Then it was time to make the ramrod. Sanded a taper on a 5/16" rod so it'd slip through the pipes. Once that was accomplished, A piece of the same diameter hot rolled steel was turned into a ramrod tip. It ain't real period correct, but the gun is intended to be used and something was wanted that was a bit more dependable. After the rod was cut to length, wood was removed at the tip of the forearm to allow easy access to the rod for removal. Hoot Al and Hawkman Dan were in the shop tonight giving me pointers on how to do all this. I think they may still be down in the shop discussing the merits of their suggestions to each other, even though the shop was closed about an hour and a half back! Well what'd ya think about how it looks? Cheers, Bookie

S_Forearm_Tip_.jpg (42 KB, 126 downloads) FA Tip

Now, one thing that I overlooked to explain earlier is the fact that I offset the ramrod towards the lock panel side of the fowler. The reason being is that the little .410 barrel is pretty small "across the flats" and the lock's mainspring would enter the ramrod hole big time. That being considered by me to be a major fubar, was undesireable. This first photo shows the width of the stock at the uppermost thimble.

S_Offset_1_.jpg (30 KB, 107 downloads) os1

The second photograph shows the width of the stock down at the entry pipe. Can you spot the angle of the groove?

S_Offset_2_.jpg (33 KB, 104 downloads) os2

When the stock is final shaped, the angle of the ramrod groove will be almost unnoticable. Now all that being said, I started slimming down the forearm tonight. Will go almost to the entry pipe before quitting. Want to make the trigger guard and get it fitted into the stock first.....maybe start tomorrow. Cheers, bookie

S_Upper_FA_Shaping_1_.jpg (47 KB, 121 downloads) ufa shape

Mr Bookie,
Knowing what I know about the crowd that hangs out around here...I am offering my services to you (free of charge!) Now, the closer this build gets to completeion, everybody and there uncle will be offering to take it off yer hands and laying claim to it.Heck theyll be hollering and jabbing at each other to get in line first! (verbal jabs, you know how THEY can be)
Now back to my services...I will volunteer to take this sweet little number off yer hands!! You wont even have to listen to the other fellas and gals! The gun will already have an owner! ME!!! All of this of course is offered cause I think yer an allright guy. Now if it wer MR. Fiddle Dee Sticks I wouldnt make such an offer.

Just go ahead and finish it up as expected and send it my direction (post paid of coarse, my goodwill only goes so far )

Takin one fer the team,
buck

Your right there Buck, have seen it take shape and it will be a good old rabbit gun. We have tried to talk him out of it, no luck. Angus I will take myself out of the guess work, but I think I got a pistol almost as heavy.

Evenin', Gents. Started making the trigger guard today. Here is a photo of the brass stock I have laying around. It used to be 3 X 5 feet and weigh a couple of hunnerd pounds. It is 3/16" thick....and really not much lighter....

S_TG_Kit_.jpg (42 KB, 112 downloads) TG Kit

Drew out a rough pattern and used yellow glue to hold it on the brass. Took Hawkman Dan and I about half an hour to cut it out of the chunk which was removed earlier in the day from the sheet. It's about 12 inches long. Tomorrow, I'll start filing it into shape.

S_TG_Blank_.jpg (33 KB, 106 downloads) TG Blank

Holy mother of nonferrous metal! Where did you get such a big piece of brass?

Bioprof, it was presented to me by an adoring fan. All it cost was a simple "thank you". Cheers, Bookie

The trigger guard is well under way. It should be with brother Angus and Hoot Al over here tonight cheering me on. I've six photos to share with you of it's construction for as far as I got this evening. Would like to try to get'er done before i leave for San Francisco Saturday morning...but we'll see. The first pic shows the blank shaped out.

S_TG_Blank_Shaped_.jpg (32 KB, 82 downloads) TG BS

This next one shows that I've been bending on it to try and get it close to a fowler guard shape and not a NW Trade Musket.

S_TG_Bending_.jpg (48 KB, 83 downloads) TG Bend

It took a while (I shudda realized I wasn't holding my tounge correctly)but she's bent into rough shape.

S_TG_Bent_.jpg (40 KB, 81 downloads) TG Bent

Now that's all well and good, but it lacks a curl at the rear of the inside of the bow. so we filed a notch in'er.

S_TG_Notch_.jpg (39 KB, 91 downloads) TG N

Yeah. I know. There's a ding in the curve where I whanged'er too hard. The curl was cut from a thinner piece of scrap stock and prepared for soldering in place.

S_TG_Curl_.jpg (42 KB, 85 downloads) TG C

The last one for tonight is one of the curl cooling from being soldered onto the bow. Got to do some clean up, final shaping, and neat filing so we can get'er inletted next week. Cheers, Bookie

S_TG_Solder_.jpg (42 KB, 107 downloads) TG Solder

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This will be a fine fowler as is all the work to come from Toad Hall. The wrist on that stock is skinny. I don't think I've ever seen Brother Book bite his tongue so much wangin on a piece of material. Maybe that was what was left of the chocolate MOON PIE he nibbled on. Of course the bar dawgs had first pickin's of the gooey middle. I think the dawgs did a number on the case of pies judging by the pile of wrappers around their throne and the marshmallow on their whiskers.
Hawkman, I think the trigger guard for my next chunk gun will weigh more than that .410.

You know Angus, by the time he puts powder and shot in that gun the weight will double.

quote:

Originally posted by hawkmandan:
You know Angus, by the time he puts powder and shot in that gun the weight will double.

The gun's weight or Bookie's weight?

quote:

Originally posted by Bookie:
The second photograph shows the width of the stock down at the entry pipe. Can you spot the angle of the groove?

You mean like this?