Texas Sporting Rifle, circa. 2013

asmith · June 8, 2013, 03:40 PM

Just finished my latest little project. NOS TC .50 cal. barrel, L&R Lock, Davis Triggers, Pecatonica CM4 stock. The addiction continues...

arch308 · June 8, 2013, 04:02 PM

That gun is too pretty to shoot! Awesome job!

Microgunner · June 8, 2013, 04:09 PM

Have you mashed the bang button yet?

asmith · June 8, 2013, 04:53 PM

Thanks Microgunner....

Arch308, funny you should ask, this makes 3 caplock rifles now but when I head to the range I always seem to grab my flintlock....

I decided that if I ever could not get real bp I had better have a few that would shoot the subs....

bedbugbilly · June 8, 2013, 05:03 PM

Beautiful job! A great combination of parts and that maple is beautiful! You can really be proud of that! And . . . oh yea . . . you could make one of those in a flintier!

Thanks for sharing with us - it's a beautiful rifle!

**4V50 Gary** · June 8, 2013, 06:07 PM

Great wood!

Roshi · June 8, 2013, 07:31 PM

Great craftsmanship!

NateKirk · June 8, 2013, 09:07 PM

That is Beautiful...

Sure Shot Mc Gee · June 8, 2013, 10:22 PM

Nicely done asmith. Is a project such as this time consuming?

S/S

robhof · June 8, 2013, 10:35 PM

Truly a work of art. That's a thing of beauty, be sure to give us a range report of that thing.

asmith · June 8, 2013, 10:59 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys....

Sure Shot McGee, it took me a couple of months, but since I am retired I seldom work on my projects over a couple of hours a day and none at all on the weekends. I am still just learning, I did a long rifle last year and it basically turn out a thick fence post, I think I am ready to try another...Hopefully it will turn out better than the first.

Doc Hoy · June 9, 2013, 05:15 AM

Awesome

BirchOrr · June 9, 2013, 10:35 AM

Nice work!

Birch

bedbugbilly · June 9, 2013, 04:31 PM

asmith - beautiful job on the full stock as well!

I'm curious as to what you are using to bring out the grain on the maple? I've used "aquas forte" with good luck but have never tried any of the newer "stains" such as Track of the Wolf offers, etc. Can you tell us what you did as far as the stain/finish? Many thanks!

PetahW · June 9, 2013, 05:44 PM

.

Very nice work !

Have you thought about adding a patch/cap box to the buttstock, to carry caps & an extra nipple ?

There's many/multiple sizes/styles, both plain & engraved that would be P.C. for your build(s).

.

asmith · June 9, 2013, 06:09 PM

Being a beginner I have not gotten into the tradition stains, I use Birchwood Casey walnut stain. I just brush it on and then wipe down with a soft wet cotton towel. I finish with many hand rubbed thin coats of Birchwood Casey true-oil, rubbing with 0000 steel wool between coats. After I get the finish like I want it, I let it cure for about 2 weeks and then give it a good rub down with Birchwood Casey stock sheen and conditioner to soften the shine a little. I guess everyone has their on way, but I get the finish I want and don't have to deal with the acid and neutralizing not to mention scorching the stock with the heat.....

asmith · June 9, 2013, 06:13 PM

I have been debating a patch box for my next build, mebbe I will give it try....

bedbugbilly · June 9, 2013, 06:31 PM

asmith - thanks for the information. It certainly seems to work and bring out the beautiful grain! I had a cabinet shop/custom millwork business so I appreciate "nice wood"!

I've used the aquas forte with pretty good success on curly maple but like you mention, when applying heat you have to be careful. I built a custom Hawken a number of years ago and the results were very nice but on the reddish tones. I keep looking at the stains that Track has and I think this next winter, when I'm hoping to build a Ohio rifle, I'll try it out as I'd like to get the "honey tones" I have a decent blank with pretty even curl throughout so would like to get the lighter honey tone to show it off.

You've done a beautiful job and it's 1st class work all the way! I hope you have children to pass these down to as they certainly would be great keepsakes!

Hawg · June 9, 2013, 06:44 PM

That flintlock is gorgeous.

Old Stony · June 9, 2013, 07:44 PM

Takin' it to the woods the first time might be a trial for you. With a beautiful rifle like that I would spend all my time trying to keep it from touching anything that might leave a scratch on it. I know most of my muzzleloaders are customs and sometimes it's hard to get myself to actually use them for the intended purpose. I have a half stock .62 being restocked by a guy that I consider a premier muzzleloading builder and can hardly wait as he has assured me that he found a real nicely figured piece of maple. It will end up shooting whitetails by this next season.
Congrats on your beautiful job !!

June 8, 2013, 03:40 PM	#1
asmith Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 42	Texas Sporting Rifle, circa. 2013 Just finished my latest little project. NOS TC .50 cal. barrel, L&R Lock, Davis Triggers, Pecatonica CM4 stock. The addiction continues...

June 8, 2013, 04:09 PM	#3
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	Have you mashed the bang button yet? __________________ *Proud NRA Benefactor Member*

June 8, 2013, 05:03 PM	#5
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Beautiful job! A great combination of parts and that maple is beautiful! You can really be proud of that! And . . . oh yea . . . you could make one of those in a flintier! Thanks for sharing with us - it's a beautiful rifle! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

June 8, 2013, 06:07 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Great wood! __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

June 8, 2013, 09:07 PM	#8
NateKirk Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2013 Location: Detroit Posts: 435	That is Beautiful... __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".” ― --Thomas Jefferson

June 8, 2013, 04:02 PM	#2
arch308 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 876	That gun is too pretty to shoot! Awesome job!

June 8, 2013, 04:53 PM	#4
asmith Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 42	Thanks Microgunner.... Arch308, funny you should ask, this makes 3 caplock rifles now but when I head to the range I always seem to grab my flintlock.... I decided that if I ever could not get real bp I had better have a few that would shoot the subs....

June 8, 2013, 07:31 PM	#7
Roshi Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 223	Great craftsmanship!

June 8, 2013, 10:22 PM	#9
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Nicely done asmith. Is a project such as this time consuming? S/S

June 8, 2013, 10:35 PM	#10
robhof Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2007 Posts: 712	robhof Truly a work of art. That's a thing of beauty, be sure to give us a range report of that thing.

June 8, 2013, 10:59 PM	#11
asmith Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 42	Thanks for the kind words guys.... Sure Shot McGee, it took me a couple of months, but since I am retired I seldom work on my projects over a couple of hours a day and none at all on the weekends. I am still just learning, I did a long rifle last year and it basically turn out a thick fence post, I think I am ready to try another...Hopefully it will turn out better than the first.

June 9, 2013, 05:15 AM	#12
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Yes....I like a word that was used previously... Awesome __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

June 9, 2013, 10:35 AM	#13
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	Beautiful! Nice work! Birch __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

June 9, 2013, 04:31 PM	#14
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	asmith - beautiful job on the full stock as well! I'm curious as to what you are using to bring out the grain on the maple? I've used "aquas forte" with good luck but have never tried any of the newer "stains" such as Track of the Wolf offers, etc. Can you tell us what you did as far as the stain/finish? Many thanks! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

June 9, 2013, 05:44 PM	#15
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. Very nice work ! Have you thought about adding a patch/cap box to the buttstock, to carry caps & an extra nipple ? There's many/multiple sizes/styles, both plain & engraved that would be P.C. for your build(s). .

June 9, 2013, 06:09 PM	#16
asmith Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 42	Being a beginner I have not gotten into the tradition stains, I use Birchwood Casey walnut stain. I just brush it on and then wipe down with a soft wet cotton towel. I finish with many hand rubbed thin coats of Birchwood Casey true-oil, rubbing with 0000 steel wool between coats. After I get the finish like I want it, I let it cure for about 2 weeks and then give it a good rub down with Birchwood Casey stock sheen and conditioner to soften the shine a little. I guess everyone has their on way, but I get the finish I want and don't have to deal with the acid and neutralizing not to mention scorching the stock with the heat.....

June 9, 2013, 06:13 PM	#17
asmith Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 42	I have been debating a patch box for my next build, mebbe I will give it try....

June 9, 2013, 06:31 PM	#18
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	asmith - thanks for the information. It certainly seems to work and bring out the beautiful grain! I had a cabinet shop/custom millwork business so I appreciate "nice wood"! I've used the aquas forte with pretty good success on curly maple but like you mention, when applying heat you have to be careful. I built a custom Hawken a number of years ago and the results were very nice but on the reddish tones. I keep looking at the stains that Track has and I think this next winter, when I'm hoping to build a Ohio rifle, I'll try it out as I'd like to get the "honey tones" I have a decent blank with pretty even curl throughout so would like to get the lighter honey tone to show it off. You've done a beautiful job and it's 1st class work all the way! I hope you have children to pass these down to as they certainly would be great keepsakes! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

June 9, 2013, 06:44 PM	#19
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	That flintlock is gorgeous.

June 9, 2013, 07:44 PM	#20
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	Takin' it to the woods the first time might be a trial for you. With a beautiful rifle like that I would spend all my time trying to keep it from touching anything that might leave a scratch on it. I know most of my muzzleloaders are customs and sometimes it's hard to get myself to actually use them for the intended purpose. I have a half stock .62 being restocked by a guy that I consider a premier muzzleloading builder and can hardly wait as he has assured me that he found a real nicely figured piece of maple. It will end up shooting whitetails by this next season. Congrats on your beautiful job !!