Let's talk guns

[Hanshi]

I think I've posted my share of gun topics so how about some one else coming up with a good, interesting thread on guns.  It doesn't actually have to be a "favorite" anything, just a good thread so we can discuss GUNS!  Something with pics, maybe.  Let's talk about cap/flint/smooth/rifle/matchlock/etc.

[drago9900]

Maybe someone can help me figure out why Flintlocks are just so much more fun than all the others?

[mtnmike]

[/URL][/img]

Here's Tigerlilly without the browning. Barricade over white.

[Dogshirt]

[/URL][/img]

Here's Tigerlilly without the browning. Barricade over white.

Never thought they were. I always found them to be a colossal PITA!

[mtnmike]

??  PITA?  Are you responding to me or drago9900?  Don't understand

[pilgrim]

               Dogshirt has no patience when it concerns shooting a Flintlock.      He had posted a couple of years ago that he got hold of a Flintlock and it gave him mega troubles,     as far as consistent ignition,  compared to his percussion guns.     Now he only uses a Flintlock barrel for tightening fences, or so he says.    And I always thought the Norwegians were very  patient people,  apparently does not apply to all Norwegians. 

     Need to careful with what  is said,  or that Mangy dog  will  start nipping at our heels.         

[Papa]

Finished a little smoothbore this winter that I plan to take into the domain of the local turkeys in a week or two. I don't worry about PC/HC, I build what I like. This is a 1/2 stock with a plain grain maple stock, pewter nose cap and home made hardware, brass. The lock is a large Siler and the barrel started life as a straight 1" octagon smoothbore in 2o ga. Turned the barrel octagon to tapered round and left a small cannon muzzle on it. Outside of the brass, I aged the barrel. Can't post but will send pics to someone who can.
Mark

[Cranbrook]

Here are 3 longrifle's that I built with original wrought iron barrels. They are all small bores, two 32 caliber and one a 29 caliber.  Sold two of em and kept one of the 32's for myself.   I find that my fascination with flintlocks must come from some cloudy corner of my left brain. I can never seem to just get over all of the fun it is to make a rifle go boom from a sparking rock lock!      

[Keb]

I'm building a Committee of Safety musket. These guns were manufactured by the colonies for Rev War service. Unfortunately, not many survived. Each colony had an approved pattern to follow which varied slightly from colony to colony but mostly mimicked the Brown Bess. Each one was responsible for their procurement or manufacture and were also responsible for proving and inspecting the guns. Barrels & locks were mostly only available through import so Virginia established an armory in Fredricsburg to make their own. They also made their "approved" pattern of musket and also repaired colonists guns.

This particular copy is somewhat similar to the Fredricburg pattern as we know it. It has a 1.375" at breech tapered round by 48" long barrel and it's a .75 caliber bore, The lock marked "Fred g - 1776", the bayonet also marked "Fred g - 1776", a cherry stock, Reeves Gohring Hudson Valley butt plate, Bess ramrod pipes, and an English fowler type trigger guard. I should have it finished by next week. It tips the scale right at 9 lbs right now (without bayonet) so it should finish at about 9 or 9 1/2 lbs which is just about right for a musket. These pictures are not up to date. I have the trigger in and the wrist shaped and started on the butt. I still have the trigger guard to mount and the ramrod pipes to mount.

[Hanshi]

Maybe someone can help me figure out why Flintlocks are just so much more fun than all the others?

It evolved that way; read your Darwin.

[metalshaper]

My favorites,

My Miss Muley


and my Banded, DS trigger Underhammer


Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Papa]

Jonathan,
How about some info on the underhammer DS triggers. A supplier, tutorial or other.
Mark

[metalshaper]

Papa/Mark,

the double set triggers were admittedly an ego thing on my part. I was at a shoot with some guys and the topic of
my building underhammers came up.. they went back and forth on what they thought about my work, and I listened and tried to take the good with the bad.. Figured I'd learn what other people thought and take what I could to make the next build Better? One fella, I think half jokingly said " Well, it's too bad you could figure out how to make one with double set triggers!"  Where upon the local "Expert" in the group ( having never built ANY UH lock ) decided to go on about a 30 minute dissertation on why it was impossible to do.. and then in his best condescending tone told me " Don't feel bad about it, better men than you couldn't make one work!" 

SO, the rifle you see in the picture, is my answer!   I also had to the fit the entire 'working bits' into about 3.25-3.375" of space up in the frame.. I actually need to remake them, as the last time I had them out I managed to crack the plate in the set trigger's pin area. < didn't realize I had created a weak spot >This was also my prototype and I think some redesign of the works and mainspring may be in order?  Honestly, the type of action I based this off of, and most Underhammers in general, do not really need a set trigger? if properly done, they usually have a pretty sweet trigger release.

When I get around to the redesign/Rebuild? I'll take some pics..

Respects Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan

[Papa]

Jonathan,
Thanks for the reply. I realize that "most" UH's do have fairly good trigger pulls but I am shooting a couple in the new table matches and want to try to improve it a little more. I have stoned, dressed and tried everything I know and improved the pull some, but if I can get a little more it should shrink my string that much more. Please keep me in mind if you do any more.
Mark

[rfd]

an old topic, but always relevant.  i'd like to add in what's become my fave flintlock, a 24ga smoothie built by keb ....