[BlackNet]

This is my latest creation, it is a pedersoli kentucky flintlock .45 rifle. I took my time finishing it to make sure. Even tho it was a simple kit to build I put some detail on it that is otherwise not there.

First off, does this wood make my barrel look long?
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37268-1/IMG_9420.JPG

side view!
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37315-2/IMG_9419.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37312-2/IMG_9432.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37313-2/IMG_9433.JPG

Some bad photo's I took outside, plan on reshooting these very soon.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37304-2/IMG_9410.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37303-2/IMG_9406.JPG

For the barrel I wanted something different. Yes the smooth plum brown hot finish is very beautiful but there is much to be said for the sand cast cast iron cookware. :) It has texture and some detail which breaks up light. For the fittings I use brass black but I do wish they were in iron and not brass. With iron I could have a good selection more finishes and look way better.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37300-2/IMG_9356.JPG

[BlackNet]

Oh and for those not aware of this model.

http://www.cherrys.com/pedpics/S213b.jpg

This is the factory finished version. What I got was the kit version.

[Jim, West PA]

That is an absolutely beautiful rifle !!!!
Very good craftsmanship.
I would have been scared to set it on that wall like ya did fer fear o' scratchin it.

[josmund]

Very nice work. Thanks for sharing.

How did you brown the barrel?

[BlackNet]

I used laurel mountain forge browning solution. Hung it up in the carport and applied it.

[Patocazador]

I don't know much, if anything, about Kentucky rifles but thought they had very long barrels. How long is your barrel? It doesn't look as long as the factory gun in the photo.

It's probably the angle of your photos. I doubt there would be any difference.

[4v50 Gary]

How'd you finish the buttplate?

[BlackNet]

The barrel length is 54". I did manipulate the apparent length in the photo's to try to fit in as much detail as possible.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37307-2/IMG_9415.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37305-2/IMG_9408.JPG

fyi the round block of wood holding it up is 7 1/4" round x 3" deep, amboyna burl bowl blank.

The buttplate is the same as the trigger guard, sideplate, patchbox and thimbles, polished up the brass then blacked it.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37285-2/IMG_4785.JPG

I did not quite like the look of the brass to walnut and wanted to give it more of a realistic rustic look and appeal.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37288-2/before-after.jpg

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37298-2/IMG_9350.JPG

This is with the working screws (meaning I can totally destroy them with sandpaper, chemicals etc and could care less about them as they get replaced with the real screws when I am done)

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/34054-4/IMG_4709.JPG

There is some sapwood inclusion on the stock which did stain out, I used Laurel Mountain Forge stain in red, walnut and ebonizer then teak oil. I wish that I could have kept the sapwood color change on the stock but that did not work out as planned. The military red stain did an excellent job and better than I was expecting.

This photo is before I turned it from gloss to semi-satin.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37295-2/IMG_5123.JPG

[doubleh]

Nice build.

[loose noose]

Fine looking piece, what does you're trigger break at?

[CraigC]

Looks great, love it! I have one in a percussion .32 and am not at all satisfied with the appearance of it. You've inspired me to refinish it! :D

[usmcchet9296]

How did you texture the barrel .. your rifle looks great

[BCRider]

A truly beautiful bit of work.

I tend to agree that giving the brass some early patina via the blackening was a good idea. It ages the rifle nicely and gives it a "used with respect" look to the overall finish.

[mikelucky1958]

Very nice work. Are you sure of the barrel length?? Every Pedersoli kit I have looked at and at their web site says the barrel length is 35 9/16" and overall length is 50 3/16. Where did you find a kit like this??

[mdauben]

Fantastic looking rifle build! I've always been partial to the long rifles with the curved comb like that one, I think it looks very graceful. The antiqued brass looks miles better than the polished stuff on the factory rifle, too.

[1KPerDay]

Beautiful. Nice work. I'd never thought of using "working screws"... that's a good idea.

[EvilGenius]

Gah!

I want to build one of these so bad!

This thing is gorgeous!

[chad1043]

What kit did you use?

[arcticap]

BlackNet stated in post #1 that it's a Pedersoli kit:


This is my latest creation, it is a pedersoli kentucky flintlock .45 rifle

[chad1043]

Thanks. I missed that...

[BlackNet]

Sorry for the delay. I bought this from Dixie Gunworks as a kit form.
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=2028

The barrel was textured by the way I put the brown solution on. I hung it up in the carport and put a coat on then a week later I took a scotch bright pad and sanded it down then added another coat. about 4 coats later I was done. Most/many see the smooth flat metal that is brown and that does indeed look very good, my howdah is like that. However we all know that the Kentucky rifle was what won the revolutionary war and the origins of our second amendment. I felt a good texture like sand casting was in order but still give it that chocolate brown look. Not only is it chocolate brown but in direct sunlight there is a good 2-3 brown colors in there.

The trigger needs some work and it is a bit heavy. I am thinking about putting a set trigger in place, not sure yet if single or double. I seem to have lost the set screw in this one :(

As for barrel length 9/16 is 0.5625, I said 1/2 which is 0.5 so that's 0.0625 off. Approximately close I suppose :) Also tape measures have that little gap on the end which could account for that.

The pins are not brown neither is the screws. Screws are black and the rear sight is on backwards! DOH.

As for range photo's...

First shot I made. Used .440 round balls, .010 patch, 30 grains of 3F. Distance is 25 yards (paces)
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37369-1/IMG_1145.JPG

Rest of that target.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37373-1/IMG_1147.JPG

Next I tried .445 round balls. Everything else was the same. With the .440 I was able to push the ball in with my thumb, no short starter needed.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37371-1/IMG_1146.JPG

The #1 problem that I had was a few gotcha's with the patent breech, which I do think is clogage related. As soon as I used a bronze breech brush between shots I was getting no smoke, no hang fires and good crisp clean shots.

[Steel Horse Rider]

You guys are a bad habit. Now you went and forced me to order a percussion pistol kit.....

[BlackNet]

Uhm percussion pistol kit?

[Olmontanaboy]

The barrel length is 54". I did manipulate the apparent length in the photo's to try to fit in as much detail as possible.

I'm confused you said the barrel length is 54". Was that a typo? A 54" barrel is way long even by longrifle standards. I think a barrel that long would have to be custom made.

[BlackNet]

That is A typo.


Barrel's length 903mm 35 9/16"
Overall length 1.275mm 50 3/16"



http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-prodotto.asp/l_en/idpr_91/rifles-kentucky-kentucky-flintlock-model.html

[Steel Horse Rider]

Blacknet: I clicked on the link for the Dixie Gun Works link and just under the posted rifle kit was a percussion pistol kit that was calling out in a loud voice...... :neener:

[Olmontanaboy]

Ah, ok, very nice rifle, good job.

[T.R.]

Beautiful rifle you've got there!

It looks just like a Pennsylvania long rifle to me.

TR

[BlackNet]

Ok Range trip #2, have not dialed it in yet and will be throwing the sights on the list of things to redo.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37526-2/IMG_1154.JPG 25 yards, 30 grains of 3F goes, .010 patch, .440 roundball and standing freehand. It is not bad but it's not what I was hoping for. Looks like once I dial in the sights things will be quite good.

[MCgunner]

That's a nice lookin' chunka iron you got there. I'd love to try a flinter kit, but I'd need a lefty version. I haven't researched it. If I get to making my own BP, I may look into a kit.

[BlackNet]

Range update. I finally figured out the sights and was really nailing things good after I did that. We had some clays still up from the turkey shoot and I was breaking them at will towards the end.

This is the rifle after about 3 dozen shots thru it, at no time did I ever clean it, wipe it down, pick the vent, scrape it or anything, just load, fire. In the pan I was using FFFFg, 4F, Swiss powder. The white is powder residue from that.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37654-2/IMG_1183+copy.jpg

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37657-2/IMG_1184.JPG

Before I went I took some inside the barrel shots, I had 2 goals, shoot the grooves and the breech plug.

Earlier trips I was having some nasty failure to fire episodes which was the result of insufficient powder in the main charge. I was using 20 grains or so.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37643-2/IMG_9890.JPG

From the FTF I started looking at the breech plug layout.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37648-2/patent-breech-depth.jpg

This shot is not a super good image but it does show the breech inside the barrel. It was brutal to get this shot and yes I need a good borescope to do this one right. That is on my list of must buy items.
http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/37645-1/IMG_9904.JPG

Long story short somewhere between 25 and 30 grains is the cut off point for the FTF problems and reliable constant ignition. I was using goex FFFg, 3F, as the main charge. I even took it up to 60 grains. 35 grains seemed to yield good results consistently. 30 grains would also work and never did I have a FTF with 30 grains. The documentation from Pedersoli said 40 - 90 grains.

Ed