Flintlock Rifle I just finished building

[jeffnles1]

One of my far too many hobies is building flintlock rifles.

Here's a link to a photo album from beginning to finished product.

http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...fnles1/Fowler/

Jeff

[ohiotuber]

Jeff,
Beautiful job! I think those are the best looking firearms there are.
Thanks for sharing.
Mike

[jeffnles1]

Mike - thanks. Building these things is one of my far too many hobies. I am pretty sure this is number 18.
Jeff

[ohiotuber]

Jeff,
Those things are just MADE to grace a mantle like nothing else can. Please post more pics of future builds so we can all drool.
Mike

[jeffnles1]

Mike,
Here is one I finished a year or so back.
http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...les1/Marshall/

I will be building another one over the winter. I haven't quite decided what the winter's project is going to be other than while my hands hold out I want to build another couple rifles. Arthritis in my hands is making it harder and harder to build.

15 years ago, I was able to carve them out of a square block of wood. Now, I can only work with files, rasps and chisels for about 2-3 hours before my hands start hurting and if I do that for 3-4 days in a row, I have to sit out a week. The last 3 I've built were from pre shaped stocks that I then highly modify. Even with a pre shaped stock as a starting template, it's about 100 hours to complete a rifle.

And, yes, I do use them to target shoot and hunt (as well as one hanging over the mantle that I'm looking at as I type this).

Jeff

[butternut-tyer]

Jeff,
Beauty smokepole...
I use to guide back in the day. My tools were recurves, longbows, hammer guns and oh yes bamboo / glass fly rods. I guess all of this just proves maybe we were born in the wrong era?
Gordie


Deer_in_the_snow.jpg

[Flyfish Dog]

Nice! well done job!

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Jeff,

During the time I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, I was fortunate to spend time with a gunsmith as an apprentice. All the barrels were hand drawn at the shop, locks were hand made and tempered, and the stocks were usually tiger maple dyed with vegetable dyes unless a customer wanted something special. Most of our guns were flintlock, but in special circumstances he would build a percussion rifle or pistol. Revolvers were not allowed in the shop. I started as a wood worker, making the stocks, doing the inletting for patchboxes, gold and silver wire inlays, etc. I did have the chance to build a few rifles of my own, but the boss still made the barrels and locks. Trade secrets, you know.

Very nicely done smokepoles. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.

REE

I surely miss smoking some black powder

[jeffnles1]

Thanks all for the compliments.

Unfortunately, I do not have photos of the others I've built over the years.

REE, I will be starting a new project this fall and will do the same step by step again. I have worked with a few gunsmiths and have been blessed with the opportunity to handle lots of original longrifles. However, like tying flies or any other craft, each one gets a little better and one learns some new tricks on each one.

Jeff

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Jeff,

Your very close to giving me the bug again, perhaps seeing another build this fall will push me over the edge. I look forward to seeing you work.

REE