My very good friend Mike Lange has consented to build my very first smoothbore ever! I have been wanting one of this kind for a very long time but never could afford it....can't now for that matter. Mike said it is fine with him if I post his work here for all of you to enjoy....so here is part one.
Quote from: mongrel board=ml thread=1883 post=20980 time=1271462964Haven't ever built one of these, but so far, other than inletting a round, tapered barrel, it's about as simple a build as you can get. They designed these things to be built fast and sold cheap, back in the day -- ironic, really, when today a good PC replica will set you back the largest chunk of $1000, if not more. Funny the huge sums people will pay to have correct appearance of a poor man....
Dennis (Dryball), the owner-to-be of this piece, ain't investing near that much. Other than the barrel not being octagon-to-round, though, and being shorter than on new originals, this is a pretty awful close replication of the guns traded to Indians for furs, way back, and incidentally favored by a lot of mountain men and others who appreciated a cheap smoothbore that could double as a game-getter and the muzzleloading equivalent of a riot gun.
A big lock I've had laying around on the parts table will get inletted this weekend, at the same time I'm finishing Andy's Mountain rifle and making progress on other things. A handy and needed rain moved in tonight and there won't be much work done outside, for my customers in town. What a pity -- a weekend spent largely in the shop.
Unlike on the vast majority of other guns, the guards of these things weren't inletted, they were simply screwed down flush with the surface of the wood. Like I said, it's a simple gun to build. Absolutely nothing about them to consume unnecessary time....
The barrel is a 28" 20 gauge from Numrich, the stock walnut. The lock, not seen here, is an oversized flinter with Siler internals.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/002-92.jpg)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/003-99.jpg)
Buttplate -- 4 1/2" tall and a full 2" wide. There will be about zero felt recoil on this gun.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/004-86.jpg)
Looks like its going to be nice and light for you. Cant wait to see how it progress's. Thanks for posting it.
Tell Mike thanks for lettin us in on the build, and thanks to you for the pics, Dryball and keep em comin thmbsup
And thank you both for responding....makes me feel mighty good to hear from my friends!
Tell Mike to keep sending the pictures. I'd really like to see a smoothie build since I'm thinking of shortening my Charleville to about that size and thinning the wood a bit. Hafta think on it a bit. What NAULTRICK1 said. wtch
There will be a lot more photos as he finds time to work on it. Mike is a fast worker but not superhuman....cept in his talent. Will show them all....you can imagine how antsy I am waiting. pnic
Thats gona be way near the coolest Dryball! thmbsup
John...I'm almost out of my mind with excitement.
His work is good, alright. I'm anxious to see more pics.
You ain't the only one! wtch
dntn Its lookin great Dennis.Cant wait to see it completed.
Yeah! pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic pnic
Dryball, I no how you feel. I just got my first smoothbore and i am haveing a ball shooting it. So far so good, I hope you have as much fun with yours as i am with mine. Nothing like a gun you can hunt anything with, from rabbits to moose. thmbsup
That's the way I'm thinking. As a rifleman, I'm terrible...cant hit past 50 yards...so the smoothbore meets my ability's way better. And being able to shoot both ball and shot in the same gun should be a big advantage as the feel will always be the same. When she is finished I'll see just what we're capable of together....hopin for the best, but even the worst will be fun.
Part two:
Quote from: mongrel board=ml thread=1883 post=21155 time=1271626210Lock inletted. Frizzen spring decided to break during removal, but it was a standard large Siler spring so other than another few centuries in Purgatory for the profanity I used, when it happened, no biggy....
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/002-95.jpg)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/001-98.jpg)
Dang he's moving right along. At this rate he shouldn't be long at all.
He's a very fast builder. When he can find the time to start then he rolls right along.
I've sure been real happy with my 'Mike Lange' rifle....you should have fun with yours;;;
Doug
thmbsup good inlet on the lock, wish't I could do that good hdslp
What happened with this build?
Dryball passed to the everlasting Rendezvous in May of this year. The builder of the smoothie had issues from another sight and totally drop out of the internet muzzleloading community as far as I know, so there is no update available.
Mike Lange has always been a friend to us here and is welcome back anytime he wishes to show up. His account is still open and he can log in anytime....
I haven't dropped out of the internet community altogether. Dan Foster and I now administrate another forum that we started after the demise of the one started by Andy a.k.a. Grizzly Groundhog.
The progress of this build is that it's nearly complete, and has been "spoken for" by Dan, since his son saw pics of it in progress and fell in love. Dryball (Dennis Rowell, may he rest in peace) traded me a Traditions rifle for the smoothy and I have arranged with his son to return the money made by selling that rifle, as soon as the trade gun is complete and I'm paid for it. I anticipate this being in the next couple or three weeks.
Appreciate being made to feel welcome, or at least not turned away at the door. How much time I might find to participate, here, again, I don't know, but I overall have good memories of this place and you might see me wander through now and then.
Regards to all -- Mike
Welcome back
I never doubted for a minute all would be taken care of in the best interests of all involved.
Glad to see the update and a word or two from that scroungy dog friend of mine.
Z
Quote from: Lady of the Woods on October 20, 2010, 04:26:14 PM
I never doubted for a minute all would be taken care of in the best interests of all involved.
Glad to see the update and a word or two from that scroungy dog friend of mine.
Z
Nice to see a post from you also been a while... chrrs
Quote from: mongrel on October 18, 2010, 08:05:36 PM
I haven't dropped out of the internet community altogether. Dan Foster and I now administrate another forum that we started after the demise of the one started by Andy a.k.a. Grizzly Groundhog.
The progress of this build is that it's nearly complete, and has been "spoken for" by Dan, since his son saw pics of it in progress and fell in love. Dryball (Dennis Rowell, may he rest in peace) traded me a Traditions rifle for the smoothy and I have arranged with his son to return the money made by selling that rifle, as soon as the trade gun is complete and I'm paid for it. I anticipate this being in the next couple or three weeks.
Appreciate being made to feel welcome, or at least not turned away at the door. How much time I might find to participate, here, again, I don't know, but I overall have good memories of this place and you might see me wander through now and then.
Regards to all -- Mike
I lost you guys awhile back when the forums thing started going haywire. Missed it ever since. Can you PM me with new info. Thanks.
Good to see both of you around again.
Well, here's the finished trade gun. Dennis knew he was getting a knock-around gun and so this one turned out -- I wish he were still here to enjoy knocking it around. I hope he will approve that the new owner is a teenaged boy, Dan Foster's son Dustin, who's had his heart set on this gun since it came available and he saw pictures of it in progess.
RIP, Dennis. There'll always be a good thought of you with this one.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/006-93.jpg)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii122/mongrel1776/007-89.jpg)
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:'( Dennis would be proud.Good goin Mike.I think he would approve.
she looks like a hard worker! I love the character and color of the wood, Dustin's gonna have a great partner there and I like to think Dennis will be right there with them.
Z
dntn I Agree, Walnut? Good sturdy gun, Guy wouldn't be leery of takin her inta the bush, looks like she'll last forever with care thmbsup
Dennis would be proud to show it off, as will be the new owner.
Lookin good Mike and I know Dennis would be giddy as a kid at Christmas over it thmbsup
Quote from: Lady of the Woods on November 01, 2010, 07:37:46 PM
she looks like a hard worker! I love the character and color of the wood, Dustin's gonna have a great partner there and I like to think Dennis will be right there with them.
Z
Zan, I am sure you are right about Dennis being right there with the new owner... All he could talk about was this new Mike Lange creation he was getting.... I am sure he would have (and is) extremely happy with the finished product and where it ended up.
Danl if you see this how about a range report when your boy gets a chance!
That goes without saying Jim. I showed Dustin these pics earlier and he was still talking about it when his mom picked him up. He's almost giddy with excitement waiting.
Which is why I've come to focus on guns for kids and newbies. We all love a new gun, especially a certain one we've waited a good while to get, but kids light up like you wouldn't believe when a rifle comes off the rack or out of the crate and gets put in their hands. And if I never make more than enough money than to just keep on keeping at it, the looks on the kids' faces (and their parents', actually) will be all the extra compensation I ever need.
First off, I want to appologize for not posting this earlier, like 3 weeks ago. rdfce
Dustin received the smoothy and couldn't be happier!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/DJFoster/FKG11-10018.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/DJFoster/FKG11-10019.jpg)
Way to go Mike, Thanks for the update on this project! thmbsup
All I can say is, If smiles were money that young man is the riches person in the world
thmbsup Very good show for a young man.
I believe Dennis is pleased as punch to see the gun go to someone young that can continue the love of the sport that we all know he loved thmbsup
chrrs
I am waiting on my first smooth bore to be delivered. Bought it for hunting and shooting at Friendship and well going 'primitive'. Can't wait to get busy on the learning curve.
http://s1072.photobucket.com/albums/w361/GHC108/Northwest%20Trade%20Gun/?albumview=slideshow
Looks like a fine shooting iron, have fun with it and let us know how she does at the range.
Yet another sweet little smoothie ! I've got a very similar one on drawing board for a fella right now, 16 ga. X 28" modern bbl. large flint walnut blank, brass trim. These trekkers like these short lite muskets..............Tom
My little smoothee has only 25" barrel 16ga flinter--what fun...4 1/4 lb.
Doug
Nice start mongrel, keep it coming. I'm really getting to like these short neat, plain & simple guns, and your work is an example to all us builders. I'm headed out to the shop to put lock on Fuzzee'......Tom
Ya'll know Dennis is no longer with us right?
not in body, but many of us have fond memorys of that old fart...(and his hack saw)..
Doug
Happy trails