tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25740400497531049482023-06-20T06:04:51.436-07:00Rigmarol's BlogA step by step photo documentation of the my flintlock building program.Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-60142269147109278632010-01-02T21:35:00.000-08:002010-01-02T21:35:27.540-08:00Trigger Lesson learnedNo good way to illustrate this with a picture, sorry. I learned an important thing about my trigger group. It's a double trigger, set trigger style that is adjustable. I thought the screw that protrudes conspicuously between the two triggers was for adjusting the trigger. Well, it is but it's not the only adjustment available.<br />
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I was thinking that by pulling on the trigger (not the set trigger) that I was somehow pushing the sear off of whatever the sear catches on in order to make the hammer fall. Not so! As it turns out (after asking some smart people about it) the set trigger has a blade on it and the main trigger trips this blade to flick or smack into the sear lever and THAT is what causes the hammer to fall! <br />
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Once I discovered that there was an adjustment to the sprint under the trigger group that regulates how HARD the set trigger blade smacks the sear bar, I had my "Problem" solved and I came away learning something very basic.<br />
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Now I can move on to something that uses less brain cells...hopefully.Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-21064823115316335982009-11-15T16:48:00.000-08:002009-11-15T16:54:03.987-08:00More work on the tang and lockI had to take the breech plug off again to get the exact fit I was looking for. And after a bit of bending I got the breech plug reinstalled on the barrel and put them both back in position and it looks like I'm ready to move on.<br />
<a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view¤t=DSC_5915.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5915.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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I took apart the Lock and I'm beginning to take wood down around it for it's final fit. I still have to drill and tap the plate screw to the other side but I want to get the trigger assembly placed correctly first.<br />
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A close up shows the trigger blade in the fire position where it will trip the sear. But things aren't working as expected yet. So I still have some work to do.<br />
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Here's a bottom view of the trigger assembly. I'm not sure if I have to inlet it deeper to adjust the trigger or not. More research is needed.<br />
<a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view¤t=DSC_5916.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5916.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-23715764262377158912009-11-09T20:38:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:38:01.815-08:00Working on inletting the tangI spent a few hours working on carefully inletting the tang today. I managed to do all the work by hand using my chisels. Nice and relaxing. Until I got so frustrated I had to go work on something else LOL!<br />
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Here's a nice view of the cuts:<br />
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Here's a view with the barrel/tang assembled setting next to the stock:<br />
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And here's a view with the barrel/tang installed in the stock:<br />
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It looks like I have some more wood to take out of the barrel channel. I carefully checked and rechecked to be sure the barrel was going all the way down and I still have too much barrel sticking out above the stock. Bummer! I also have some more bending to do to the tang but I want to get the barrel all the way down before I finish that part.<br />
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I got a bit frustrated so I worked on getting my brass trigger guard filed down a bit. Compare the two to see how much had to come off:<br />
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Before:<br />
<a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view¤t=DSC_5765.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5765.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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After:<br />
<a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view¤t=DSC_5914.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5914.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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A full view:<br />
<a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view¤t=DSC_5913.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5913.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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Lot's of file work. It's actually quite relaxing in a repetitive sort of way...Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-71937875607241294142009-10-23T22:11:00.000-07:002009-10-23T22:11:38.060-07:00First OOPS!It was bound to happen sooner than later. Just like when I buy a new car, the first dent is inevitable. But I always feel better after getting it out of the way! LOL.<br />
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I was starting to inlet the tang on the breech plug after installing it on the barrel. I started chisel working the inlet and just hit the chisel with the hammer just a little bit to hard and off came a chunk of wood right where everyone can see it! Right smack on top of the wrist where the wood will meet the tang. Dang it! <br />
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So, out comes the new bottle of Elmer's Wood glue (I was planning ahead) and after cutting the notch deeper, I glued the piece back in place and I'm letting it sit at least overnight but probably let it set for a day or two. I don't expect it to be perfect but I'm doing my best.<br />
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This is, after all, my <i>First handbuilt rifle</i> right? LOL.<br />
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I'll try to get some more pictures up soon.Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-61585235483463721342009-10-18T09:08:00.000-07:002009-10-18T09:08:19.497-07:00Working on the Lock inlettingAfter setting back the barrel to almost the perfect position to line up the proposed position of the flash hole and flash hole liner, I turned my attentions to inletting the Lock to it's final location.<br />
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I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't seem to get the lock to sit square and systematically remove wood as needed. I found that the hammer and cock assembly was just too much in the way. I did some research and learned that the "proper" way to inlet the lock was to actually take the hammer assembly off (so it is not in the way - DUH!).<br />
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Using a vise grips (instead of the recommended spring vise) I was able to easily remove the spring used for the hammer. I unscrewed the one pivot screw and viola, a nice flat lock plate to work with. <br />
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Now, I wanted to try to do this with as few "power tools" as possible but, I just may have to break out the dremel tool to get into the small nooks and crannies. We'll see how it goes.Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-20400438630173430992009-10-14T21:37:00.000-07:002009-10-16T20:42:37.056-07:00Inletting the barrelAs mentioned earlier, I ordered the stock with the inletting already done for the barrel, trigger and lock. So most of the inletting was already done for me.<br /><br />Here is the lock and barrel in place with me holding the breech plug approximately where it's going to end up in the stock. I've marked a line where the breech face will be after the breech plug is installed so I know where the flash hole liner will need to be.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5806.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5806.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here is the same view with he flash hole liner laying on the barrel in the location it would need to be installed in order to miss the breech face (marked with the black line)<br /><br />It's obvious, the barrel needs to be moved back so the flash hole liner is centered with the flash pan.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5808.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5808.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After a lot of carving and careful measuring and some filing and so on, I was able to get the barrel to inset further back by about 1/8". As you can see now, the mark for the centerline of the flash hole liner is now center with the flash pan. I'll take off just a little bit more before installing the flash hole liner but I'm going to leave that little bit for later (it's easier to take more off than put some back on...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5822.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5822.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5821.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5821.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-27433191178783628222009-10-14T21:17:00.000-07:002009-10-14T21:30:01.427-07:00Parts - Brass and "Furniture"Here is the complete parts bag emptied and posed for the camera. It includes all the screws, insets, ram rod pipes and patchbox parts and so on.<br />I saw this and started digging around for the instructions quick! But there are none, this is a PARTS kit, not a DROP-IN KIT!! (what have I gotten myself into?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5769.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5769.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This is the very nice Brass Patch Box comprised of three parts. This will be installed on the right hand side of the buttstock and will enclose a recessed box known as a patchbox for storing little bits and pieces needed in the field for reloading or repairs.<br />It is just a silhuette and looks nice as is, but really should have engraving done to it to make it perfect.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5773.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5773.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The Trigger Guard is Brass and is as cast, meaning it is ROUGH and nowhere near ready to be installed<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5762.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5762.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A close look at trigger guard shows a lot of work needs to be done yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5764.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5764.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The Buttplate is solid brass and I will definitely be doing a lot of filing and sanding on this piece.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5760.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5760.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Another view of the Buttplate<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5759.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5759.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-9101561291172910942009-10-14T20:29:00.000-07:002009-10-14T21:16:49.926-07:00The Parts - Lock<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Lock</span> made by Siler:<br />This is a brass plate flintlock which looks good right out of the box.<br />In the old days, these were made in Germany or assembled by German migrant gunsmiths or a combination of imported parts and what may be laying around the shop. I'm sure if I'm supposed to leave it as is or if I will need to dress it up a bit. Time and more questions will tell.<br /><br />Front<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5767.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5767.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Back<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5768.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5768.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Installed in the stock<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5786.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5786.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2574040049753104948.post-72992719939031039292009-10-14T19:43:00.000-07:002009-10-14T21:06:49.919-07:00My Lancaster ProjectMany years ago I put together a "kit" flintlock rifle from CVA (I think that was the name). That was a couple of decades ago!<br /><br />I've since raised a family, built a good career and have been a very avid collector of modern firearms. I also handload many different calibers of ammunition for everything from self defense to competition and hunting.<br /><br />Recently some legislation has been passed regarding the Internet sales of ammunition as well as the components to reload. That got me to thinking if I want to continue enjoying my firearms hobby I may want to expand into a category that may not get legislated into oblivion.<br /><br />I already have a store bought Hawkin's caplock 50 cal muzzle loading rifle and a caplock Remington Army clone. I enjoy shooting both and began looking around for clubs and such. I happened upon a few very nice forums where muzzle-loaders were being discussed and I got bit hard by the builder's bug. I just HAD to build my own rifle. And not just put together one from a drop in "kit" either. I had already done that while in my teens and was very simple. I wanted a real challenge.<br /><br />After a lot of reading, asking a bunch of questions, I ordered what is commonly called a "parts kit" as opposed to a "drop in kit". The difference being you get your parts about as raw as they come from the manufacturer. Nothing is finished or put together in a parts kit. Whereas the "drop in kit" is about 80% done and all your really have to do is some finish sanding, some bluing of the metals and put a finish on your wood. I did one when I was about 17 and it only took me about a month of evenings in my parent's garage. Being stupid, (and needing gas money) I sold it about a year later. I got a great price for it and I hope the guy that bought it got a lot of enjoyment out of it.<br /><br />The parts kit I bought this time round came from "Muzzleloader Builders Supply" (http://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com)<br /><br />I spoke to Ryan (the owner) and we spent almost an hour on the phone picking out the parts I wanted to not only build a period correct firearm, but make it uniquely my own.<br /><br />Due to my own choices, some of what I wanted was special order and I had to wait for them to come in. I told him to wait and ship everything at one time and no hurry, this is a hobby. He seemed to appreciate that little bit of customer curtiousy (rare these days of "give it to me now!" customers). After all, in the days these rifles were first being built, a gunsmith had to wait for parts to ship clean from Germany or England or France. Needless to say, this could take over a year! A few weeks were no big deal.<br /><br />I am hoping I can document the build process from beginning to end here for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours as well.<br /><br />The Rifle is based on the Lancaster school of gun-makers. It represents the Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifle in it's Golden age. When talking about the Kentucky or Pennsylvania rifle it's usually about the same style rifle. Remember, Kentucky was a huge area of land back then!<br /><br />There is a lot of info to read on the Internet about these rifles and the builders. I won't even try to write about them here. I'm not an expert, simply a student of the art building my first serious project.<br /><br />And now for your pleasure:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Parts</span><br /><br />Here is a picture of the overall Barrel and Stock as I got them. They're very long so were hard to get a good overall picture of. I was taking all the other parts pictures with the green background on my ironing board so I just kept it on the board instead of the concrete floor of my shop.<br /><a href="http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/?action=view&current=DSC_5702.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5702.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br />My Toes are a bonus LOL.<br /><br />Some closer views of the stock:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5703.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5703.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5704.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5704.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5705.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src=" http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5705.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I ordered the stock with the lock already inlet:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5730.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5730.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />As well as the trigger and barrel channel:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5728.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5728.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5739.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5739.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5740.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 799px; height: 535px;" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/rigmarol/Lancaster%20Project/DSC_5740.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Rigmarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02578674062686538196noreply@blogger.com0