Build #2 Pennsylvania Fowler - COMPLETED

[Smokin' Joe]

This is my Jim Chambers Pennsylvania Fowler circa 1760 - 1770 parts kit:  20ga. (.62 cal.) smooth bore with a 46" octagon to round barrel.  (I started this Fowler in Jim Parker's muzzleloader class in Alabama.)  The rifle is essentially ready to make sparks.
Most all of the inletting is complete.  I still have plenty of stock shaping to a good to wood to metal fit, finishing,  rust browning of parts, brass polishing and a ram rod.  I'm still a novice and learning this trade.

I'll load pictures as progress is being made.

 

[Kentucky Colonel]

Go, Joe, Go! Love watching what you're up to over there.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Colonel, when you get those Silver wire inlay skills perfected I'll send my guns over to you!  We'll then sell them and make millions!  60 / 40 split of course.   :lol:

 

[Kentucky Colonel]

:shock:

Millions? ... Should I use gold? Or, platinum?

The Bruckheimer Rifle by Clay Smith in silver and gold...

This was commissioned by the wife of producer Jerry Bruckheimer as a Christmas gift in 2009

Lordy, Joe that is a lot of pressure for a guy who is still in the middle of screwing up his first powder horn... 
:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Talk about pressure, I don't think my rifle will quite look like that.  :Hide:  But it is good to have "lofty" goals.  

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Working on the barrel and stock.  Barrel is ready for browning.  The stock needs more shaping yet but it is coming along fine.

 

[exMember]

Looks like it will be a great build! Looking forward to seeing the final finish.

 

[patocazador]

The inletting on the butt plate looks really difficult. You did an excellent job as far as I can see.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Lots of hours of inletting, little by little.  In fact, I was completely surprised how much inletting there was to do.  I'm slow at it also.  Once you get it close,  than you hold the part you're inletting over a lit candle to get it black with soot.  Place the part in the inlet, the soot will transfer to the area that needs to be removed.  Long process which was all new to me.

 

[patocazador]

You can use Prussian Blue too but it's messy. I bought 1 small tube at the auto parts store about 15 years ago. I still have 7/8ths of it. Also carbon black which is the same as soot.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Bought me a new tool for carding my barrels between coats of rust-browning or rust bluing.  This one is the 4 - row baby-soft stainless steel wire carding wheel from Brownells.  Hopefully it will be easier now to get that nice satin finished look.

UPDATE!  Tried the wire wheel for carding my browned barrel.  It took some of the brown off.  I didn't have good control, couldn't keep from brushing the wheel too hard at times.  I found using a scrub brush with the plastic bristles, brushing the barrel very lightly worked fine for me.

 

[Kentucky Colonel]

Bought me a new tool for carding my barrels between coats of rust-browning or rust bluing.  This one is the 4 - row baby-soft stainless steel wire carding wheel from Brownells.  Hopefully it will be easier now to get that nice satin finished look.

Ooo... nice.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Project is stopped "on again"! 

I made a rookie error today and installed the muzzle cap "crooked".  Not sure how to proceed.  Muzzle cap is Super Glued on so there's no removing it.  I'm very disappointed in myself.   :cry:

 

[Kentucky Colonel]

Oh, no, Joe. 

You'll get it sorted. Try acetone. It breaks super glue down. Hopefully, 
it can get everywhere it needs to. Soak that puppy. I bet it will work.

And, I went looking at your new toy carding wheel at Brownells. 
They are now back ordered. You got the last one!

 

[exMember]

possibly lightly tap on it with a plastic hammer to loosen it. That super glue will give out eventually at some point.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

OK thanks!  I think I have it close.  I removed a little wood and squeezed the nose cap in my vise.  My "wife" came in the room and suggested it.  

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Got a little more work done on the Fowler:  Have two coats of Formby's Tung Oil on the stock, waiting for the second coat to dry thoroughly overnight.  I'll put 3 or 4 more coats on it than see how it looks.  The stock is still soaking it up and looks pretty dry yet.  The barrel has been browned.  I put a couple of coats of Renaissance Wax polish on it.

 

[patocazador]

I like the color of that stock.  :Red tup:

 

[Buck Conner1]

possibly lightly tap on it with a plastic hammer to loosen it. That super glue will give out eventually at some point.

Good your wife told you what to do. I hate that when these woman are right, they never let you forget it.  :|

A friend used Brownells - ACRAGLAS<img class="emojione" alt="" title=":registered:" title=":registered:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/00ae.png?v=2.2.7"/> and didn't pay close attention to the release agent, ended up with barrel glassed into the barrel channel. He called to see if I was home, came over and we spent several hours getting the ACRAGLAS<img class="emojione" alt="" title=":registered:" title=":registered:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/00ae.png?v=2.2.7"/> to let loose. We warmed the barrel then ran outside and put the barrel and stock in the snow until cold. Then tapped on the barrel with a rawhide hammer then repeated the shock treatment for over 2 hours and finally success the barrel was free. A true sweat job as the gun belonged to a gal he was dating. She was happy with the end results then dumped his butt... :cools:   :scratch:  :lol:  

 

[Smokin' Joe]

Pennsylvania Fowler complete!