LePage

[Captchee]

I didn’t plan on posting this tell it was finished . But since I posed photos on another forum to help a person out , I guess I’ll post them here as well .
 This is the  project  I been working on and mentioned a couple times that is taking a lot of time .
At this point  I still have a lot of finish work  and cleanup to do . Not to mention   building the adjustable sight   with the mechanics under the tang , all the engraving , gold and silver inlay to the barrel ……… just seems like its never ending .
So here are some of the particulars

Stock is purple hart “as per customer “
Barrel is a 11 inch  Douglas of 45 Cal “cal as per customer “  Fluted by me .
 Breech , tang  and all hardware you see , I have built.  This includes the lock, single set  trigger , TG,
Pommel final and plate .
 This will be a boxed pistol so I also have the lined and padded box  as well as  all the support tools for the pistol to build yet . To include
 Patch ,cap and ball  boxes
 Cleaning rod and tips
Loading rod and mallet
 Nipple wrench .
Ball mould
 I will say that this has to be the most difficult project I have ever done .
Also please know that   when I took these photos , the parts were just setting to the stock  . IE they were not tightened down.
as i said i had not planned on posting this yet  but i promised a couple folks that when i did post photos , i would post them here on the TMA as well  

[Stormrider51]

Beautiful work!  

John

[Bigsmoke]

If it shoots as good as it looks - watch out.
WOW, sweet!!!

[Spotted Bull]

Cap, what kinda sights are ya gonna use?

[Captchee]

the sights will be  hand made .
 the thing to know is that while its commonly called a laPage , this type of pistol was made by many diffrent makers .
 so the front sight can be a pin with a round  type of dove tail all the way to a small  block and smaller dove tail . the rear sights can range from a simple fence type sight , to a fence which hight is regulated by a screw  thats just forward of the trigger bolt .
this is the type of sight ill will end up useing .
 here is a photo of an original

[Forager]

Cap;

Knowing, firsthand, what finished, well-oiled, and handled purple heart looks like... Man, that is going to be an absolute stunner of a pistol.

Fantastic work!

[Captchee]

i would agree  about the purple hart .
 i was a little apprehensive at first  because I thought it should be ebony . But that much ebony was more then the cost of a  curly maple rifle stock blank .
  But MAN is that purple hart hard . HOLLY molly . While you cant see it in the photos , its also figured and  somewhat tiger striped  from the belly of the forearm all the way back behind the lock

[Forager]

Ebony would have been simply stunning.  The purple heart is nigh as hard as woodpecker lips, and when done up right, it'll simply impress in both appearance and function.

Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Forager]

Actually had my hands on that LaPage yesterday. It weighs nothing in the hand, is better looking than the pics illustrate, and (most importantly), it points and handles like it has eyes.

It shines, in all respects.

[sse]

Fascinating project, Cap...my druthers was to pick up one of the Taylor Lapage's, but the price on them really took off.  Maybe one day.

[Captchee]

thank you for the  kind words Forager. sure whas nice to meet you . did you enjoy your trip up 95?

[Captchee]

Fascinating project, Cap...my druthers was to pick up one of the Taylor Lapage's, but the price on them really took off.  Maybe one day.

Ya SSE , they are not cheep and I can tell you why  first hand .
 Thinking on this   one should be able to build a simply plain one for around 5-700 for parts  “not including labor”
 The lock and breech set up  will be the hard part  and your looking at buying castings which will then add to the labor cost .
 This one im building   is 3000.00 and that doesn’t include the “Current value cost “ of the gold and silver  work that’s yet to come  .
Realistically im thinking  work wise , im only maybe ˝ way through  this project , if that

[sse]

Wow...

About five years ago, when the idea was suggested by Rondo, I looked into the Taylor imported La Page replicas from Armi Sport (Italy).  At that time, the prices were set, but the availability was iffy.  Not sure if that has improved.  Anyway I could have gotten both the pistol and nice display case for about $400.00.  I'm sure it's $600.00, or more, now, if you can even get them.

[Captchee]

Well , new you could be about 200 low  depending on where you by and what you buy .
 The Pedersoli  LaPage I have seen go used for as low as 300.00 and as high as 7
 New they run around 7-2000. Depending on the model .
   Its not uncommon to see the  basic Pedersoli LaPage at just over 800  without a case .
 While their  high end with a case is over 2200.00

 But as I stated earlier . The thing with the LaPage is that   is Kind of just became a name to describe  this style of pistol . Kind of like Hawkens has become  the name  that most folks use for a plains rifle . See LaPage was just a maker  that’s name has become synonymous with this type of pistol  .
You will see that if you do a Google for LaPage pistols and then look at the photo link .
What you will also see is a whole lot of different type locks and bolsters .
So  you could  make something far cheaper. say in the 500 rage  by using a small round faced lock or any number of readily available  side locks  and place it  onto this style of stock . IE see the Pedersoli  or even something along the lines of the much cheaper  Traditions which I don’t believe is offered anymore .

So could I make a pistol  and call it a LaPage  that was much cheaper?
OHHHHhh ya .
 Hear would be a list of readly available parts
 Figure walnut stock =45.00
Parts from ToW
#plug-HP-15-5=38.60
GM barrel=52.95
L&R single set trigger = 57.75
Small round faced or flat face Davis Becky lock = 129.96
TG=10.95
Sights front and rear 15.00
Not from ToW
 Custom Casting a pewter pommel   say 20.00

 Total parts =370.21
 Labor  for simply stock , no  carving , no engraving . Just inlet and finish work . 200.00
 So  your in the  570.21.
Spend another 20.00 and get a cheep display case from Dixie and  your still under 600.00 for a quality piece of much higher quality then you would get with a production gun . be it  one of the pedersoli pieces or the lower modified traditions .
 But will it ever be a boxed  single  or set,  like this nery high end original LaPage ?
NOPE .
will it shoot as good ? ya probably .


so you see its all about what your after

[Forager]

thank you for the  kind words Forager. sure whas nice to meet you . did you enjoy your trip up 95?

My pleasure meeting you, and having you show me around your place a bit.  Lovely location, VERY fine firearms, and a cool dog.  I'm looking forward to getting out here permanently and getting up with you and some of the other fellas on a few of those treks and hunts.

The trip up 95 was fantastic.  For the skidmark that is I-95 on the (L)east coast, Rte. 95 in Idaho is a wonder.  Simply beautiful.  Saw many sights I want to bring the wife out to see, have friends who can and will appreciate it see, and places I want to fish, camp, and hunt.  

Thanks again.

Oh, and that LaPage is still going to be a stunner.