Post by: prairie dog on July 06, 2011, 07:43:07 PM
Your thread on reshaping that Junkar inspired me to try to do something with this junk pile. There is a CVA Frontier rifle in .50 cal and a CVA flint rifle in 54 cal. The odd barrels are a CVA 54 cal which I believe is rusted beyond salvage and a Thompson Center 45 cal that appears to be in good shape. I've nothing invested as all this was given to me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2409.jpg)
The flint rifle is missing the most parts and the stock is cracked through the wrist and at the tang. It is also missing wood at the nose cap. A new stock might be necessary.
The Frontier rifle will need a new drum and sights to get it shooting again. I do volunteer work teaching kids to shoot muzzle loaders with the Safari Club and Boy Scouts. My thoughts are to repair and refinish it for the kids to use.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2416.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2418.jpg)
I've decided what the first project will be and I am open to any and all advice from the brigade.
My first plea is for sources for CVA parts. I know Track Of the Wolf and that's about all I know. (60 to 90 days back order?!)
I am also open to swapping for spare parts if anyone needs something from that pile.
I will take photos of my progress and the finished product to post here.
Again, I welcome any and all advice on this little project.
Thanks in advance guys.
Post by: Forager on July 06, 2011, 08:56:15 PM
See if the .45 barrel can be made to worth with the CVA set-up.
Otherwise, part out the stuff that won't work with the CVA to get funds to get parts to make that one work.
What parts are missing on the flinter? (Me, entering scrounger mode....)
Post by: Spotted Bull on July 06, 2011, 10:34:13 PM
Post by: prairie dog on July 06, 2011, 11:17:01 PM
I am in McKinney. Getting together would be good. I go to club shoots the second Sunday and as many rendezvous as possible. We may have crossed paths before.
You want to come up to Tool and shoot with us Sunday?
Captchee,
The flint lock rifle has a double set trigger, lock, 54 cal. barrel with sights, under barrel rib, brass nose cap, brass patch box, and brass thimbles. It is missing a trigger guard, butt plate, wedge pin, under lug, and screws for the barrel rib.
Some gorilla bent the sear arm. I believe I can heat it and straighten it. Otherwise the lock works fine. I got sparks even though the flint is in sad shape.
I think I could see making it into a smooth bore canoe gun? Perhaps with a full length stock?
Right now I need a drum to fit that Frontier rifle. Ordering one from TOW could take as long as 90 days. Any ideas on where I might get one faster?
Post by: Riley/MN on July 07, 2011, 08:11:49 AM
Post by: rickevans on July 07, 2011, 09:42:18 AM
Post by: Captchee on July 07, 2011, 11:51:12 AM
Post by: Captchee on July 07, 2011, 10:57:04 PM
aslo if it is , will the bad barrel fit the stock . if so , have it bored . get a flintlock breech from TC nd you now have a smoothbore barrel for the rifle
i also believe i have a boster for the frontier . i just have to find it
Post by: prairie dog on July 08, 2011, 12:47:09 AM
I am guessing that if I replace the stock I could use a trigger guard and butt plate other than a CVA.
Do you know what thread and size screws were used to attach the under barrel ribs to the CVA rifles? I have no clue what size these things are and I'm going to need to order a few.
By the way, I found a drum in stock at TOW and ordered it today. By the time it gets here I will have the barrel cleaned up and ready to test fire. If it will group OK at 50 yards I will move ahead on refurbishing the Frontier rifle.
Post by: Captchee on July 08, 2011, 08:56:24 AM
but you just dont know as those often got changed out . IMO they were to small and most folks didnt locktight them in. thus they would fall out and get lost .
I wouldnt order them from ToW . they are not a hardened screw . if you have a local hardware with a line of specialy screws , they should have some for a cents a piece
as to the rest , i would re stock it anyway . get a nice parts set and make you a short full stock out of it OR better yet a proper double keyed plains rifle
Post by: prairie dog on July 08, 2011, 05:13:11 PM
Post by: prairie dog on July 13, 2011, 02:46:09 PM
I took the rifle to the local range this morning and test fired it. I started with 20 grains and worked it up to 100 grains of 3-f. It put all it's shots on paper with no hang fires, mis-fires, or hiccups.
A young man had his ten year old son at the bench next to me and I offered to let the boy shoot it. He fired a couple of rounds with 20 grain loads and enjoyed it. Neither he nor his Dad had ever shot a muzzle loader before so the old rifle is already doing it's job of recruiting new muzzle loader shooters.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2431.jpg)
The next steps are to clean up the lock, install a proper set of sights, and put a new coat of lipstick on the old girl.
Things are moving along.
Post by: Riley/MN on July 13, 2011, 04:09:30 PM
Quote from: "prairie dog"
A young man had his ten year old son at the bench next to me and I offered to let the boy shoot it. He fired a couple of rounds with 20 grain loads and enjoyed it. Neither he nor his Dad had ever shot a muzzle loader before so the old rifle is already doing it's job of recruiting new muzzle loader shooters.
Post by: rickevans on July 14, 2011, 08:40:04 AM
Post by: prairie dog on July 14, 2011, 01:34:16 PM
Fitting sights to the barrel dovetails.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2433.jpg)
Re-fitting and shaping the nose cap and beginning to shape the stock.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2435.jpg)
Post by: prairie dog on July 16, 2011, 02:46:49 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2436.jpg)
Post by: Riley/MN on July 17, 2011, 04:19:28 PM
Post by: prairie dog on July 18, 2011, 11:36:31 PM
I replaced the under barrel rib today. The original was a quarter inch short of the nose cap. Since I set the cap back another quarter inch that left a half inch gap between the rib and the cap. I fitted one of the longer ribs to make the nose cap "capture" the end of the rib. Looks much better now.
Today I finished filing and sanding all the rust, pits, and gouges off of the barrel. I think I'm going to brown it.
Post by: prairie dog on July 22, 2011, 05:26:14 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2442.jpg)
Here is a list of the work I did on this rifle.
Replaced missing parts: drum, sights, wedge, and under barrel lug.
Replaced the under barrel rib.
Replaced tumbler, corrected lock geometry, polished sear and lock parts.
Replaced trigger pin to remove side to side wiggle.
Inlet trigger to contact with the sear.
The sear now makes good contact with the trigger. The trigger has no slack or wiggle and lets off crisply at 3 lbs. (I can adjust it heavier for the kids)
I followed Captchee's thread to reshape the stock and refit the metal. Then refinished all the metal and the stock.
I spent $30.48 on parts, no idea how many hours I worked on it.
Post by: prairie dog on July 22, 2011, 05:37:12 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2417.jpg)
During
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2436.jpg)
After
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2442.jpg)
Post by: prairie dog on July 22, 2011, 05:38:56 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Sells%20firearms/DSCF2452.jpg)
Post by: Adam Wetherington on July 22, 2011, 05:41:37 PM
Great job on the rifle!!!
Post by: Riley/MN on July 22, 2011, 06:40:42 PM
That old plank even has some figger pokin through!
Great job P. dawg! That looks like a proud young feller ta be holdin such a piece!
Post by: Gambia on July 22, 2011, 08:12:17 PM
Post by: Spotted Bull on July 22, 2011, 10:53:26 PM
Post by: Captchee on July 23, 2011, 08:49:01 AM
nothing like the spark of new life
Post by: prairie dog on July 23, 2011, 10:51:59 AM
Post by: Uncle Russ on July 23, 2011, 01:15:40 PM
Quote
I wish the internet had been around 30 years ago when I first became interested in muzzle loaders. What a difference that would have made in my learning curve.
Ain't that the truth!
Back in the 50's & 60's there was typically about one self appointed local expert per every hundred square miles, and it's well know today that they passed on as much bad information as they did good...it was as if they practiced a type of witchcraft, with many dark secrets known only to themselves.
They "quoted" sources that are as unknown today as they were back then...much of what they preached has been challenged, and corrected.
PD, after finishing your rifle yourself, am I right in assuming that it holds a much greater value to you now?
Not just because it has been repaired, and likely made into a shooter, but because it's something you did yourself....it now possesses that certain something that is difficult to explain, and only those who have "been there and done that" can appreciate what I'm saying.
I think everyone should do an occasional "make-over" on their rifles just for grins and giggles.
I own a few old guns that ain't worth very much at all, except to me, and I don't find that a bad thing.
Uncle Russ...
Post by: prairie dog on July 23, 2011, 09:29:45 PM
You always get more out of a thing when you put yourself into it.
Post by: rickevans on July 29, 2011, 07:50:14 AM
Post by: prairie dog on July 29, 2011, 11:28:12 AM
I hope you can get some good out of it.
Post by: rickevans on July 29, 2011, 11:50:57 AM
Post by: prairie dog on September 30, 2011, 01:13:47 PM
I took the little rifle to the Dallas Safari Club youth event last Saturday. I was one of several volunteers teaching muzzle loading shooting. I taught about 50 kids age 11-16 and their parents to load and shoot. Most of them had never fired a gun before.
The little rifle performed flawlessly, never a miss-fire or a hiccup. It was ringing gongs and busting targets all day. The kids loved shooting it and I believe we made some new shooters that day.
I am pleased to report the rifle is doing exactly what I intended for it to do.
Post by: Riley/MN on September 30, 2011, 02:07:51 PM
That's what we like to hear!
Post by: Roaddog on October 01, 2011, 07:16:06 AM
Post by: Swamp on October 03, 2011, 05:47:57 AM
Post by: prairie dog on November 14, 2011, 09:59:48 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Rendezvous/DSCF2609.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Rendezvous/DSCF2610.jpg)
Post by: Riley/MN on November 14, 2011, 10:54:31 AM
That's what we like to see right thar!
Post by: greyhunter on November 14, 2011, 05:17:58 PM
Quote from: "Riley/MN"
:hairyShining times for sure.
That's what we like to see right thar!
Post by: Roaddog on November 15, 2011, 06:04:15 AM
Post by: sse on November 15, 2011, 09:52:18 AM
