Pictures of a muzzleloader I built a few years ago

Rockydoc

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
I built this in 2005-2006. It took about a year and a half. This was before I retired so I worked when I could. I used tools no more modern than the 18th century gunmakers. I did not bore and rifle the barrel but I did draw file the flats and cut the dovetails, drill, tap and fit the stainless flash hole, and drill and set the lugs for the under pins(which were cut off 3/32"dental lab burs, something I had a lot of on hand :) )

Please do not compare this work to that of Ben's on his Ruger #1 358 Win. There is no comparison, Ben is a master.

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Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
Well if I was going to run the woods for some months I would not feel deprived to be hauling that rifle about with me. Nice flinter !!
How good did an apprentice do on his first inletting ? Perfection comes with experience.
So what caliber is this smoke pole ? How does it shoot ?
 
Ben

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
I'm not certain that I'm even close to being in your league !

Beautiful ! !

Ben
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Seems to me that Mr. Rockydoc doesn't give himself nearly enough credit. That is a beautiful rifle, extremely well done
 
Rockydoc

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
Thank you all for the kind words. It is 50 caliber. How does it shoot? Well, if you look closely you will notice that the "normal " rear sight is well down the barrel in hopes to have it in focus for these old eyes. But the fact is it doesn't matter where you place an open rear sight on the barrel I won't be able to shoot with it. So if you look even more closely at the picture with the lock in it you will see a Williams peep sight. I had to grind the bottom off that sight trying to lower the point of impact. I even have a makeshift temporary extra tall front sight in the same effort. All to no avail, I just got tired of it and gave up. Went on to other projects.

I am sure there is a way to fix this. One of these days when I get a Rountoit I'll get 'er done. Maybe.

It already looks a little weird with the tall front sight and a lot weird with the peep sight. A scope? Too much.
 
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M

Mowgli Terry

Active Member
One of my mentors builds good solid rifles. One of the unnoticed rites of passage has to do with sights installed on rifles for customers. As customers aged, he moved from fine bead original style sights to something else. These newer style sights have a wide notch in the resr and a very wild front sight. I have not noticed the dovetail moving further down the barrel.
 
JWFilips

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Rocky,
Very nice you should continue building more! By the time i was 1/2 way through with my first scratch flintlock rifle I had drawn up plans for the next two I wanted to make!

When you reach 30 years old you open up the sight notch! When you are 40 You open up the sight notch and cut the dovetail for the rear sight 14" from the breech!
When you reach 50 you open up the sight notch inlet a 48" barrel and cut the rear dovetail 15" from the breech! Right about there You have the great Longrifle sight radius back! At 60 years you stop building long rifles for yourself ( unless you can get custom cut 54" barrels!!!)
And start building longrifles for folks that are 30 years old!
 
Rockydoc

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
JWFilips said:
Rocky,
Very nice you should continue building more! By the time i was 1/2 way through with my first scratch flintlock rifle I had drawn up plans for the next two I wanted to make!

When you reach 30 years old you open up the sight notch! When you are 40 You open up the sight notch and cut the dovetail for the rear sight 14" from the breech!
When you reach 50 you open up the sight notch inlet a 48" barrel and cut the rear dovetail 15" from the breech! Right about there You have the great Longrifle sight radius back! At 60 years you stop building long rifles for yourself ( unless you can get custom cut 54" barrels!!!)
And start building longrifles for folks that are 30 years old!
Click to expand...
That's funny, Jim. I should have known that before I started. I was already 69 when I finished that rifle.
 
Rockydoc

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
JWFilips said:
Rocky,
Very nice you should continue building more! By the time i was 1/2 way through with my first scratch flintlock rifle I had drawn up plans for the next two I wanted to make!
Click to expand...
Yes, Jim, when you are in the middle of a building project like this you are full of enthusiasm, already thinking of the next one to build. I was the same way. That enthusiasm waned as the finish line approached.
By the way, I have a 54 caliber swamped 48" Getz barrel and a lock and brass fittings for sale if anyone is interested. :)

Rocky
 
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