#539 Jaeger flintlock 69 caliber 'masterwork' by DOC. In the Germanic tradition, every journeyman had to produce a masterwork in order to graduate into the top ranks of gunmakers. I started work on this rifle in 1972, and it has turned to be more of a 'try gun'  than a 'masterwork'. I have used it to try many new (to me) techniques, including wire inlay, ivory carving and inlay, poetry (verse on the top flat of the barrel), flintlocks from scratch, sliding wooden patchboxes, chiseled and scenic engraving, complex bas-relief carving, etc., and I'm probably not done yet. 

The flintlock is one I made. It's the size of an English trade lock but with Germanic features. After building that one, I decided I would buy them from a specialist. I also made the DST and decided the same thing. I still occcasionally make a flintlock, but only when I can't buy the model or style that I want.

The large silver inlay on the cheek-piece is heavily engraved, showing a cupid in the tree to the left, a naked woman lying under the tree and an amorous cross-bow wielding gentleman kneeling over her. Both the brass trigger guard and butt-plate are heavily engraved. The inlay in the butt-stock is carved ivory, as are the inlays at the wrist. All that carving is in bas-relief.

The side pieces opposite the flintlock are ivory, the real stuff from an elephant, carved to match the bas relief carving in the wood.

The inlays shown here are ivory too, carved to match the wood. The rifle weighs in at 11 lbs. , but holds pretty well.  It needs the weight, a shot with a 69 cal ball and 180 grains FFg  will set you back a step. The recoil is solid, to say the least.

#579- Very fancy Jaeger rifle by DOC, the brass furniture is from an elegant one by Paul Poser, 31 inch swamped 58 caliber barrel by Colerain, Elegant chisled flintlock, handmade by DOC, elegant AAAA European walnut, DST, chisled brass furniture including brass insert in the patchbox lid, elegant carving and engraving. This is a beauty!! POR OBO

The rifle is incise carved from one end to the other, in the Baroque-Georgian-Rococco style popular in the 1750's in Europe.

The flintlock is an elegant thing, just look at the hunting scene on the lockplate. It's smaller than you would expect, only 5 1/2 inches long and one inch wide..

Jaeger's have a reputation of being thick, heavy and clumsy, but this rifle is the antithesis of that statement. It is probably the most functionally elegant flintlock rifle that I've ever built. Not only is it beautiful, but it handles like a dream: quick to the shoulder, the eye right on the sights, the flintlock drips sparks and the touch-hole is properly sunsetted for fastest ignition. I haven't shot it, but it should shoot every bit as good as it looks and holds.

The ramrod pipes are beautifully designed and executed. I just love that gargoyle  on the rear pipe. I think he is sticking out his tongue at the tax man.

The side-lock casting shows a bit of French influence. The French were the leaders in arms design at this time. Their work was greatly admired and widely copied.

The brass castings are exquisitely done, the best quality that I've ever dealt with. Their design is elegant, more than matching the carving and engraving. If you look close, you'll see the French influence here , too. I have yet to polish and blue the bolts and screws.

The barrel is heavily engraved up past the rear sight and around the front sight, in the same elegant Baroque-Georgian- Roccoco mix as the castings.

The incised carving goes all the way up the forestock.

The stock is oil finished. European walnut is known for the elegant black streaking and consistent grain formation. It is very strong yet elegant. The barrel is heavily engraved at the breech up past the rear sight and at the muzzle with roccoco scrolling and my signature- quite elegant. The barrel is browned. The lock is antique rust blued. Rubbing  successive coats of oil into the lovely stock has produced a lovely sheen. I wish the photos were better, they don't do the gun justice.  Make me an offer I can't resist.

#594 English Heavy 8 Bore (83 cal) Sporting Rifle  by DOC, tapered octagon to round barrel by Rayl 36 inches long, slow twist for patched round ball, heavy figured walnut especially selected for strength of grain through wrist, checkered wrist, broad iron buttplate, English butt with low cheekpiece, Henry percussion flat spring lock with drip bar, single trigger, double ramrod ferrules on iron under-rib, 2 leaf rear sight, all iron furniture, weight about 12 lbs. Meant for Big Stuff. TENTATIVELY SOLD

#595- Doc-built side by side 20 bore double flintlock smoothbore rifle, barrels tapered octagon to round, low rifle sights, side by side flintlocks, double trigger, rear trigger actuates left lock, front trigger does the right lock, lock panels tapered to the rear with inset locks for excellent grip conformation, double keys surrounded by silver ovals, barrels regulated for stout loads with patched round ball, can shoot shot loads as well. POR

#611- J S Pauley traditional inline pistol by DOC. Pauley invented the in-line percussion action just 4 years after Forsyth invented the percussion system. This gun is based on the White inline action in 50 cal with a swamped barrel in 1-24 twist rifling for patched round ball or bullet. Brass furniture, Doc designed side lock safety mounted where the frizzen used to be, second safety on the hammer handle itself (rotates up into a lock notch, false hammer cocks the inline hammer. AAAA maple full-stock.  Front sight is a blade, rear sight is screw adjustable for elevation.  Marked  Pauley-London' on lock plate.   Uses a #11 cap. POR

  There are three English style ferrules for the ramrod, the trigger guard is also very English. The barrel is 8 inches long, swamped in 504 caliber with 1-20 twist, just right for patched round ball in a pistol. 

The balance in the extended hand is pretty good, probably due to the swamped barrel. The trigger pull is light and quite soft and is adjustable. The rear sight is low and adjustable, the front  blade is soldered on, as original.  White .504 cal barrels have proven to be very accurate with 20-30 gr FFFg and a 490-495 ball with .010-.015 patch. You will also be able to shoot White slip fit .503 bullets, the 400 grain being preferable with up to 80 gr. powder, or the   White PowerStar 300 0r 435 grain saboted bullet with same load. It will kick hard but be very effective on whitetail deer. I once killed a 154 B&C whitetail with that load in a pistol of my design.

The brass sideplate is engraved with a rampant dragon. 

#613- French Dragoon pistol, a very traditional military 20 bore smoothbore personal sidearm, issued by the French, perfect for a Revolutionary persona. Photos will follow as it finishes. POR

 #617- Wender rollover flintlock rifle, 3/4 inch octagon barrels, 36 rifled and 45 smoothbore. Classy 4A maple stock, 2 pieces of coarse

This should be a great small game gun, from squirrels to turkey.

#618- Snaphaunce Lemon Butt 20 bore smoothbore pistol, just the thing for your 1600's persona. Miles Standish probably carried one. (or two) TENTATIVELY SOLD

Now at full cock, with frizzen down in ready to fire position, pan cover is closed. Front sight is missing as is ramrod tip. The amazing thing is how well it points. All iron parts will end up browned. The stock will be oil finished. The snaphaunce is not a primitive lock but is rather sophisticated. It has the advantage of having a separate pan cover, which means you can cock the pistol, keep the pan cover closed, but throw the frizzen forward off the pan, rendering the pistol safe. Some snaphaunces have trigger safeties. This one does not.

Hammer shown down, fired, frizzen thrown back, pan cover is open. Sidelock screws are missing. There will be a little incised carving on the lemon butt, otherwise the pistol is pretty plain.

#655- 45/70 Double Rifle rebarreled by DOC, originally started life as a high quality German 20 gauge double shotgun. It has the best of actions, with double lug underbite and fits up as tight as my banker. It's in the process of regulation, using black powder equivalent loads, ribs are not yet in place. It's been a fun project. Watch for more pics as it gets done. TENTATIVELY SOLD

Some double rifles are easy to regulate, especially the really large caliber ones, but some are really tough. This turned out to be one of the latter. I'll bet that I've soldered and re-soldered the barrels at least a dozen times trying to get the barrels regulated. At the last try, they were shooting 1.5" too wide and on inch too far up and down at 25 yards. That means groups 6 inches wide and 4 inches vertically at 100 yards. Not good enough. I will mill off another .0100" from the muzzle shim and raise the lower barrel muzzle by .0070. Maybe then it will come close. I want a 4-5 inch group at 100.  Each barrel by itself is accurate, but getting them to shoot into the same group has been a decidedly difficult task.  That's why doubles cost so much.

#656- Volunteer Baker Infantry Rifle, 62 caliber Colerain barrel 36 inches long as seen in British Military Flintlock Rifles. Original Tower marked lock, single trigger, Baker furniture with bayonet lug. The walnut is beautiful. The rifle is a bit larger and bulkier than the Baker issue rifle, with a 36" instead of 30" barrel and a fancier stock with lots of color. The walnut  is also dense, heavy and hard. The iron ramrod is capped with a brass trumpet, there are three instead of two brass thimbles, the fore two with trumpet motif, thumb piece, two leaf long range sights and patch box. POR

Note the bayonet lug on the right side of the muzzle. The issue item was a short sword bayonet- it could be used as either sword or bayonet and gave the volunteer a bit of extra length against cavalry..

I am considering putting on a padded leather cheek rest on the left side of the buttstock. The leather cheek rest is very traditional on high quality British rifles and is also seen in BMFR. The awful thing is that it would hide the beautiful wood. Maybe I will let the final buyer make that decision.

These photos show the beauty of the wood, far better than any issue Baker rifle. Some few of the Volunteer Bakers were right fancy.  I just couldn't resist showing off the wood. It came out far better than I expected it to.

The original flintlock is a real sparker, the best I have ever seen. The size of the sparks is impressive with a shower like I have never seen on any other lock, and I have seen a lot.  The lock itself is probably worth more than the rest of the rifle but I could not resist the artistic challenge of recreation.

The thimbles hark back to the German Jaeger, as does the step wrist of the stock. 

The best photo of the color left on the lock is above, right. The two to the left look faded but that is due to my very inexpert photo technique.

Late, late original British military flintlock, dated 1835. Designed for use on a short Cavalry rifle but widely sold for use by para-military units who supplied their own arms at their own expense. Note the absence of an outside frizzen spring. Spring loading of the frizzen is supplied by mainspring pressure through a transfer bar inside the plate.  I have not messed with the finish on it, left it as is, a bit of the original blue remains.

The patch-box, thumb plate, muzzle cap and trigger guard match issue items, but the sideplate is a bit fanciful, with a custom tail. This  is a wonderful rifle for your British Volunteer Rifle Unit persona, even though you lose the Battle of New Orleans.

#657-J P Beck flintlock reproduction now with most furniture installed. Barrel is a 50 caliber 44 " swamped Colerain, flintlock is a Chambers, Maple is AAA. There will be lots of carving and engraving and a wooden patch box cover. I love Beck's work, it's a real pleasure to have him as a mentor. More photos as it finishes. POR

All it lacks is a toeplate (some early guns didn't have them) and the rear thimble. The rear of the sidelock plate needs a little down bend as well. The nice figure in the wood doesn't show in these photos. Photography was never my strong suite. The rifle is long but handles supremely well. Balance for offhand shooting is perfect.

#659- Baker Ordnance Carbine with a round tapered Colerain barrel in 62 caliber with separate hooked breech and tang, 33 inches long, a mix of brass Baker and Long Land pattern carbine furniture and a  flat faced Baker flintlock. It is  pictured in 'British Military Flintlock Rifles.' A very interesting traditional variation on the Baker theme. Only a few were made originally.

The photo above shows the socket bayonet in place. The angle of the photo makes the bayonet look crooked on the barrel but it is not. The socket fits around the front sight and locks on with a dogleg sort of arrangement.  The rear sight is a double bladed folder for 100 and 200 yard shooting, the front an iron combination sight and bayonet lug. The bayonet is polished bright. The Baker Infantry Rifle used a sword bayonet with big lug on the right side of the muzzle. This is an attempt by British Ordnance to standardize bayonet types and sizes. This bayonet also fits the Officers Musket.

The rifle above shows the brass nose cap and front sling swivel, the rear sling swivel is found at the front of the trigger guard on some models and on the buttstock on others. Evidently, both locations were tried. I  decided where to put it on the buttstock this rifle as the trigger guard is awfully thin where the swivel screw is supposed to fit, so it got a rear button, Jaeger fashion. The Baker line is obviously descended from the Jaeger, so a rear button fits right in.

This rifles has been sent to Track of the Wolf. Goto trackofthewolf.com and deal with them if you want to buy it.

The rifle is shootable now,  I really like the fit and feel of this military 'carbine'. It handles beautifully, should make a great hunter as well as serve with His Majesty's troops in any Light Infantry/Rfleman unit in any part of the Empire from Waterloo on. The heavy caliber has become my favorite for big game, which goes down suddenly with a good hit. Few elk run off wounded when smacked by this big 62 caliber. 

The photo below shows the left side of the rifle, taken before the rear swivel button was installed. Note that the front swivel is attached to the front barrel lug for strength and sturdiness..

The Ordnance Carbine came along later than the Baker (then called just 'the Infantry Rifle). It was designed with a Long Land pattern stock, much like the Brown Bess, but used a mix of brass furniture that resembled the original Baker and the Long Land muskets in various ways. The lock was a flat faced Baker, the side-plate similar to the Long Land pattern but fancier, the trigger guard looked like a Baker but fitted closer to the wrist, and the trigger and plate were Baker all the way, as was the nose-cap. The trumpet shaped  ramrod pipes resemble the Baker but there were three rather than just two. The double tapered ramrod was brass tipped iron with not just the Baker's forward bulge that kept it from rattling in the pipes but a double bulge for the same reason. The big Baker bayonet lug for the sword bayonet was omitted and the rifle was fitted with a front sight that acted as a bayonet lug for an ordinary Officer's Musket socket bayonet. There is no patch box. The front under-barrel key is also omitted, the sling swivel screw also acting as a barrel keeper. The original Baker rifle had both. Obviously, this was an attempt to cut costs. It appears the effort was not successful. as only a few of these exist. CALL TRACK OF THE WOLF NOW!

#660- Andrew Vernor flintlock rifle with 50 cal 7/8ths octagon barrel, with classic Vernor incised carving, side opening patchbox and engraving. You can see where the patch box is going to fit. Vernor did a lot of incised carving and was very imaginative in how he applied it. This rifle will sport some of his best designs. POR Watch for more pics as it finishes up.

#661- 8 bore percussion double smooth rifle, that's 83 caliber, in a beautiful, close-grained, very solid walnut stock, meant to shoot a 2 oz. ball at truly big stuff. Barrels are 24 inches long, side by side, will be regulated to hit at 25 yards, weight will come out at about 12+ lbs. Should be a grand back up gun for the 8 Bore rifle above. I even bought a Led-Sled just so I could regulate this one. TENTATIVELY SOLD

#663- Over-Under percussion double 20 gauge X 50 caliber rifle (round ball), original back action locks, double triggers, regulated so ball from either barrel will center at 50 yards, usable with shot in the 20 gauge barrel as well.

#664- Over-under percussion rifle in .451 X .451 caliber for White slip fit bullets, regulated to strike center at 100 yards, original back action locks, double triggers, all iron furniture.

#665- Flintlock drilling with side by side 20 gauge shot barrel on the right, 50 caliber round ball rifle barrel on the left and 36 caliber round ball rifle barrel underneath. Yes the flintlock for the under barrel will be upside down, which works surprisingly well.. All iron furniture. All three barrels regulated to center at 50 yards.

#666- Classic lightweight side by side double flintlock fowler in 20 gauge. The walnut looks pretty ugly here but is pretty underneath all that grime and stain. Manton flintlocks, double triggers, single fore-end key, less than 7 lbs. Iron furniture with a touch of silver.

#667- Dutch Officers Fusil in 16 gauge (67 caliber) with unique chisled brass furniture, very nice walnut with slight underbelly and forearm swell, chisled flintlock, octagon-round barrel by Colerain 40 inches long, sling swivels. Barrel and lock are inletted in the photo below, the stock will slim up a bunch as final shaping takes place.  Watch for photos as it finishes. 

The brass furniture is absolutely elegant, there is a charming grotesque on the buttplate, the other furniture continues the theme. The pierced sideplate and thumbpiece are going to be really fun to inlet.

The stock has been slimmed to final configuration, the barrel is pinned to the stock and the trigger guard partially inletted. The black tape is there only to hold the trigger on for the photo.

This lock is as beautiful as they get. It has an internal bridle but lacks one on the frizzen. A large shouldered screw assures good fit and function for the frizzen. This military arm is a copy of one made just before the Revolutionary War. It will be the perfect longarm for an American patriot of Dutch descent going up against the British. No shooting 'til you can see the white's of their eyes!!

#668- Classic 12 x 12 flintlock double fowler, 28 inch barrels, Egg flintlocks tapered to the rear for a narrow wrist, double triggers, blued steel and brass furniture, cherry stock. por

#669- Dutch 8 bore doglock fowler with 50 inch long barrel by Rayl, early Dutch doglock, brass furniture, Dutch influenced relief carving, the perfect piece for a re-enactor from Hoboken POR

The gun started life as a walnut plank,, shown above sawn to rough shape with barrel sitting lightly, ready for inletting. First I had to make the lock. It's a big one, 7 inches long, but authentic to shape and function. These big lock can be marvelous sparkers.  Since it was usually shot from a rest, the long fall of the flint meant only reliable fire, which along with 2+ oz. of 'swan shot' meant dinner on the table.

The Dutch imported lots of arms in early America, many of surprisingly high quality for the time. This early lock is very well designed. Despite the lack of internal or external bridles, it should be an excellent sparker and provide centuries of service. It helps that it's made of modern steels. Note that the frizzen spring has a very early, wheel-lock-like appearance.

Now the lock, tang and barrel are inletted and the trigger and trigger guard are in place. The buttplate is 2 inches wide and 6 inches high for comfortable shooting. Three screws hold the lock in place. The side-plate is an early serpent or dragon design. There are four pipes for the wooden 7/16th ramrod. When you go hunting or to Rendevous, be sure to take a sturdy young man to carry the gun and hold your forked gun-rest (not supplied).

#672- Wheelock by Zelner, made in the 16th century in Austria,  I have had the lock for 35 years, I had intended to stock a rifle using it, but I doubt that I have the skill to justify the effort. It's probably worth more by itself than it is in a restocked rifle. It really belongs in a museum. I guess it's for sale, but be prepared to reach deep into your pocket. POR

This original lock is by Caspar Zelner, one of a family who made guns in Austria in the 1500's.  The lock dates from probably the late part of that century. He was a well known maker. It has stimulated me to build several wheel-locks. I finally found a lock kit that resembles it. See project #715 at the bottom of the page.

#673- 10 bore double side by side fowler, 32 inch barrels, beautiful piece of walnut, later goose neck flintlocks with panels nicely tapering to the rear, double triggers, all steel furniture finished antique blue or brown. POR

#674- 10 bore double side by side fowler, longer barrels at 38 inches, walnut nicely configures with elegant sweep through the wrist, late double throat flintlocks with panels tapering to the rear for a slimmer wrist, double stock keys, iron scroll trigger guard, wide iron buttplate, double fore-end keys. POR

#675- Doc made Pauley double side by side rifle 504 caliber for heavy White slip fit bullets, AAA walnut with great grain structure and strength,  stainless steel barrels and actions, coil mainsprings, copies Pauley's 1812 patent for the very first inline rifle, uses #11 or musket caps (for dangerous game), double triggers, all iron mounts and furniture, double safety with one incorporated in the separate cocking handles and another controlling both barrels (locks the sear) with thumb control adjustable for either left or right side. Pauley's hammers are false and are used to cock the in-line hammer. The triggers are Doc's invention, only improving on Pauley's concept. POR

This rifle is meant for big loads with big bullets for use on big, dangerous game. 150 grains 777 or Pyrodex P plus a 600 (+) grain bullet recommended. There are double recoil lugs to hold that recoil, plus hooked breeches for easy access and cleaning.

#676- Flintlock double fowler in 16 gauge with original nitro proofed barrels with full and modified chokes. Stock is lightweight cherry with good grain structure. Furniture brass with a bit of French influence. Double triggers actuate the Egg locks. Lock panels are tapered to the rear for a small grip. POR

#686 - Doc built lightweight Sporting Rifle in 451 caliber with 1-20 twist, shallow  .035 grooves for White/Whitworth elongated, multi-channelured slip-fit bullets, same as the modern in-line White 451 rifles shoot.. Barrel is 7/8th inch octagon, 30 inches long with Manton Breech and drip bar so typical of English Sporting-Target rifles. Good looking walnut, all steel furniture except the silver key surrounds. Barrel will be browned, all other steel antique blued. Currently lacks the drip bar and the cap box that fits the butt plate. Weighs 7 lbs., just right for a sheep hunt. Watch for more pics as the project developes. SOLD

#687- Here is a Doc-built Ausbruck Military Jaeger in the original 62 caliber, the model that was brought over by the Hessians during the American Revolution. The barrel is 28.5 inches long and swamped, by Colerain. The lock is the traditional German design, all the brass furniture is copied from an original and construction details are original as well. It will be the perfect rifle for your Hessian persona, marvelously effective in the trenches at Yorktown, even more effective here as the twist in this barrel  is far slower than the fast twist used by the Austrian makers originally. It will be accurate with larger loads than originally used. Should make a great hunting rifle. POR. Make an offer I can't do without.  German gold marks accepted!

The wrist medallion is a true copy of an original military medallion, as is all the furniture. The rear sight has two leaves for, 100 and 200 yard shooting. THIS RIFLE HAS GONE TO TRACK OF THE WOLF, DEAL WITH THEM 763-633-2500 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

The wooden patch box cover is installed, it unlocks with a button at the butt end of the patchbox. The muzzle photo above does not show the front sling swivel while the full length photo up top does. The sling swivel is attached to the barrel for strength. Same withg the sling button on the butt stock in the middle photo above- you can see it in the top photo. Note the brass end on the ramrod, as original. The rifle is  ready to shoot. The originals mostly had single triggers for the bigger part but his one has a DST. Must have been special ordered by an officer or sergeant. It should be a great hunting rifle. Jaeger does mean 'hunter' and German military rifles, as well the English who later copied the Germans, started out as hunting rifles imported into military service. .

The trumpet shape of the pipes eases ramrod entry when hurried. 

The screws will end up fire blued as always, that ugly Phillips head screw on the rear of the trigger guard will get traded off for  proper one. Sometimes I get too excited about getting photos on the website and little details escape me. They are always corrected on delivery. This rifle is now located at Track of the Wolf, goto their website at trackofthewolf.com if you want to buy it. 

Finish on the walnut is plain deep soaked military oil, the lock is antique rust blued and the barrel browned with the brass polished military bright.

This rifle is as plain as a yard of pumpwater, but it is elegantly functional. It makes up  for what it lacks in decoration with the way it handles.  CALL TRACK OF THE WOLF NOW!!!

#688- Here are the beginnings of a slim Lancaster style rifle by Melchoir Fordney. AAAA Maple stock, all traditional hardware and flintlock. Barrel is a lightweight GRRW 13/16" octagon  X 50 caliber. Fordney was the master of incised carving. We will attempt to duplicate his expertise.  POR

I have been holding back this ultra-slim GRRW barrel for nearly 40 years, simply because it is so slim. The barrel walls are 140 thousandths thick all the way to the breech, deep .012 rifling. beautiful 1-66 rifled bore. The barrel is made from 12L14 leaded steel. This stuff makes great, accurate  barrels because it machines so well but is not as stout as  GBQ barrel steel. There was a lot of argument in the 1970-80's about steel for muzzleloading barrels and how thick barrel walls should be. After watching results for all those years I am convinced this barrel is safe for target loads, but at this point, I would not advise using more than 60 grains FFg with a patched .490 ball. I will have it proof tested before I ever sell it. If nothing else, though, the beauty of the wood and the carving will make it a wall-hanger 'sin pariel' and will generate many ooo's and aah's . It is quite light for its legnth and holds very nicely for offhand shooting.

The low rear sight will be dove-tailed into a soldered on lug,  to avoid cutting barrel wall thickness down any more than it already is. This was often done with thin walled smoothbores that required rear sights back in the old days.

#689- Doc built repro of early wide-butted Lehigh Valley rifle by Rupp.  The barrel is a 'B' weight Colerain in 50 caliber, 44" long. The maple is tigered from one end to the other. The flintlock is a Chambers. The furniture for the rifle is seen below the stock. POR

Below: Tang, barrel , lock , buttplate, trigger guard and trigger are now inletted, as are sights and pipes, but not  side-opening domed patchbox. Look close and you see where the domed patch-box will fit.

Look at all that curl in the maple!!  It might a bit hard to see in the photo but it's there AAA at least!

The buttplate is 2 inches wide not including the built in lip for the patch box.  The trigger guard is early classic Rupp, wide and just fitting a single curled trigger. The sideplate has that classic arrow on its back end, almost a signature of Rupp's work. There will be a modest amount of carving and engraving. The early Lehigh guns tended to be plainer than the later ones.

#693 Doc built rifle by Rupp, done later in Rupp's long career. The furniture is pictured below, all brass, all Rupp. He was a prolific maker. POR OBO

Barrel is by Rayl, 50 caliber , 7/8th inch octagon, 42 inches long. The maple is AAA going on AAAA, it should be gorgeous.  The furniture is classic late Rupp, with pointy tail on side plate and toe plate. The buttplate is distinctive, too, with a top reverse inletted into the top of the buttstock, a detail only Rupp used, I think.

The rear entry pipe, ramrod and the patchbox are the only parts missing so far.  Plus, of course, carving and engraving in the Rupp style.

#694- The beginnings of a Lehigh rifle maybe by famous maker Dubbs, but previously attributed to Haines by Kindig. There is a C weight Colerain 44" swamped barrel in 50 caliber in a AAA maple stock, lots of color!  the flintlopck is a Chambers, the trigger single as were most Lehigh Valley rifles, the patch box is a side opener with a spring loaded button in the middle of an engraved flower on the buttplate return. The chevron muzzlel cap and the floral trigger are both nice touches. Watch for more photos as it finishes up. POR

The rifle is now assembled and ready to shoot. The stock still needs some shaping and then finishing , including a good amount of incised carving and engraving on the patch box.

There's lots of good looking cast-in engraving on the brass furniture. Look close and you can see how elegant the striping in the maple is in that small patch of reddish stain on the forestock.

#695- The beginnings of a Baker Infantry Rifle, all parts copied from the original. The finest flintlock Infantry Rifle ever devised and a terrific hunting rifle. SOLD

#696-A good start on a Lancaster style rifle by Peter Gonter, 50 caliber in a 'C' size Colerain 38 inch barrel.  POR

Now the rifle is beginning to fit together.  The AAAA maple is going to be gorgeous. All that is missing is the rear ferrule, toe plate, patchbox, which will be a classic Lancaster flower with peicings, carving and engraving. Watch for more photos as it comes together.

#697 Doc built English Sporting rifle for elongated Whitworth/White .451 bullet, the 'smallbore' of the late percussion long range shooting days, but up to a 520 grain high BC slip-fit bullet. 1-18 twist with shallow .035 rifling. Manton style breech with Henry lock and drip bar. Iron furniture with cap box and fore-end tip, single set trigger, long range sights, round knob pistol grip, under-rib and ferrules. German silver key roundels and side plate. POR

#699- DOC-built English Sporting-Target Mid-Range Rifle in .368 caliber for 300 grain elongated high BC lubricated slip-fit bullet. Has a Wind River gain twist barrel, Manton style English breech with short tang. Mid-range rear ladder peep and front Globe sight are shown with ladder down in the top photo. A classic Henry percussion lock eventually with drip bar is installed, as is a single set trigger and an  iron cap box. Fore-end is contrasting ebony. There is a Prince Henry pistol grip eventually maybe with checkering. Key roundels and side-plate are German silver. The walnut is plain but with good grain structure. TENTATIVELY SOLD

The fore-end piece is traditional ebony. The front sight is an adjustable-for-windage globe: a screw moves the sight left or right.  The rear sight is the classic mid-range sight, can be used with the graduated incline, or erected upright for longer range shooting.

This is the same caliber and bullet used by the WhiteRifles team when they blasted the competition at the 2009 National Manufacturer's Championship, setting a new and never beaten record.   It scared everyone so bad that the match was discontinued. This should likewise make a wonderful rifle for mid-range competition as well as an excellent hunting rifle for whitetail sized game, as it betters the performance of the much respected 38-55.

#700 Here's a start on a very early all iron mounted Brown Bess musket, ca: 1720. Tower marked lock, wooden ramrod, no forend cap, very nice chunk of solid grained walnut, entirely traditional. POR

The barrel is 77 caliber as usual but a full 44 inches long, fitted for bayonet.

#708 - Jaeger Percussion Conversion, New World made with unusual AAAA tigered maple stock, 31" Rice swamped barrel with round groove rifling in 50 caliber, lock has been percussed by removing the frizzen and frizzen spring and cutting the pan for a screw-in drum and nipple.  Furniture is all brass with thumbnail decorations on most pieces, adjustable rear sight, DST, 7/16th" wood ramrod and contrasting walnut patch box cover. Engraved and carved lightly. This is going to be my Target /Rendezvous rifle for summer 2011. It will be for sale in the fall. POR after Sept.

The maple stock is tightly tiger striped and is quite elegant. All the iron is browned. The rifle can be easily converted to flintlock and if you want, be shootable as either flint or percussion, your choice of the day, with separate locks for the two functions..

European Baroque incised carving decorates the rifle, lightly done, at least in comparison to some Jaeger rifles.

The lock has been percussed. Really, I purchased it that way. Looks authentic. The sideplate needs a stand of arms engraved on it. I'll get to that over the summer.

The DST works very nicely.  It's not crowded at all in that Jaeger trigger guard. Note that the finials of the trigger guard and the rear thimble match. I sighted in the rifle and ran the gongs at the annual 'Stone Cliff' Rendezvous near Cedar City UT, in April 2011. The Rice barrel is really impressive- very, very accurate with 60 grains fffG Swiss and .490 ball with 20 thou patch. It shot exactly to where I held it, so much so that I could call the hits with the trip of the trigger. Trouble was that we had a gusty wind to put up with and I wasn't holding the rifle all that well. At least I knew that I missed when the trigger tripped.

#709 This Jaeger rifle has a correct but plainer European walnut stock, early flintlock, 31" swamped barrel in 54 caliber. Furniture will be brass, rococco engraved and chisled, there will be a 2-leaf rear sight, DST and sliding wooden patchbox. As usual with my Jaegers, there will be lots of stock and barrel decoration. Pull is 14" I'm thinking a regal lion or gargoyle for decoration. POR

The Jaeger is missing patchbox cover, ferrules, ramrod, sights, thumbpeice and carving/engraving. Patch for further photos as it finished up.

#710 FRENCH FOWLER- here are the beginnings of a French Fowler in 20 gauge. The furniture will be chisled high relief mixed blued iron and brass. The walnut is plain but has good grain structure. The lock will have a nice banana shape, typical of earlier stuff. The sideplate is a pierced brass early hunting scene. POR

#715 The birth of an Austrian Wheel-lock with fancy (and expensive) chunk of European walnut, Colerain swamped octagon barrel in 54 caliber 38 inches long, elegant chisled brass furniture,  elegant yet functional Germanic style wheel-lock, DST, double-leaf rear sight. TENTATIVELY SOLD

Above you see the European walnut cut from the blank with the barrel partially inset.

The wood is now 'in the sqaure', cut into rough shape with the bandsaw and the barrel and tang inletted. You can visualize the final conformation of the stock with the furniture illustrated with it. Getting just the right amount of carving and engraving is a problem. Not enough is just that, not enough. Too much makes it too garish, over-decorated, superfluous, like the fins on a '57 Cadillac. . Getting it just right takes a lot of finesse and good judgement.

The lock comes from a kit by The Rifle Shoppe. I waited over two years to get the kit, but it was worth the wait. Wheel-locks are complicated pieces of machinery, finicky and fussy to adjust. Getting the timing just right is the great problem. The pull of the trigger drops the primary sear, which opens the secondary sear, which allows the wheel to spin, a knuckle on the the axle of the wheel knocks the pan cover off the pan, the hammer with pyrites drops into the pan and hits the wheel, sparks fly and the powder ignites.

The brass furniture above and below is quite elegant.  The castings are taken from originals.

It's going to be a beautiful rifle, if I can keep the artistic juices flowing. I have to work on rifles of this quality only when the mood is just right. If I try to push it, I make mistakes. Timing is everything, which is why I never guarantee time of delivery.

#718- Palmetto percussion musket, same features as the US 1842 but made in the Palmetto factory in the South with mostly brass fittings, 69 caliber smooth-bore, widely used by the Southern forces during the Civil War. POR OBO

I haven't got the barrel band keepers in the stock yet. The ramrod will adjust to even with the muzzle eventually. All parts are brass except the sidelock plate which is iron. Mixed parts were common in early production, later muskets were all brass after the pre-war supply of iron parts was used up. CSA marked. You Southrons should love this one.

#719- US Cadet musket, issued to military cadets at West Point and the Virginia Military Institute in the 1840's, looks like a lightweight 1835 Flintlock musket but with shorter pull, shorter barrel and lighter barrel in 58 rather than 69 caliber. The stock will need cutting down to the smaller size of course. It will make a perfect trainer gun for a young man or woman. The pull will be 13 1/4 inches to fit a smaller person. POR

#722- Here are the beginnings of a T Ross English Sporting Rifle in 451 caliber for 520 grain bullet. Only the barrel, tang and crude stock are shown now. More photos to follow as it comes together. TENTATIVELY SOLD

#725- The birth of a very elegant Jaeger with elegant European walnut stock, lots of carving to match the elegant chisled furniture. Caliber is 58. Watch for more photos as it comes along. I only work on guns like this one when an artistic fit hits me. I can't push the artwork or I screw it up. Bear with me.

The furniture is deeply chisled with baroque scenes, the elegant lock has an internal frizzen. The walnut is real European that cost more than most rifles. The barrel is a 31" Colerain with round bottom groove rifling. I haven't yet decided on carving, but it will be extensive as will engraving. I hope to make it a very elagant example of the art.

  #726- Griffin English Gentleman's Rifle in 62 caliber. all antique rust blued iron furniture, steel ramrod, Twigg lock, Colerain octagon-round rifled barrel 44 inches long, AAAA walnut, SST, only a bit of understated carving and checkering.  The tigered walnut is absolutely undescribable.

#727- Here you see the birth of a HUDSON VALLEY FOWLER with 12 gauge 44" barrel by Colerain, typically with Dutch furniture and carved decoration except for an English Trade lock.

The maple is AAAA, tigered from one end to the other on both sides.

#728- Here comes a Kings German Legion Rifle, used by George's personal regiment of mounted troops, known to be extremely professional and effective in the Napoleonic conflicts. This short rifle has a 62 caliber, swamped octagon 28.5" barrel mounted in a Long Land style fullstock, which means it looks  a lot like a short Brown Bess with a Baker style flintlock and brass tipped iron ramrod. There was no bayonet or sling swivel. The rifle was carried in a boot. The walnut is elegant, as were many of the originals, the King personally picking up the bill for accutrements.

#729- Here is a nascent Club Butt Bess, actually a Brown Bess musket, restocked by a hometown smith in the Old Northeast with strong Dutch influence, as if the original musket somehow lost its original stock and the parts assembled by a Dutch influenced smith to create an elegant sporting fowler, often also used as a militia musket. The barrel is of course Bess's nominal 77 caliber, 44" long with Bess details at the breech, the lock is an early 1828 'Dublin Castle', the brass furniture is early , matching the lock. Such guns were made for both sporting and militia use, as most gun owners did both in the early days. A plug bayonet comes with it.

#730- You are seeing the birth of a Fergusson Fullstock Sporting Rifle. This will end up a copy of the elegant fullstock Fergusson gentleman's rifle that was in the Keith Neal collection, originally made by Egg. It's 58 caliber, meant to throw a  .600 caliber ball. The conformation of the stock will be typical 1770's English with lightly engraved iron furniture and understated carving and checkering at the wrist

#731- Here's an unusual project, something I have been wanting to make for a long time: a HAWKEN style WENDER rollover percussion rifle-shotgun. Rifle barrel is 62 caliber  and shotgun barrel is 12 gauge smoothbore. Gorgeous wood, late Bridger Hawken buttplate , scroll trigger guard, fancier Hawken toeplate and patchbox, and, (I hope) a DST. Back action percussion lock but Hawken patent breeches, two ramrods- one for rifle, the other for shotgun. This is what I imagine Sam might have made on custom order for an adventuresome client.

Both barrels will be rifle sighted. You will be able to use the 12 gauge for single ball, too.  The 12 gauge will have interchangable chokes. It should be a great hunting combination.

AAAA maple, great wood!!

#732- The bare beginnings of a Dimmick, St. Louis, half-stock 58 caliber plains rifle, iron mounted with JBR buttplate, English drip bar lock butted up against a Manton style long tang English percussion breech, long bar adjustable  rear  sight, two silver surrounded keys, English forend cap, long bar DST in an iron Dimmick hooked trigger guard: all in all, a better, stronger, more functional rifle than a Hawken.

#734- The birth of a Pannabecker flintlock, slim and curved. AAA maple which doesn't show well in the photo. Sharon 50 cal barrel 7/8th by 42 or so. 

Pannabacker was known for the roman nose curve in the buyystock. They are pretty. You have to shoot them old style, straight up, head not forward at all, for the eye to aquire the sights.

There will be a typical angraved Pannabecker animal headed patchbox, a horse in this case, plus modest carving for decoration. Watch for photos as the rifle finishes.

#735- In the beginning!- barrel and stock for a 10 Bore flintlock rifle. Octagon to round barrel by Rayl, 77 caliber with slow twist and deep rifling for high velocity patched round ball. Perfect for Tigers in India with the Raz. The walnut is right elegant. Note the curve through the grip, grown especially for a hard kicking gun like this one. Watch for more photos as this elegant rifle developes.

It will sport all iron fittings, with broad buttplate to soak up recoil, scrolled trigger guard, single trigger, English flintlock by Chambers, Manton style Patent Breech with hooked tang, double leaf rear sight.

#736- The bare beginnings of a long anticipated project. I found this barrel in a Shanandoah Valley antique shop in 1961, during my second year of medical school  in Washingtom DC. It has served as a door stop until I finally had it re-lined . Sometime in the 70's I found the English Sea Service lock pictured, in ratty condition, at an Eastern Rendevous. Both have been sitting around , waiting to get back into a functioning rifle for nigh 40 years. Looks like it's finally going to happen.    Naturally, it will be a Virginia rifle, iron mounted, dark if not black. Watch for photos as it builds.

The barrel is hand forged, octagon, swamped, originally about 54 caliber and restored with a liner to the same caliber. It needs pipes, sideplate and sights plus stock.

Left: the original front sight is very low, just a sliver. This is what they meant when they speak of 'fine' sights. Left Middle: the rear sight slot, not very deep at all, the blade broken off long ago. Right Middle: the barrel breech. Note the size of the touch-hole. It's obviously rusted out but even counting the rust, it was originally much larger than anything we consider at present. Right: barrel lug in a filed slot, a fairly sophisticated treatment for such a crude barrel. Should I leave it rusty and pitted or clean it up? How about half and half with purposefully rusty/pitted/antique finish on all iron parts (except lock internals) to match?

Left: the Sea Service lock, used on an English marine pistol. These used to be fairly common at gunshows and rendezvous. I have owned several and all were real sparkers. Right: you can see the dimples in the barrel iron where the smith pounded the flats into the barrel. Perhaps barrel smiths found it easier to make a barrel octagon rather than round back in the days when modern engine lathes were not available. 

#737- The birth pangs of a Griffith steel mounted 12 bore fowler, Colerain octagon-round 44 " barrel, nice walnut  with a bit of figure in the buttstock, steel furniture from the Rifle Shoppe, all exceptionally beautiful castings, steel ramrod. The built in tang will be modified into a hooked breech eventually. 

There will eventually be a 62 caliber rifle just like this fowler, making a Rifle-Fowler pair looking and handling very much alike. 

#741- Here comes a reproduction of a famous rifle dating back to the French and Indian War. Barrel is by Rayl, 1 3/16th inches at the britch, swamped down to an inch then muzzle swelled at 1 1/8th inches and 44 inches long in 62 caliber with progressive 1-90 down to 1-48  twist, deep grooves for patched round ball. The stock is AAAA maple, none better, with palm swell, furniture is all brass with mixed provanance, English fowler buttplate,  Dutch influenced trigger guard and side plate, French ferrules (not shown) and a really elegant French flintlock. It's long and heavy, made for use off a rest, probably used for fortification defense- ie for long range sniping. Watch for more photos as it finishes up.

The rifle lacks sights fore and aft, thumbpeice on top of the wrist, three ferrules to hold the ramrod, and a small amount of incised decoration. It would make a great over-the-log rifle

    Coming sometime (sooner or later) in no order of appearance

Brown Bess flintlock musket. long land pattern, classic 1742 brass fittings.

Several Double flintlock fowlers in 12, 16  and 20 gauge

.615 cal double percussion African rifle for 900 grain SuperSlug

.730 cal percussion double African rifle for 1200 grain SuperSlug

1795 US flintlock musket

Lightweight Dimmick St Louis rifle

A Dutch fowler or two

Pair of lightened Ruger Old Army percussion pistols with custom octagon barrels, fluted cylinders

Three barreled percussion drilling, 2 above 50 cal, tight twist for slug, 12 ga. under barrel for shot

1816 flintlock 69 cal musket with original restored lockplate

3 barreled percussion Wender in 12 smoothbore, 62 and 50 rifled

Cadet Rifle with original military rolling block action and barrel in .50/55 Carbine

Olympic style percussion target pistol with Hamilton in line action

1/3 scale cannon by Norman Wiard

5/8 scale breechloading cannon by Whitworth

Leman fullstock flintlock rifle with original Leman barrel

Schuetzen 10 lb target rifle

several 1895 Mauser bolt action rifles for heavy bullets and BT209 powder, . 451 caliber

Hagerstown Hawken flintlock

Break open 12 bore double percussion shotgun 209 ignition

10 bore Colonial doglock fowler

12 smoothbore X 69 rifled side by side double flintlock

pair 62 caliber percussion & flintlock round ball double rifles

69 caliber percussion round ball double rifle

69 caliber short fullstock Jaeger flintlock double rifle

Kentucky stocked BB gun

Beyer flintlock rifle

Short English flintlock FULLSTOCK sporting rifle 58 cal. 38" barrel

Fusil Fin 20 bore

flintlock mortar gun for tennis balls

Southern perc rifle left hand with original Golcher lock

Wender flintlock 58 rifled & 20 Smoothbore iron mounted English style

English 12 gauge half stock flint fowler

Several heavy caliber Plains and Hawken pistols

NorthWest gun in 20 gauge

Edward Marshall rifle 62 caliber

Christian Springs transitional rifle with Wolf's Head patchbox

 doglock pistol

British Sargeant's carbine 62 cal

Nock Volley gun in 45 caliber

7 barrel goose gun in 32 caliber