Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Gun Building and Repair => Topic started by: Stryker on February 10, 2009, 12:48:27 PM

Title: Question for all you Gunbuilders
Post by: Stryker on February 10, 2009, 12:48:27 PM: To all the gun builders out there who make their living at this. I don't think this has ever been asked this way, but if you were to build the ultimate rifle for you and you only, what would it be?
What components would you use?
And what makes this particular rifle the ultimate in your opinion?

What School of rifle
Barrel (straight, swamped, weight, length, caliber, ect.)
Barrel maker (Rice, Colerain, GM, other)
Stock (maple, walnut, other)
Lock maker (chambers, L&R, other)
Lock style,
Patch box (wood, metal, none)
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Post by: melsdad on February 10, 2009, 09:32:12 PM: I am looking forward to some of these answers.
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Post by: Captchee on February 11, 2009, 09:12:52 AM: well it wouldnt be anything overly fancy . IE losts of inlays , carvings and such . nore would it be of any school but something of my own design . something that would say who i am .
it would be a SXS with both smooth bore and rifled barrel sets
so lets see what we got here

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Barrel (straight, swamped, weight, length, caliber, ect.)
Barrel maker (Rice, Colerain, GM, other)

40 and 36 inches .
rifle 36 inch in 50 cal and smooth 40 inch in 20 gage . The barrels would be purchased through demas steel and of a Chain pattern
the smooth bores would have no chokes . the rifled set would have round bottom rifling in a 1 in 70 twist
both barrel sets would carry a wide center rib 5/8 . but the center rib would be oc a contrasting patterm ??? i think a simple twist patern would be nice . but of the same steel
the barrels would not be browned . but done in but Black and white .

the barrels would also be double keyed, not single

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Stock (maple, walnut, other)
stock would have to be walnut probably heavy Burl Circassian in something along grade 5 .
checkering of 12 or 16 at the wrist and forstock

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Lock maker (chambers, L&R, other)
Lock style,

lock maker would be me by my own hand , not from castings . they would be flintlocks . i would use a manton design with a V pan with safty catches "NOT DOG EARS"

there would be no patch box .
the hardware would all be of German silver . simple period American engraving on the TG entry thimble , locks , center rib and around the breech and forward about 6 to 9 inches on both barrel sets .
i would also buld a display box for it and that where all the fancy carving and engraving would be put on . Im thinking light blue felt ligning to hold the stock , both barrel sets and the loading componants all made specificly for the peice .
thats where all the fancy work would be done
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Post by: melsdad on February 11, 2009, 12:05:55 PM: O.K. Charles, when you gunna' start buildin' this gun? Sounds like a beauty!!
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Post by: Captchee on February 11, 2009, 05:50:15 PM: probably never LOL .
if i won the lotery then that would be something . but the barrels along would rin near 15 thousand just for the tubes .
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Post by: Captchee on February 12, 2009, 02:02:57 PM: ahhhnow steve no cheating .
only 1 gun a gun that would show yur skill , a gun that would serve your wants and needs .
not 5 of them but only 1 lol
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Post by: Kermit on February 14, 2009, 12:14:09 PM: Well, this is a good start. Any more? C'mon.
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Post by: tg on February 14, 2009, 01:05:10 PM: I don't make a living buiding guns but after over 35 years of shooting/hunting with thta many or more production/semi custom and custom guns I have put together from parts or in the white projects, I would settle on either the .62 Chamber Virginia rifle or the .58 French hunting gun from Tulle which are the only guns I have left, either one will do anything I need. I would just have to use the larger bore for Turkey. it took a lot of years but I don't really desire any more/new guns...
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Post by: melsdad on February 14, 2009, 05:34:48 PM: I would trade all my guns for that .62 of yours, and I would be happy with one gun!! She is a beauty!!!
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Post by: CowboyCS on February 15, 2009, 01:05:40 PM: I've handled that .62 of Steve's several times when I was at his house, and I can tell you that "stupidly high offers" would not be unreasonable for it. If anyone is going to make him that unreasonable offer though I would suggest you get him to through in the hand made lock that sits on his mantle, they would make a nice beginning to a collection of stuff Steve has made that is almost unbelievable.

Colin
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Post by: CowboyCS on February 15, 2009, 06:35:55 PM: I said "almost"

Colin
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Post by: CowboyCS on February 15, 2009, 11:19:26 PM: That depends on whether you are actually doing anything or not.
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Post by: CowboyCS on February 16, 2009, 10:02:25 AM: It does if you want paid. :D

Colin
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Post by: pathfinder on February 18, 2009, 10:45:55 PM: I built mine! Plane Jane Tenn with 42" swamped .50cal smoothbore,3/8" cast off,good curly maple,iron furniture with banana patch box. Love the gun!