kentucky poor boy. Less iron in it than a Southern. Actually Southerns can be very ellaborate and even have some silver mountings on them. I also like the stocks a bit more than a lot of the early Pennsilvania rifles. Just just a bit more modern in their demenisions of the butstock. Whats really neat is when you can picture what you want for your personaly gun and make that picture go to the wood.