Progress on my, "Franken Rifle."

Capn Jack · Nov 10, 2019

Grinding Wedge Plates. Man! That thing got hot!!

Had to grind down the thickness of the wedge plates as my material was twice as thick as I needed. I think the real tricks will be the square holes in the plates.
Then, I need to cut another dovetail in the barrel for a trunnion and make a square hole in it that lines up with the plates.
The lock retainer washer is part of an old bronze prop shaft.

Capn Jack · Nov 11, 2019

My, "Franken Rifle" is coming together after I sent Igor out over Halloween
for some more parts.....

Cutting the dovetail and fitting the insert for the barrel lug
I soldered the barrel lug onto groove in dovetail insert, then I drove it into
the dovetail and trimmed off the excess on the band saw.

All parts are in place and barrel is now held on with a drill bit through both
escutcheon plates. I still have to file a slot and make a barrel wedge to fit.
I'll need at least one ramrod thimble, but I'm not sure yet how I'll mount it.
I may have to spend some time cleaning up my bench....

Capn Jack · Nov 12, 2019

Looking good. Tomorrow I'll make a wedge and file out the square holes in
the escutcheon plates and barrel lug. Still thinking about how I'm going to
hang a couple of ramrod thimbles, without making an under barrel rib.
Maybe make some smoke this weekend.

Capn Jack · Nov 13, 2019

WOW ! Holy Hand Cramps Andy.

Over 3 hours filing and trying to align three, 3/16x1/8 holes. My, "Wedge" looks like
a horseshoe nail, but it works. Stain the stock tomorrow and hope to shoot Saturday.

The Family.....

Andy54Hawken · Nov 13, 2019

Well its a good looking horse shoe nail...

Neat looking rifle for sure.
Andy

Capn Jack · Nov 16, 2019

First shots with the, "Franken Rifle".

I started on the bottom target at 50 yards, with 30gr. FFG, .010 lubed patch and .49 dia. ball.

The top target is with 50gr.FFG, same patch & ball. I need to cut about 1/8th" off of the front sight.

Right now, I'm tickled pink.....

Andy54Hawken · Nov 16, 2019

Very nice...!
Great shooting and a great rifle for sure.
Andy

DunRanull · Nov 16, 2019

Very nice-lookin work, something Im sure you can take great pride in!

Capn Jack · Nov 23, 2019

Finished up filing the last dovetail and mounted the thimble for the ram rod this morning. Made a trip into town Tues. I now have a new fiberglass ramrod. A $75.00 Gift Certificate I had for Coastal really helped, as the bill totaled up $91.00, powder, caps,targets, ram rod, patches and cleaning solvent. I totaled up what the rifle has cost so far.....

Then I threw the paper away.

View attachment 635218

Capn Jack · Nov 23, 2019

I trimmed about 1/16" off of the front sight blade to raise the P.O.I.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to brown the barrel, or blue it.

DunRanull · Nov 23, 2019

Capn Jack said:
I trimmed about 1/16" off of the front sight blade to raise the P.O.I.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to brown the barrel, or blue it.

Brown it!

Capn Jack · Nov 23, 2019

Thanks, I'm leaning that way. I've tried blueing before and it's really tricky without a hot tank of some kind.
I used to have a length of steel rain gutter, (Closed off at the ends), but not anymore.

Andy54Hawken · Nov 23, 2019

Krylon...

Just kidding....Browning is a good way to go.
Andy

Capn Jack · Nov 27, 2019

Friends are coming for dinner after Thanksgiving and he is bringing a BP pistol kit he just finished, "Browning".
The pictures I've seen look great. I think I'll be picking his brain over dinner as to the processes he used.

gemihur · Nov 28, 2019

Cold bluing is doable with time and patience
TC Hawken from kit (barrel was in the white)... note the diamond earring post on front sight

Capn Jack · Dec 7, 2019

Almost put two balls in the same hole Friday morning.

Then I got so excited I dry balled the next load.....

Luckily no one saw me and I was able blow it out.

gemihur · Dec 7, 2019

Were you playing golf or loading your rifle? LOL.

Capn Jack · Dec 21, 2019

I took everything apart again and browned the barrel....Meh!...It cleaned up OK, but I did get some streaking. Thankfully most of it's on the bottom and doesn't look too bad. The breach plug just didn't want to take a finish. Hey. As long as it shoots....