Its Done !

[BruceB]

Tim anyone that giggles has not built his first gun. If some one points something out to you, remember it's because there are details and fine points that are not obvious but rather somewhat obtuse. ever see a gun that just looked a little off?? Couldn't put your finger on it?  Accept critiques and don't worry about those that might poke fun. The ones that poke fun either don't know or forgot what it's like!!

[gunmaker]

Tim as a true artist my work shines, Why I even amaze myself.  O.K. Reality time-- my 1st rifle had so many mistakes I had to re-stock AND re-lock it !!!  Anyone who says" he-he" or you should a done it this way.  Let them do it.  Just do your best & you will prevail   ....Tom 

[mongrel]

My first rifle was an abomination. I wish I had taken pictures. Being too cheap to buy an actual stock blank, I epoxied two 1" thick maple planks together and proceeded from there.

The second effort wasn't much better. New stock, everything else recycled from Abomination #1.

I will say that it worked. I never got to shoot either version, since I was living in northern Arizona and my plan to FINALLY have a gun like Fess Parker's in "Davy Crockett" hadn't been worked out to the point of actually locating black powder and other minor necessities.

It wasn't until rifle #5, maybe #6, that I produced something that didn't make people wince when they looked at it.

I'm still learning, still improving, and though I haven't even remotely kept count I don't think I'd be too far off to say I may have built over a hundred guns at this point. A gut feeling says the number is actually quite a bit higher than that.

Those who would laugh are either arrogant twits who aren't worthy of a response, or the kind who buy their guns from builders (who had to learn the hard way, like all of us) and behave as though plunking down large chunks of cash has suddenly put them in a position to judge others, or so-called "builders" who are careful to start with their projects pre-fabbed to the point that they don't construct or craft anything -- they just assemble.

Even starting with a somewhat pre-carved stock, as you did, and ending with a working gun, is a great challenge, a valuable learning experience, and an accomplishment to be proud of. So post your pictures, and those of us who've been where you are now will smile in appreciation and give your work a hearty .

[pathfinder]

I will never "laugh" at ANYONES attempt at gun making. Even Tom's when I visited him! LOL(he know's I'm kidding!) I still have and shoot regularly my first gun. Pox,my .50 southern gun.


Anyway,back on topic, I file a notch in the tab of the thimble for the position in the forearm it is,#1 has 1 file notch,#2,2 file notches and so on. And the notches are at the FRONT of the thimble,facing forward.

[Red Badger]

I'm just toss my 2 cents worth in here... I am not mechanicly inclined enough and my woodworking skill leave a lot to be desired so I will never laugh at anyones creation.... I am just now getting the nerve togather to start my first kit (Widgets pistol kit) and plan on taking my time and learning what I need to know... right now a scratch build is in a galaxy far, far, far, far, away... More power to those of you who can do them... I will be content to "toss down large amounts of cash" for those I see that strike my fancy until that galaxy gets a whole lot closer!

[flintboomer]

Having built a few from kits and scratch or nearly scratch with no help at first and only a little later on I will simply tell you that you will and should be proud of what you build. If there are mistakes that you notice now or later it is still your rifle and you SHOULD be proud of it.

Nothing I made was anywhere close to perfect, but they were mine and I shot them and was proud of them.

[sweed]

Pathfinder

Was looking at your photos. Haven't seen a REAL stichin horse, since the 70's depression put me out of the saddle business! I have an old Singer flat (Strap)  machine from the U S Calvary, but did a lot of hand stichin' cause it just looked better, and it was! Just kinda brought me back, Thanks for postin

[gunmaker]

sweed's a sadlemaker,  man that's an art.  I've wanted an Oregon roper by Hamley out of Pendleton, Or. most a my life, made do with a Tex-tan in my real cowboy day's---memories---for sure.  You sure your joshing path, you know I'm the sensitive sort. Kinda like a mack truck.   ....Tom

[Tim Ault]

well heres what I've been trying to do in between the honey do lists.

still have to do some things like final shaping and sanding  pin the thimbles, installing the FH liner and sights ect.  I hand made just about all the small stuff  except the barrel, lock and trigger guard. My first trigger worked out really well I added a set screw to take out any play  and to take up a small amount of slack in the sear. breaks right at 4-5 lb on my calibrated Mk.1 finger . the lock and tang bolts are made out of nails I had in the drawer  .Its a trim little thing that weights in at around 7 lb or less , 36 " colerain 45 cal. LR classic lock, stock I got from Mr Mongrel along with alot of helpful PM's when I got lost.    
  Just cant figure out how you guys shoot these things with those pop rivets sticking out from the side of the wood???    all your advice and critique is asked for and welcomed.

Tim

My pics are still too big so I'll have post more in another thread

[Tim Ault]

heres another

[Tim Ault]

 and another

[Tim Ault]

sorry I had to do it this way but I couldnt get them smaller,   last one

[mongrel]

I am NOT seeing anything that rates laughing at, Tim. Things are shaping up fine. I like the shaping and definition of your lock and sideplate panels. These are details that quite often spoil otherwise very nice rifles, so they're more important than they might seem.

One small thing, and I only mention this because you're still at a point where you can modify this detail IF you so wish. Cheekpieces on the original rifles tended to be more compact, in terms of their length. Looks like you have roughly 4 1/2" to 5" in length along the lower edge of the cheekpiece. IF you wanted to do so you could remove upwards of 3/4" to a full inch from the rear portion, maybe 1/4" or slightly more from the front, to shorten it to a length of roughly 3 1/2" and in the process shift it forward away from the buttplate.

HOWEVER -- a number of original cheekpieces were as long as yours, some longer, and this is a detail that's as much about what pleases your eye as what was most commonly done on the old guns. That's why I stress IF you wish to modify it. If you find the butt comfortable when the rifle is shouldered, and appealing to your eye, you should leave it just as it is.

You're making great progress. Look forward to seeing more and finally the finished gun.

[Dogshirt]

Wish I still had my stitching horse! I love doing hand stitching. My wife has a neck knife sheath made out of chaps from Hamley's.

[Tim Ault]

 Thank you ,The upper part is about 4.875 and the lower line of it is right at 3.5  my cheek actually falls slightly towards the rear half of it now when I throw it to my shoulder .  How do you think it would look if I would carve a straight line or two about where I have those pencil lines drawn on the cheek piece? Or just leave well enough be?