Planned New Build (Parts Rifle)

[Ohio Joe]

I just figured out my next build after doing some measurements.

My wife's old .45 CVA Mnt Rifle Barrel that I shortened to 30 inches many years ago (20+ years anyway) - (and this barrel is at least over 40 years old, which I think it's a Douglas) - well, I measured the Lands and Grooves and I came up with .460 Lands / .445 Grooves. Now there's always some room for error - but these measurements were taken from the piece I cut off from the rear of the barrel (a long time ago) and re'breached it with a new plug and added a drum ignition.

So,,, since I bought a Lyman Flintlock "lock" from RobD some time back - its new home will be used for this barrel after I convert it to flint ignition, and make a stock for it. I'm on the ropes of either a full stock - or just maintaining the half stock configuration it's in now. Either way, I'll pin the barrel on rather then go a wedge key. (I like pinning over wedge keys any'day - and that's just me...)

My reasoning for all this is two fold... My wife doesn't shoot this rifle (in fact no one does) and I have already used its Siler "cap" lock years ago on another build - so now it will become a short barreled flintlock... (which I'll give to my grandson as he'll soon be growing out of his "kids" rifle, (the one I built a'long time ago for my son).

I have always like this barrel... The lands and grooves should be good for a .012 thru .018 patch & .433 ball, that's within this combination that can be loaded without a short starter. (At least that's what the math is telling me).

If the weather permits this winter for me to be in my workshop, I'll probably get a start on this project - if not, well I'll be looking at Spring 2020...

 

 

[Uncle Russ]

Joe, your tinkering pleases the old heart! Ive never met a man before that simply could not stop, sit down, and be thankful for all he has.
You have been changing something up, down, around, sideways, for the past 20 years. I would like nothing better than to get you and brother Hank in my shop, with my guns, and pieces of guns, for about a week!
Once you guys got it all cleaned up, I betcha I could find a little something and get a little bit done myself....jus'sayin.

But don't let me stop ya in the meantime. You just keep it up, and don't stop yer tinkering, it's motivating...to say the least!
 
 

[Two Steps]

Well Russ...Ol Hank left my house yesterday heading kinda west-northwest...if ya call real quick ya might can talk him into pushing on a little farther! K

[Ohio Joe]

Russ, trust me - I just know Hank has to be way more organized then I am... Sadly, I'm one of those guys who puts something here or there so it forces me into looking for it (whatever it might be) and finding what I needed six months ago,,, if I'm lucky enough to remember what it was and why I needed it,,, and if I need it now???

[Hank in WV]

Joe, we just might be brothers of a different mother. Organized isn't in my vocabulary. Chaos is more like it. And as to Al, I can't believe he through me out of the house in the pouring rain. Russ, if I'm going to do anything, it'll have to be in your shop. Since I retired, I now have so many tools in my basement, I can hardly get in there.

[prairie dog]

My wife and bank account says no more builds for me.  For a while anyways. 

[Ohio Joe]

I'm really just re'purposing parts, Steve...

Sure, it's a build - but I believe the only thing I need to buy is a breech-plug... Of course it's only 15 degrees outside right now, and I don't want to fire up my propane heater in my workshop when it's this cold as it just won't be comfortable out there... I'll have to wait for better weather...

The "cold" came quick and early this year, along with 5 to 6 inches of new snow on the ground... They claim at least a week in the deep-freeze for us, here in my area of northwest Nebraska...