Started My Retirement Flintlock Rifle Build This Morning

[Spotted Bull]

Yup. I'd leave it!

[Ohio Joe]

I left it 

Here are 3 more pictures of some shaping I did yesterday and today. I'm gonna pull off of this rifle for a'while as I need to start getting ready for Fur Trade Days that's less then a month off.

I still need to finish shaping the stock, install the lock side plate, pin the barrel, blue the barrel, make my trigger plate and trigger, add a toe plate, install the trigger guard, and make my sights, then finish the stock after a good sanding, but this will all be after Rendezvous in July.

I'll add quickly that this rifle really shoulders good, and should end up in the 8.25 to 8.5 pound range.

So far, so good. 

[Spotted Bull]

I like it!

[Ohio Joe]

Thank you Spotted Bull. I think it'll be a fun rifle once I get it done and get to the Range with it. I'm guessing sometime in August (I hope).

[Winter Hawk]

I'm impressed with all you have done thus far!  I just installed a patch box on the Hodgepodge rifle, and proved once again that my inletting skills are diddley squat!  It's functional, but certainly not pretty... 

~Kees~

[Ohio Joe]

I've never done a patch box, Kees. That's just something I've always stayed away from. I think mostly because, even though I own rifles with a patch box - I never use them.

I think this is stock number 16 or 17 that I've done, and only the 4th full stock I've ever done. The rest were 1/2 stock rifles. I'll also be the first to admit that I don't do fancy - I do functional. I leave the fancy to the experts.   

[Ohio Joe]

Well, with the crappy rainy weather today, I decided I may as well get the trigger plate and trigger made.

Here are some pictures below. I haven't installed it as yet as I need to polish these up a bit, pin them together, get them formed to the stock, once I get the tang screw lined and drilled into the plate, then heat them and dip them in oil as my last step.

[Ohio Joe]

Got the trigger & trigger plate put together and fitted to the rifle - then clamped it in - she's making sparks... Don't know what the trigger pull weight is yet, but it felt pretty much the same as my other rifles. I went a'head and polished them up and just blued them instead of heating them and dropping 'em in oil.

I think I'll do the tang screw next which will anchor in the front part of the trigger plate then install the rear trigger plate screw,,, then pin the barrel to the stock (maybe not in this order)... After this I'll install the trigger guard - then finish shaping the forward stock.

[Ohio Joe]

Here's an update and some pictures;

All that's left to do with this rifle is to install the sights, install the vent, add the lock plate, do a little lock area and off panel wood clean up, one final sanding, staining, blue the barrel... Here are some stats on it;

Weight 8.5 pounds
.45 x 7/8 x 36" (1/60 twist) Green Mnt Brl
L&R Flintlock
Single Trigger
Curly Maple Stock
3-3/8" drop
13-5/8 trigger pull
1/16" Cast Off
 
Pictures;








A bit of history on the background of this rifle;

Simply put - it's in the tradition of a trade gun style/type flintlock with nothing fancy about it. The stock is heavier then eastern rifles of the 1830's as this rifle is intended for the western fur trade, and is my rendition of what a trapper / hunter might carry. The only reason it's built in .45 caliber is for my use as a deer size hunting rifles and reenactment prop, and for shooting at today's Rendezvous (and our TMA Postal Matches, as well as other muzzleloading shooting matches).

Rifles similar to this build would have been most likely .50 caliber and up - but let's face it, the odds of me trapping a stream where a grizzly is gonna charge me is not going to happen. Of course, I haven't been in grizzly country yet,,, but I probably won't be, (that I know of)...

This rifle shoulders good for me right to point of aim. I honestly think I could hit my target say at 25 or 50 yards without sights on it as it fits me to the way I built it. It just flat out shoulder's great!

Hope you enjoy the pictures - I'm not a good picture taker by any means...  

[rollingb]

Lookin' good,.... it ought to be a "shooter".   

[Ohio Joe]

Lookin' good,.... it ought to be a "shooter".   

Well, we're gonna find out one way or the other pretty soon (I hope)...

What do ya think Rondo, Buckhorn sight?

 

[rollingb]

I prefer flat-top rear sights on my longrifles. 

Like this one,.... or one that is similar (depending on what size barrel I'm working with),..... 
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/880/1/RS-SCH-14

[Ohio Joe]

I prefer flat-top rear sights on my longrifles. 

Like this one,.... or one that is similar (depending on what size barrel I'm working with),..... 
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/880/1/RS-SCH-14

I'll meet you half way with this one, the semi buck horn... I've used these before and have actually made them from bar stock - though I think I'll just buy and modify this time. 

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/881/2/RS-SB1-14

That nose cap / ramrod placement didn't turn out bad. Actually I like it, less gap length and the piece of 1/4 brass I installed between the bottom of the nose cap and top of the ramrod closed that gap pretty decent. 

[Ohio Joe]

Rondo, I switched up on sights and just made my own. I figure I can make 'em (which I usually do anyway) so I just spent the afternoon (somewhat) making a simple front and rear sight, and in the long run probably saved $20.00 or more had I order them.

I also gave the stock two more sanding's, and added the toe plate today.

Here's what's left to do;

1. Blue barrel, rear sight and front sight base (the front sight is brass blade)

2. Install the sights

3. Install vent liner & sand stock one more time

4. Stain stock (2 or 3 coats)

5. Polish stock

6. Zero this puppy in

I might just be able to bring this to Rendezvous this year if the zeroing goes well. 'Course other things might come up that I have to move off this rifle - so I'll play it by ear. 

[rollingb]

Rondo, I switched up on sights and just made my own. I figure I can make 'em (which I usually do anyway) so I just spent the afternoon (somewhat) making a simple front and rear sight, and in the long run probably saved $20.00 or more had I order them.

I also gave the stock two more sanding's, and added the toe plate today.

Here's what's left to do;

1. Blue barrel, rear sight and front sight base (the front sight is brass blade)

2. Install the sights

3. Install vent liner & sand stock one more time

4. Stain stock (2 or 3 coats)

5. Polish stock

6. Zero this puppy in

I might just be able to bring this to Rendezvous this year if the zeroing goes well. 'Course other things might come up that I have to move off this rifle - so I'll play it by ear. 

You're comin' right along! 

If you go with a regular 1/4" vent liner (for now) and wanna convert your rifle to a Chambers "White Lightin' liner",.... I'll be bringin' some Chambers 5/16" liners along with the chamfer, tap, and bit, to the Chadron rendezvous. 

No charge!