Building another flintlock

[Eric Krewson]

I started building another rifle. This one will be a flintlock .40 cal Tennessee squirrel rifle. I got lazy on this one and had the stock preshaped, I usually do all the shaping myself.
 
The first step is fitting the barrel into the stock, most of the inletting was done with the preshaping but the barrel wouldn't fit correctly. I have been blacking the breech end of the barrel with an oil lamp and pressing it into the stock to find out where to remove wood for a perfect fit. I chisel away any wood that is blackened by the soot. A couple hours of soot and chisel work and the barrel fits perfectly. Inletting the breech plug and tang is next.

[Zuma]

Looks great Eric.
My dad used to sporterise a few military
rifles. I have watched him fit stocks on them.
Pretty tedious and it's got to be correct.
I hope you show us more.
Zuma

[Aaron H]

Very cool Eric, I personally would love to see a build along of this rifle.   Is that a maple stock?

[gifford]

Hope this thread turns out to be a 'build-along' ; I would bet there is a lot of folks that would like to see how it's done and done right. Keep the photos and descriptions coming Eric. Haven't built one myself, I've stuck to buying my buddy's when he's done with them and wants to build another. Like you, he's quite the gun craftsman.

[JW_Halverson]

I rather enjoyed the fitting of the breech plug and the subsequent fitting of the breech and barrel into the stock.  The tedious repetition of smudge and scrape became a rhythmic dance.  There is little second guessing like what comes with the external carving.  The smudge doesn't lie, it tells you exactly where the next bit needs removing.  On the outside of the stock, it's a lot more freeform and less forgiving. 

Where'd you score the parts?  All one source, or did you shop it around?

[half eye]

Hey Eric,
      Excellent choice sir.....my all time favorite ignition and caliber. Looks like you have this one under control as usual
rich

[Eric Krewson]

Parts;

Green Mountain .40 13/16th barrel, got it on an eBay buy it now just after it had been listed for $75, new barrel, worth about $150.

Stock blank from Dunlap, profiled by Pecatonica.

Late Ketland lock from Chambers.

Everything else from Track of the Wolf.

[Eric Krewson]

Here is the first step in a build;

The barrel didn't come with a breechplug, I spent two days fitting the breech plug in the barrel so it bottoms out on the breech face and lines up with a barrel flat at the same time. It is much harder than it sounds if you do it all by hand.

I will shape the tang to be spear shaped like a lot of Tennessee rifles.

[Buffalogobbler]

Looks like fun Eric, I'll keep watching.

Kevin

[chamookman]

Thanks for posting Eric - I'll be watching ! Bob

[Del the cat]

I'll be watching too, cool project.
Del

[Stoker]

Very cool.. Will be following along
Thanks Leroy

[Eric Krewson]

I did a couple of things yesterday;

The barrel inlet comes round in the breech, squaring up the breech face for a solid fit is necessary. I blackened the barrel breech and pressed it into the stock to mark the high spots. I kept chiseling away the high spots until I had a good even fit of the barrel to stock.



I shaped the breech plug tang to a Tennessee profile from the faired Lancaster style it was initially. I will refine it a little more as I can see it is a little fat on one side.

[caveman2533]

Very cool.. Will be following along
Thanks Leroy

Me too I've always wanted to build one, so I'll be watching.

[Ed Brooks]

This is too cool post, Thanks Eric. Ed