Trade Gun Project

[Parnell]

Here are some updates pictures.  The trigger is set and working well, it seems.  Got the tang bolt drilled.  Made a jig for the drill press to drill the angled bolt up through the tang.  Tapping came out great and I am pleased.  Just need to sand a bit of the stock blank down to bring the bolt a touch deeper into the threads.  I’ll be looking to do the touch hole this weekend, we’ll see.

Sure feels good to hold the gun with the tang bolt in.  It feels very solid now.  Getting excited to do the finish work.  I’ve been debating on whether or not to inlet the serpent lock plate a touch, I’m thinking I will.

Pictures...

[Pat B]

She's coming along nicely, Steve. 

[JW_Halverson]

You gonna have it done in time to hunt turkeys up here this spring???

 

[Parnell]

Thanks Pat, I'm really enjoying the project.  I don't think I'm too far off, JW.  My spring turkey season opens today and the break week is after next week...maybe I can knock it out??!  Don't want to rush through the ending, though.

When is turkey camp, JW?  You do it the same week every year? 

[JW_Halverson]

It will be any day you get here during season!

[Parnell]

JW, you’ve got my interest, for sure.

I’m realizing I’m getting pretty close.  I carved the lock plate in for a couple hours last night.  I’m going to bring it down a little more, but this is really my first honest run of carving and low and behold a couple of things clicked in my head with feeling how to remove wood with respect to the grain.  I’m amazed at how single minded I am carving.  A lot like flintknapping that way. 

I have to do the touch hole.  Other than that...it’s finish work.

[Parnell]

More inlet

[Eric Krewson]

Try to avoid slab sidedness in front of you lock and sideplate panels. There shouldn't be any flat wood in your forestock sides.

[Parnell]

Hmmm, ok, I’ll work on that Eric.

[Eric Krewson]

This is a fowler but it is the same on a trade gun, actually every flintlock is quite similar in shape.

[Eric Krewson]

More pictures;

This is my trade gun, I didn't make it but it is close to right in the forearm.

[mullet]

Looking good, Steve. I've got my Smooth bore dialed in and the season opens here next Saturday.

[Parnell]

I spent a few hours sanding the stock and cleaned up the cross-section profile so that it is much rounded and less “slab sided”.  Good advice Eric.  I still have more sanding to do.  The butt plate is fully secured now and cleaning up nicely.

The white lightning touch hole went in yesterday.  Gotta admit, it made me a little nervy doing that for the first time, but I went slow and all appears well.

Construction wise, I think only soldering the front sight is left to do.  Wish I could test fire it at my place this week.  I’ll do that this weekend.  It gives me more time to sand and do some experimenting with stain.  I’m going to play with aqua fortis and iron oxide to see what I come up with.

[JW_Halverson]

Just don't sand past 220 grit!  Sanding with anything finer than that and the wood won't take the stain very well.  I learned that one the hard way.

[Parnell]

Good to know JW.