Having the nerve to start this project, is a hump that I had to overcome. I assume you have to as well. Spending over one thousand dollars in rough hewn tiger maple and rough cast brass rifle parts can make one choke! Right? From these parts! A Jim Chambers Lancaster Kit. https://www.flintlocks.com/
To This! The finished work was worth the journey! My rifle is named Cricket like the brass one in the photo! And Cricket is very accurate!
If you have not read my article on my first and only Flintlock build then please do so below.
Would I do it again? If I failed, then yes I would do it again to get it right. I was highly successful with the help of video steps and cautionary notes. A wild boar below with my Pennsylvania Rifle also known as the Kentucky Rifle.
If you have worked with wood and metal before and know how to sand and file then you are in good shape to start. But pick up books and video’s on the building process and watch them very closely. They are the key to your success! Patience is a virtue. Measure twice, cut once. When I ran into a “build step” that I did not understand during the assembly, I went back to the video and books to find the area and reviewed it. I went back to video’s many times.
For me the toughest part was fitting the barrel and tang without gouging the wood. Keep those chisels razor sharp! The second, and nearly equal tough part, was fitting the lock and trigger. Tooling the scrollwork and patch box inlay came next. It was painstaking detail work that came out just stunning for a first timer! I sent the fancy scroll brass patch box to a Master Engraver to replicate the Lancaster Jacob Dickert style.
Nothing was easy! But the joy of completing each task gave me confidence to do the next, and the joy of that one fed the next. Soon, I had a long rifle (unstained raw wood below) to test at the range but then I had to make a leather sheath to care for all the work I put into it.
Just stained the stock below without any brass.
Carved the tang floral.
Removing wood with a file to install the brass butt plate.
Things you will need to build from a kit: Read and watch video’s before starting.
A Workbench with a Large Vise
Tools and storage at the bench.
Chisels, files, rasps, handsaws, and sand paper for wood and metal, punches. Sharpening devices for honing chisels. Electric Drill, Power Grinder. Stains, a small square and ruler/tape measure. Video’s and books.
Safety glasses, Apron and first aid kit are highly recommended.
For the next 100 or so build hours you will get to know your rifle for sure.
Good Building and Good Hunting!
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