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This is a two year project I just finished. I plan on firing it tomorrow.

Nice! I really like a well-done plain rifle, and you have crafted a fine-looking one. Let us know how it shoots.

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Pisgah

Looks great, I really like the wood on the stock. Care to share more specifics on the gun?

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I invest in Lead and Copper!

Beautiful!
Steve W

Very nice.............what are the specifics of the weapon?

Very pretty! Did you burn in the tiger stripe?
Maple stock - or walnut?

Very nice flintlock. I took the liberty of adjusting your first photo so as to more clearly show the lock and the woods figure. I like it, a lot.

Larry

Attached Images

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Thanks everybody...I took way too long to finish this kit, but am glad I had other things get in the way and the ability to take care of everything. It started out as one of Jim Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle Kits, I ordered the extra fancy maple...other than that it is just one of his excellent high quality kits, Rice square bottomed .45 swamped barrel, Chambers Late Ketland lock, trigger and metal furnishings provided by Jim. I finished all the metal to 320/400 grit, used emery cloth on metal blocks for the barrel flats, the final finish on the metal work is a darkening solution I prefer to traditional brown. I got the stock finished down to 320 grit and then applied Aqua Fortis or Iron Nitrite, this soaks into the wood, is left to dry then heat is applied. I used a heat gun and you need to be careful around leading edges because you can scorch it. It turns a reddish brown and brings out the highlights where the solution has soaked into the softer grain. I then sanded it out 400 grit and repeated the process, turning a deeper reddish brown. I had experimented with dyes on scrap pieces that were provided by Jim along with aqua fortis and chose an orange leather dye to really pop the tiger stripe. After all that dried I applied three coats of an old school finish made from equal parts Gum Turpentine, Boiled Linseed Oil, and Beeswax, you apply it to warm wood and rub in by hand, let sit a couple days and repeat. I'm excited to shoot it tomorrow and prepared myself by installing an extra tall front sight so I got plenty of blade to remove to get a proper zero.

Wow! I like it.

Just Beautiful, and Graceful looking.

That would be fun to Shoot. Always Dreamt
of getting a Flintlock and getting a Deer with
it.

Once out at the Shooting Range a Gentleman
Vietnam Vet showed up, I was about to shoot
my Ruger 1911 for the first time, said I would
be honored if he would be the first to shoot it.
He did.

After that he gets out this long case, and pulls
out a Percussion Kentucky Rifle, said he needed
help sighting it in.

He just kept loading it, and letting me sight it in.
Talk about being accurate, so accurate!

I think he had more fun seeing me enjoying, and
shoot'n the Rifle.

Thank you for showing your Flintlock and bringing
back a memory.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

I had heard of people burning the stripe on wood to imitate naturally striped maple and have striped a loading rod by taping a barber-pole like stripe then using a torch to leave the pattern. This maple came striped and unless stained a very dark brown or near black would always have shown its character. It is often referred to as "swamp maple" and was not highly prized by furniture makers and many considered it a flaw in the wood. Gun stocks on the other hand have often been stocked with figured maple, I prefer it over carving and inletting...I also do not have that artistic bent and have always preferred my firearms rather plain, yet well finished.
After the final finishing with aqua fortis it is highly recommended that you neutralize the solution with ammonia, otherwise the iron that is suspended in the solution will continue to darken, which explains why so many of the truly original unfinished guns are nearly black unless otherwise worn by use. I neutralized mine which stops the process, after that the dye was applied. A friend of mine that builds museum quality muzzle loaders recommend getting a choice of dyes, yellow, orange, red, brown, black and trying them out on a piece of the stock. I got down to orange and red and applied red to half of the barrel inlet that was treated with aqua fortis and orange to the other, the orange won. The red was too dark for my taste, under bright light this stock is very pretty if I must say so myself....I've been telling friends that "its too pretty to shoot." We all know better, they are all made to shoot.

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Another shot

Beautiful!

Very well done. You took your time, did some research, gathered information from other knowledgeable folks, experimented with the dyes to obtain what you wanted, then finished the components as you desired. Then assembled everything into a most handsome rifle.
I am sure it will shoot as good as it looks, look forward to a range report. Enjoy your rifle.

Nice musket! I love the wood finish.

That looks like a very nice rifle. I haven’t taken the plunge into blackpowder/muzzle-loading yet but I’m very close...

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Some Might Say.

Very nice - good job!

Nice lollipop!

Yeah, I've always been a fan of the lollipop tang, I believe it helps with recoil control, that along with a bit off set at the butt and a little drop in the stock all help to make shooting more enjoyable. I shot the rifle at 50yds Wednesday and need to install a taller rear sight due to needing to file too much off the front. I like a tall front sight to reduce mirage, especially in the heat of summer. So its money in bank for Track O the Wolf, for my money the best parts for black powder stuff.

That is a beautiful rifle. You did a very nice job building it.

Thanks for sharing.

Best Regards,mLes

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064