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Colonial
Augusta/Rockbridge VA Style Rifle
This is going to be a carved and engraved rifle for my personal use, at least until I build a better one. It is based on the early Augusta/Rockbridge VA rifle documented by Wallace Gusler in JHAT Volume 2. This rifle, by an unknown maker, probably dates from 1770-1775. I will be using an almost identical lock and barrel to the original including the speculated original bore size of 50 caliber. I am using commercially available butt piece and guard castings from Virginia rifles of the same period that are similar by not identical to the original. The rest of the mounts will be made from sheet and be close copies of the original. The architecture and carving will be of the same style with some minor variations for personal taste. I will maintain the look of the unusual early patchbox, but I will implement it as a 4 piece box using the construction employed by John Davidson. Because of the close similarities between the work of the JHAT 2 builder and John Davison's work, it is thought that John Davidson was an apprentice of the builder of the JHAT 2 rifles. I will maintain the unusual latch mechanism as it is a very solid design. The engraving on the patchbox will be simple with some initials and some line and scroll work.
The technical details:
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Stock: |
Stump cut, quarter-sawn curly sugar maple |
| Lock: |
Chambers Early Ketland lock |
| Barrel: |
44", 50 caliber, "Bivens" profile by Getz. Approximately the same dimensions as the original with a hair more taper and flair. |
| Mounts: | Brass butt piece (#10) and guard (VA Rifle) castings from Reeves Goehring. All other mounts made from sheet. |
| Triggers: | Davis early longrifle double set triggers modified to fit the guard. |
Here is my new rifle with the barrel and lock inlet.
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I am filing up the lock, butt piece and guard before continuing. Notice the teeth I raised on the cock jaws using a cold chisel.
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The barrel loops are made and ready to be installed.
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Since I have the lock nails installed, I decided to go ahead and complete and inlet the side plate.
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Below, are the thimbles being filed.
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Here is the mostly finished breech stock with the butt piece in plate. Notice the faceted comb as well as the moulding I am working on with a scratchstock.
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I am working on the forearm moulding using a scratchstock.
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S.W. VA Style Chunk Gun
This is going to be an iron mounted chunk gun with stylistic elements found on guns from the Augusta/Rockbridge area down into S.W. VA and East TN. That means little or no carving and engraving. Instead, the gun will be decorated with silver wire and sheet inlays. I am building this gun for my personal use hoping that I can use it to get back into some competitive shooting that is compatible with my physical disabilities.
The technical details:
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Stock: |
Fairly curly, slab cut, red maple |
| Lock: |
Chambers Late Ketland lock |
| Barrel: |
46", 45 caliber, 1 1/8" straight custom barrel by Getz. |
| Mounts: | All iron/steel with a hand forged butt piece and guard. |
| Triggers: | Davis longrifle double set triggers modified to fit the guard. |
I already have blanks for most of the mounts already cut out. I just need to get a good days work at the forge to get the butt piece and guard made. I have the barrel in the stock and the ramrod groove and hole have been cut. I will pick this project back up once I finish the Colonial Augusta/Rockbridge VA style rifle. It is the middle rifle in the picture below.
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S.W. VA Style Rifle
This is going to be a little fancier version of my S.W. VA style offhand target rifle with a bit of silver wire decoration.
The technical details:
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Stock: |
Moderately curly, slab cut, red maple |
| Lock: |
Chambers Late Ketland lock |
| Barrel: |
44", 50 caliber, medium weight swamped barrel by Wm. Large with 8 lands and furrows. |
| Mounts: | All iron/steel with a hand forged butt piece and guard. |
| Triggers: | Davis longrifle double set triggers modified to fit the guard. |
This project started out as a Beck a number of years ago. The roughed out stock blank with the barrel installed has been hanging on my shop wall for years. I just didn't want to finish it. I decided to make something out of it that I wanted to make. It is the rifle at the top in the picture below.
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This page was last updated on 08/13/08 .