Info on a few of my muzzleloaders

[mlrifleNY]

I started to shoot muzzleloaders competitively In 1977. I always liked the few Penn. long rifles I saw at shoots but they were all custom built. I could not afford one so I found a local gun shop that sold all the parts. I bought all the parts I needed and built my first long rifle. It took about 6 months to finish and when I took it to show it off where I bought all the parts the owner sent me home with parts to build one for his store. That is what started it all.

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All 3 rifles were made from a Planck and similar parts. They are all done in an early Lancaster style.(1770-1780) The first is a 54 cal. and is the last one I built about 3 years ago. It is stained using nitric acid. It has some carving on it and has 1/4" cast off in the stock. The next 2 were built in the early 80's. The second one has been all over the east and as far west as Kentucky at shoots with the NYS flintlock team. I have taken a number of deer with this rifle also.

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The last rifle is the only percussion That I have. It was built only to use on bad weather days, mainly rainy days. It has not seen much action in all these years, maybe a 100 rounds put through it.

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The carving isn't world class but what can I say.

Oh ya the first rifle that got it all started,

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I have always bought the best parts I could at the time. Chambers and L&R locks and Davis set triggers, best wood I could find. Wow this is more typing than I have done in quite some time. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.

Jim

[North Country Gal]

I'm in awe at the beauty of these guns and the craftsmanship involved. You have a gift, you truly do.

I assume these are the real deal, black powder, only, no substitute stuff. Round ball, too, or do you shoot conicals in the big 54?

I've dabbled a bit with some percussion guns, via TC and Pedersoli, but it got to be such a chore to find real blackpowder that I went with the substitutes. Finally sold them off, but there are times I wish I had stayed with it. Most gun shops won't even take those factory percussion guns in on trade, anymore. Of course, your guns are in a whole different league.

Also shot a 209x50 TC Encore for a time and, have to laugh when anyone calls one of those rigs a "primitive" weapon. The only thing they have in common with traditional MLs is that you load them from the muzzle. Primitive, they are definitely not. It's what everyone uses, up here, during blackpowder deer season, though.

Thank you so much for sharing.

[CT_Shooter]

I'm in awe at the beauty of these guns and the craftsmanship involved. You have a gift, you truly do.
Thank you so much for sharing.

X2... Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[mlrifleNY]

Ya they are black powder only. The sub. stuff won't light up a flintlock. I only use round balls but did have an Enfield 3 band musket for a short time. I used conicals in that. It used too much lead and wasn't my thing. I buy my black powder by the case.
Thank you for you nice comments, I do appreciate it.

Jim

[tx gunrunner]

I love your ML are works of ART . I only have this rifle left that I build .



Here my target pistol

[RanchRoper]

Museum quality works of art. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Those are truly heirlooms.

[PT7]

The first thing most everyone notices in your photos is the beautiful wood, and the carving that has been done with it. So I ditto the comments/compliments already given.

I admit I don't know what constitutes "world-class" as may be reflected in your rifle builds, but I bet these would hold up well in most "build & show" competitions. Just the fact that you, the owner, built them puts them in a special class. Appreciated your post and all the cool-looking rifles you displayed.

All 3 rifles were made from a Planck and similar parts. They are all done in an early Lancaster style.(1770-1780) The first is a 54 cal. and is the last one I built about 3 years ago. It is stained using nitric acid. It has some carving on it and has 1/4" cast off in the stock. The next 2 were built in the early 80's. The second one has been all over the east and as far west as Kentucky at shoots with the NYS flintlock team. I have taken a number of deer with this rifle also.


The carving isn't world class but what can I say.
Jim

[mlrifleNY]

Thanks again to all of you and I like your rifle tx gunrunner. I think there is something special about shooting something you built with your own hands.

Jim

[BigAl52]

Jim
Im glad you shared those with us as I to am a blackpowder nut. I have a few more percussion than flint but I like both. I have a couple of GRRW rifles in percussion and I am a member of the collectors association. The only 2 flinters I have are a pedersoli dixe version od the pennslvania rifle and a Lyman GPR 54 caliber that I had Jack Brooks in Denver install an L&R lock and some Davis triggers in. Ive wanted a flint Penn or Lancaster long rifle but I cant seem to get by the love for Hawkens and when a nice one comes along I ususally end up with it. I have a 40 cal Hawken Squirrel rifle that John Bergmann built thats a favorite to take to the shooting range. Your rifles look to be first class and are very nice. I wish I had your talent. Al

[mlrifleNY]

Thanks BigAl. I went the other way. I love a full stock Penn. rifle. I have had a few Hawken style rifles but just never could bond with them. I did take my biggest Buck with a GPR 54 in perc. That was a great rifle, just not my style.

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[BrokenolMarine]

Beautiful work. I love the grain in the stocks, and have always admired the look of the old black powder guns. I just never got into shooting them, although several of my friends over the years have.

[daytime dave]

Beautiful work Jim. Thank you for taking all that time to type and put the photographs of your work on here. It is a real treat to read your words and view your wonderful work. It also brought out tgr's beautiful work. Great guns.

[tx gunrunner]

Here a few pistols . I love single shot pistol . The top one was built in 1970 and the Dueler are exact copy of the Hamilton and Burr guns use in the duel in 1804 . I sold the duelers to a museum in Fla .
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/th ... ank-021916

[mlrifleNY]

Great looking pistols. I have tried to shoot the old styles but can't hit good at all. I have a pistol that I made in flint (seen at the bottom of my first pic) but I shoot a pattern and not a group with it. I will say that I don't shoot it much as I don't have a permit for it. I can't shoot it here in NY without it being on a permit.

[tx gunrunner]

Here another one

[Catherine]

Jim,

Beautiful rifles! Thank you for sharing.

Cate