Need ornate Penn rifle pics

tokguy

tokguy

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Serendipity has occurred in my world. I had a Green River Rifle Works kit ( partially carved ) languishing in the roof rack in the garage. The kit instructions were by Wm. Buchele, it's not a Buchele though.
Back to the main point. I've run across a Woman who is quite an artist, I'm not mentioning her name without permission...but she's good. She wants to tackle the outside work...not the metal in-letting though. She wants a little guidance as to where to go from here.
She's enough of an artist that I'm willing to throw down the reins & let her take her lead...then it'll actually be 'Her' art.
But if anyone has an pics of their ( or other's) ornate ML's...pls post them up here. Maybe it'll help give her a bit of inspiration as to where to go next.
Attached some of the original Photobucket pics of it.
Bucheleplansrifle004.jpg

Bucheleplansrifle002.jpg

Bucheleplansrifle005-1.jpg

Bucheleplansrifle003.jpg

Photobucket...arggh!

Thanks for any replies
Tokguy
 
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What follows is based on my assumption your objective is to build a longrifle that follows a school and period. Please disregard if that is not the case.

I recommend you start by deciding which school and period you want to recreate. The profile of your pre-carved stock - particularly the butt profile will determine the most appropriate school and period. The profile of your butt and that of the plans would suggest the Womelsdorf - Reading school and the narrow profile of the buttplate suggests a late or "Golden Age rifle.
In my opinion, that trigger guard is appropriate for a plains rifle, but is not appropriate for any Pennsylvania rifle. I also think the profile of the plates on the two locks shown - the upper one in particular - will inhibit your ability to achieve pleasing lock panels.

Check out the American Longrifles.org website. Many top-notch builders are members and they are more than willing to lend a helping hand. You will find tutorials, a forum on rifle building and many examples of contemporary builds. There are tutorials and much discussion of carving and decoration in general. They also have an excellent photo library of original pieces. I am particularly fond of the work of J.P. Beck, but that is a different school.
h ttps://www.americanlongrifles.com/

The Contemporary Maker's Blog spot is a showcase for the work of contemporary builders. It is well worth a browse.
An internet search should get you to the site.

I think Bouchelle's Recreating The American Longrifle is the best stand-alone instruction manual. Chuck Dixon's The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle is another very good manual. I also have Peter Alexander's manual and occasionally find it useful but, to be honest, I don't think I would buy it again. The American Longrifles website has all you should need to augment Bouchelle's book.
 
Well; it's got most big parts in triplicate ( different versions), butt plates, trigger guards...maybe even triggers. I don't know why 'Bear Paw' ordered so many pieces...but he did. It's a high end kit gun; Green River Rifle Works, Leman Indian Rifle kit with a 1 1/16" bbl - 250$ plus an extra 120 in parts...this being bought in '81 mind you ( found the order forms and invoices )
I'm going to get her to follow the lines of a 45 Kentucky...already dropped off a CVA for her to work alongside of. Truth be told; if it's a decent looking piece, that shall suffice. High end period pieces are a bit boring IMO...and languish on EE that I can tell.
It's a bet...but I'm guessing that her name on it will be worth something down the road. She's REALLY good.
Original purchaser started to carve...then...winter crickets...no one knows.
If she can create a unique, semi period correct piece; I'll hunt deer with it and hang it in the Bunkhouse when I'm at home...good enough.
Regards
 
I will suggest "Steel Canvass; The Art of American Arms" by R.L.Wilson. There's a 25 or so page chapter on the Pennsylvania and Kentucky guns and the art that was put on them.
I'm not too sure where you could find a copy, or even if there's a way to find it online.
I'll not lend you my copy, sorry, because I'm missing too many books (and tools unfortunately), but if you PM me, I could take some pics and text or email them to you.
(be patient: I'm not on Gunnutz very often these days)
Lionel
 
It'd be worth checking if your local independent book shop stocks "Muzzleloader Magazine" which is a pretty good publication for arts, crafts, lifestyle and firearms related stuff from the fur trade era. Some issues have features on long rifle builders that are quite good.
 
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