Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Gun Building and Repair => Topic started by: jbullard1 on April 02, 2009, 06:10:07 PM

Title: Starting A New One "Lady Murron"
Post by: jbullard1 on April 02, 2009, 06:10:07 PM

Lady Murron is the true love companion of BraveHeart my 12 ga flintlock I built over a year ago
The stock will be local cherry I cut a couple of years ago, It stayed in my barn until 3 weeks ago when I got a friend to throw it in a dry kiln at a local mill. The blank has a couple of flaws that do not effect the strength or integrity. I could have cut one of the flaws out but with the character it will add I kept it
The barrel is a .615 smooth bore 28" blank
I am undecided on the lock  but it will be flint probably Durrs Egg
I may or may not install a buttplate, it will be a half stock design similar to BraveHeart but with more drop and a slight Roman Nose shape, very thin and light
All fittings will be iron/steel hand made by me
And this is going to be a long build because I have to hand build everything but I think It will be much fun

And today:
I spent a couple of hours at my neighbors doing some massive stock removal ( he owns a furniture frame business) roughing the stock in
Not much time actually working probably 30 minutes or less rest of the time was spent talking
Got back home and inlet the barrel, hope to inlet the tang over the weekend. The big commercial bandsaws and belt sanders sure save time and I'll be going back to visit as this project moves forward
A few shots of the progress
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture005.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture006.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture007.jpg)
This knot in the butt I could have cutout but left it for character
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture008.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture010.jpg)
And you can plainly see the castoff in this pic
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture011.jpg)

I can already feel the lightness and quick handling in this little girl
Don't be too hard on me as this gun is being built by me, for me and to be passed to one of my grandkids it is loosely based on the English Shotgun stock from Pecatonica

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Post by: FG1 on April 02, 2009, 06:18:15 PM

Lookin good Jerry ! But you cheated !! You're sposed to fret while drawkniving the wood off the butt!!  :lol  

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Post by: jbullard1 on April 02, 2009, 06:20:20 PM

Quote from: "FG1"

Lookin good Jerry ! But you cheated !! You're sposed to fret while drawkniving the wood off the butt!!  :lol   :lol

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Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 02, 2009, 07:06:05 PM

Quote from: "FG1"

Lookin good Jerry ! But you cheated !! You're sposed to fret while drawkniving the wood off the butt!!  :lol   :shock:  :shock:  you mean you don't use a 4" angle grinder with a wood burr cutting rasp on it for shaping???????????????? :shake


 Jerry, looking good, if ya need help proofing that barrel....... oh never mind! :shake    hope the swelling going down!

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Post by: jbullard1 on April 02, 2009, 07:11:49 PM

Jim
the bruise is more of a yellow green color now
And you can bet the barrel will be proofed to my satisfaction

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Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 02, 2009, 07:38:49 PM

We'll just rename it and call it the Jerry test!

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Post by: Buffler Razz on April 02, 2009, 08:34:04 PM

Owww, this is killing me! Looks great and am eager to see your progress. I've got all the pieces parts for my cherry fowler at home waiting on me to get going. Been so busy traveling for work I get home long enough to get clean clothes, check to make sure the boss has not had the lock on the gun safe changed and remind the dogs who I am.

I'm curious as to what your plans are for finish on your cherry stock?
Thanks.
Razz

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Post by: jbullard1 on April 02, 2009, 08:57:22 PM

Razz
I havent worked out the finish just yet
Got some scrap to play with

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Post by: R.M. on April 02, 2009, 09:52:57 PM

I have no doubt your going to have a real sweetheart there Jerry.  

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Post by: Kermit on April 05, 2009, 07:42:21 PM

Hey, Jerry! I do a lot of my custom furniture in cherry, and I've come to like what it does with no stains or other color altering substances. In fact, there's not even oil goes on before the catalyzed varnish that gets shot all over it. Since you say you've got samples to play with, and it sounds like you've got some time, oil up a piece with boiled linseed oil and set it in a sunny window and let it mellow with some time and UV exposure. Cherry can develop a very nice ruddy brown tone that you may have seen on cherry antique furniture. You might like it. I do. But it's your piece, so do what pleases you!

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Post by: jbullard1 on April 11, 2009, 05:29:16 PM

Thanks Kermit for the info I will try it

Time for a progress report
Got a little more done and made a mistake in the process, I cut the fore end on the stock a little too narrow but I can live with it Its going to make a super light weight gun
I know a lot of people would have trashed this piece of wood and the entire project but I really like it and all it's problems
Kinda like me far from perfect, I also feel like I am not the first person to put together a functional gun from less than perfect parts. I will assure you the barrel and breech are 100%
The forearm and partial lock inlet: yes I have a fondness for the L&R Durrs Egg lock
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture008Small-1.jpg)
Close up of the butt stock
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture006Small.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture004Small.jpg)
(http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u247/jbullard1954/Guns%20and%20Shooting/Lady%20Murron/Picture003Small.jpg)

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Post by: tg on April 11, 2009, 07:22:16 PM

"you mean you don't use a 4" angle grinder with a wood burr cutting rasp on it for shaping???????????????? "


That is the standard method some builders use, i loose the feel of things if I get many power tool between mw and what I am doing with guns and flint, pipestone and such, iI can't invision working a gun blank down with belt sanders and similar tools I think I would have a lot of dust and little else.

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Post by: jbullard1 on April 11, 2009, 07:43:54 PM

tg

My problem is that I used power tools and made the forearm too narrow; It doesn't look right, to me, but it feels good. And yes I do use power tools and modern epoxies/finishes
The barrel is a small dia modern steel 20 gauge barrel and I just followed the line of the barrel. Had I been using hand tools I'm sure it would look a lot different
Will make a good little gun for one of my grandkids