Pet projects

[Bob/FLA]

Anybody got any projects going on this winter?
Mocs, bags, things to trade?

I'm in the middle of building an archery business so I'm pretty busy.  Thinking of going to the Alifia River rondy later this month in FLA.  Anybody elso going?

Dang...winter is boring...

[Ladobe]

Yepper's.   Got 2 Shining Mountains type possible bags and a turtle medicine bag for the trade blankets... and just bought 5 rifles and a pistol - one rifle for the blanket and a couple that are going to get redone "brown" for myself.   But its calling season here, so the works going slow.

Just too many irons in the fire this time of year.

Ladobe

[Super Rat]

Nothing to trade, but I'm waiting for the big brown truck to bring me a Jaeger Kit...talk about anticipation! But that will keep me very busy. Maybe obsessed is a better word.  :shock:

Archery bizz...that sounds very cool. I've made a few Indian bows, only have one left, a neat little rawhide backed 82 pound short bow. Nice little companion to my Brown Bess carbine. It's real short, so carries real nice in it's case & quiver on the back. If me powder gets wet, I can whip it out and still put up a good fight!  :roll:

I haven't been shooting my bows for a long time, keep saying I'll get back into it, but never do. Would like to get me a nice long bow one of these days, a 72" at about 65 to 70 pounds. Do you make long bows?

[Bob/FLA]

Don't make bows, but we carry a full line of stuff geared mostly to traditional shooters.  We started out making our own flemish strings and string jigs. Then moved to Chundoo shafting.  Now making custom arrows.  We should have a web presence by the end of the month and will carry everything else you can imagine.  It's definately NOT a full time job, but it is a way to have fun at a lifelong hobby.  Besides, I learn something new everyday and meet some great people along the way.

My next pet project is a "possibles bag", not to be confused with a  shooting pouch.  You know, large rectangular bag you throw all your exrta crap.  I actually have a really cool "period" backpack which is nothing more than a linen bag that you wear on your back.  A sash is used to tie the top shut, loop over the shoulders and tie to two loops on the bottom corners of the bag.  VERY COOL!!!  But there are days when I need a place for the tree rats, or a couple of apples and some jerk.


I like thiings simple, so it shouldn't take very long to whip one out...as a matter of fact...where did I put that hunk of canvas???

[Grump]

Anxiously waiting for my .45 underhammer buggy rifle to be delivered.

[turfman]

Hi guys.

While I'm not ready to build my own long rifle. I am ready to build one of the semi customs. Anybody have any suggestions from companies such as( chambers, track, pecatonica, tva, golden age) And what kinda prices made you happy with the rifle.

What I'm looking for is a Pennsylvania poor boy rifle. I don't think I have the talent or patience to start hacking away with the carving implements.

Thanks in advance.
turfman.

[spotteddog]

Hey turfman im looking to build a longrifle also,interested in the same suppliers you mentioned and also Cabin Creek.Im wanting to build a plain Lancaster or maybe a Bucks county.Very interested in seeing the replies about those companies,in general I have heard all them are very reputable  and good to deal with.
spotteddog

[Super Rat]

Turfman:

I got my Jaeger kit from the Track at last. I'm very happy with it, but: I think it's a higher "difficulty" or skill level kit than some of the others. I'll be doing some things I've never done before, such as drilling the pin-holes, and inletting many parts. They describe this kit as "fully inletted", but I find it is semi-inletted at best.

Of course the Davis lock and Colerain barrel are absolutely awesome. It will be a great gun, but plan on really spending some time with a Track of the Wolf kit. The good news is that this kit is quite a few hundred dollars less than many of the other kits, so you can save a lot of money. The swamped Colerain barrel was standard on my gun. I almost went with the TVM "in the white" rifle, but with a swamped barrel it would have cost substantially more than the Track kit.

Last year I ordered a Pedersoli kit from Dixie, the Brown Bess carbine, and it was much more easy. I had to do a lot of shaping on the stock, but it was pretty much "sand and assemble". Fully inletted, pin holes all drilled. It made into a very nice, reliable, and accurate gun. The lock is great, the touch-hole was located very well, and it has VERY fast ignition. I did have to heat and bend the cock slightly to align it perfectly with the frizzen. It also came with a really nice piece of wood, with very unique figure/grain.

[Bob/FLA]

Well, it sounds like everyone is having a fruitful winter.   New toys, new  bags...

I will start shooting again next week.  The neck and shoulder are healing and I figure a few shots will tell me where I am in that process.  Besides, I just HAVE to smell some smoke.

[turfman]

super rat.

The yeager kit does seem like it would be a nice rifle.( nothing like a .62 for knock down) I used to go to rendevous with my father years ago. I have 2 pennsylvania rifles one a lancaster style and one a westeren pa stlye. Also have a "curly" trade gun.( that my father bought for me in 1983 for Get this $250!!) I'd like to get back into the rendevous but feel I need to update my equipment ( since I'm about 6" taller and 100lbs heavier since I last attended one ) I'm thinking I'd like to go for the early westren movement around 1810-1820. I was thinking I would buy/biuld a harpers ferry; but now I'm thinking I'd like to build/buy a kinda poor boy rifle on the Pa lines. Both my custom longrifles are very ornate; I just can't see that would be the frontiersman rifle of that period. ( To me that would be like everyone carrying a $20,000 rifle to beat around the woods instead of a plain savage, ruger, rem, win. etc.)

I guess I'll buy a plain kit and leave it at just that. York style this time I think.

Good luck with the Jeager.
turfman

[rollingb]

Turfman,.... I used to git "fancy maple" from TOTW, but now I jest git ther "plain maple". I was pleasantly surprised with the "plain". It has purty good curl in the "comb and cheek" area, and fades out ahead of the "wrist" area. Looks more like sumpthin a "work'n man" might'a carryed out west (and it's a lot cheaper).

[rollingb]

Bob,.... Hey bud!!... I hope you heal up soon!! Ya ain't help'n "blackpowder sales" none,.... when ya ain't make'n smoke!!  

[crow_feather]

Hey Rollingb,
Have you read some of these other threads lately.  Some guy got a buck with a scoped treehawk.  Is that some kind of Southern rifle?

And some guy wants to put glowin sites on his rifle.  I guess you could throw a couple of lit lucifers up there but ya best be careful around the powder.


C F

[rollingb]

Crow-feather,..... I thot, I tolt'ya before,.... a scoped tree hawk,.... is'a,.... "chicken hawk, what wears bifocals"!!

and,.... my riflegun sights "glowed" one night,.... when I got drunked and dropped my rifle in'na "council fire"!! (which reminds me,... are you in tha market, for'a barrel with'a few slivers'a charred wood attached??) :gulp:  

[crow_feather]

Rollingb,

When they holler fire, ya pull da trigger - not throw  it in!  

Glowin sights - Chicken hawks - next thing ya know, pilgrims'll be talkin about 250 yard shootin and puttin thet new smokliss powder down their barrels.

Come ta think of it, I know where you could put that hot barrel.

c f

[rollingb]

Crow Feather,....  :-D    
YEEEEOOOOWWWWW!!!!... Thet'd have me hop'n 'round like one'a them ol' timey mountain man "Bal-ler-eenas"!!!!!!

[Super Rat]

Yep the more plain type rifles have a beuty/grace all of thier own. If the rifles you have are somewhat fancy, then a more plain rifle would be the way to go for sure. But, so many choices! A York sounds good. What caliber?

I haven't been to a rondie for many years, but it would be fun to go again. My skins still fit, but I think I'd go for some cotton or wool period pants this time. Last time I went all I had was my 1863 Remington rifled musket, not exactly what you would see at a real rendevous! Now I will have the Jaeger, and my Brown Bess carbine, which will be much more better.

I've often thought that if I could be sent back in time to be a Mountain Man, that my "rifle" of choice might just be the Brown Bess carbine, and not a rifle. With the rifle sights on her, (TRADITIONAL! NO glow-sights!!!) she stays on a paper plate out to 85 yards. But the ability to load up some shot seems like it would be a real plus.

I got a plain maple stock with my Jaeger, and it indeed is a nice piece of wood. It has plenty of nice figure and color. That will be perfect, as my goal with this rifle is for it to look very plain at first glance, but then as you start looking closer, and at the  details it comes "alive". That's the plan anyhow. It has all iron trim too, not a speck of brass on it.

Going to do some work on it today, try to get the barrel into the stock.

[tryit]

I just got two barrels back form Bobby Hoyt. They are in .38 and really nice. I got the barrels from one of those camping buckskinners that used the rifles to shoot off around the campfire. The 3/4 inch is for my lady and the 13/16 is for me. I have 2 stocks one in walnut for the 3/4 and curly maple for me. These stocks were 90% shaped by Jack Garner a while back and I hope to have them ready by spring. They will be nipple guns with Siler and L&R locks which ever lock chosen by the Lady will go on the 3/4 barrel. My Ballard actions will go for hardening next week I have the stocks ready. I can hardly wait to retire. Tryit.