Anyone make one from scratch?

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anomoly40

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Just wondering where a good resource would be as I'm looking into making my dad a set of dueling pistols for Christmas.

I've got some 1" 4140 round stock and am looking to make a percussion cap pistol with a 3" barrel. Maybe handle 15-20 grains of BP to propel a .45 caliber ball through some paper at 5 yards or so. Not looking for a tack driver.
 
pretty dangerous. Let me see first it would not be proofed. Then second making a barrel from a true rod would require extensive machinery. Lathe for sure. For that reason making a gun would be advised to purchase a barrel and the hardware then doing the light machinery ie final finishing and then making up the stock. Black powder guns were made up of three main parts, Lock, Stock and Barrel. you would need to get the proper matching three elements to make a good working gun.
 
I would really like to build a pistol but I live in Canada,in order not to break the law any handgun that I build would have to have a barrel 4 1/8 inches or longer,I would have to call the Chief Firearms Officer and tell him/her what I plan to build and submit drawings. There is a lot of paperwork involved but it can be done.
From what I have read 4140 is about the best material to make a barrel out of,not sure if it needs to be heat treated but if properly handled can produce strong barrels.
If you make these pistols take pictures as you build them, there are lots of people that would like to see how it is done.
 
If you are shoting for XMas, you better get busy. It took me almost a month to build one while in gunsmithng school back in the day. Now I had to attend regular classes taught too, so it wasn't like I was at it 8hr a day. But if you're working, it might amount to the same time frame so to speak....It is time consuming and not an easy task.

Wade
 
I've been a machinist hobbyist for most of my long'ish life. Even so making a barrel isn't something to be approached lightly. I'd plan on the first couple being just for learning. Also given the time needed to build the tools and jigs to let you build the parts... well as a T&D maker you know the drill. Often we spend 5 to 20 times longer making a fixture or special tool than we do making the actual part.

Given that and the fact that I'm guessing you're still working for a living and that you likely have a family that wants some quality time along the way I'd go along with Ranger above and suggest that targeting for Christmas 2012 is likely more realistic. On the other hand if you're single, willing to ditch your friends for most of the time between now and then and this will be your main spare time project from here to there then you may just make it for Christmas morning.

Maybe sit down and draw up a realistic plan on just how many hours a week you can devote to the project. And note here that I said "realistic". Life WILL intrude so you have to allow for that. With the number of hours per week you can spend on it now known start doing a realistic time budgeting for each item noting how you're going to do each part, any special tooling or fixtures required, etc. Then add up all the time for all the parts and compare it to the realistic spare time you have between now and then. If you're serious about having the guns in a proper presentation box ready for THIS Christmas then I suspect you'll need to interject some bought items like a barrel and possibly even some of the internal trigger adn lockwork parts.

Oddly enough I was just thinking about the same idea of a set of deuling pistols as a project while cleaning up for dinner. To make it a trifle more realistic for me I'm thinking of a long rifled black powder rifle barrel and cut it into 12 inch lengths... with some left over for a shorter 4.5 to 5 inch "boot pistol" then go with the rest from scratch... including the lockwork and springs.
 
BC RIDER well said.

I agree 100%. its too easy to get a pre made barrel and all the parts then use your skill as a machinist to make sure the parts are made correctly. Rather than spend a huge amount of time to make a barrel. Having been there my self as well. There was a time in my life where i would have ignored everyone spent hundreds of hours planning then developing the tools and equipment then making a barrel. Then being the way i am i would probably put my barrel up against any ones. In the end though after all the fun went away and when you sit back and look you just wasted a huge amount of time doing something that could have been had for hundred bucks or so. Its a bad idea. Same time its a bad idea to teach and practice. Unless absolutely necessary. I dont doubt you can do it. I dont doubt i can do it. If i needed to in an emergency Yes i can do it. I just dont see the emergency or the need to at this time. Go spend 200 hours with your family or on a nearby lake or river fishing boating swimming enjoying life. Place an order with Dixie gun works then forget about it. enjoy your time. then when the parts come in. Use your skill to finish the product to produce a gun better than anyone else



My future project will be building a pennsylvania. nice long barrel with maybe some tiger maple. Just its not the time yet. Same time i wont be machining a barrel in the garage. I will buy the necessary parts then do the rest.
 
I'd strongly recommend getting parts. Making your own barrel, or lock, is not for the faint-hearted. Or the busy. My father made a lock once...and swore that he would never try it again.
 
Parts are available but if you are handy with tools they can be made. I suggest going to one of the muzzle loading sites and reading through the builders sections. Are you planning on a smoothbore or rifled bore? Rifling is a bit tricky but can still be done, by hand with the proper bench.

Cecil Brooks used to make all his own barrels and locks. Even the inlays for his rifles. He was a Master Gunsmith in every sense of the words.

The are several books available to help you also.

As for your barrel not being proofed, I am not aware of any barrel blanks from an American source that are proofed. Not even centerfire barrels are required to be proofed in this country.
 
i disagree with most of the posters here on this topic.Learn wast time but learn too many people dont know anything usefull anymore because things
are so easy to buy off the shelf or help is only a phonecall away.

i saw a "man" the other day sittting in his new suv waiting for road service
to come and change his tire what the hell has this country come to when a
"man" can not change his own tire.
 
Scrat:
"My future project will be building a pennsylvania. nice long barrel with maybe some tiger maple. Just its not the time yet. Same time i wont be machining a barrel in the garage. I will buy the necessary parts then do the rest."

Something like this? My dad and I built this back in the '80s. 42" Douglas Barrel, Lock from Dixie, chunk of tiger maple from the hardwood dealer. Lots of fun to shoot. Been quite awhile, but I'm gonna take her out again soon.

IMG_0307s.jpg
 
I'm going to start by admitting ignorance about the laws concerning manufacturing guns. But a few years ago a prominent Missouri pistolsmith ran afoul of the BATF...they accused him of "manufacturing" guns rather than just customizing them, and apparently the pistolsmith was not licensed or registered as a gun manufacturer.

So with that rattling around in my memory, it makes me wonder if it is OK to make one's own gun from scratch...

Maybe a blackpowder gun is different from a smokeless powder gun...
Maybe if it is for personal use and not for resale or interstate commerce...

I just don't know what laws may or may not apply in this case. I am truly ignorant, but would hate to see anyone get into another dust-up with the feds in a similar situation.

Can any of you educate me on the facts?
 
If you're buying parts, you're not building or making a gun. You're assembling a gun.
Anomoly, I'm glad you checked out the links I sent you.
Homegunsmith.com and garagegunsmithing.com are great.
Lot's of great home builds. Plenty of home made barrels, too.
No naysaying. Lot's of people who are willing to help you with your gun building project.

Anyone who can legally own a firearm in the USA can legally build one. No licensing necessary.
You only need a Mfr's license if you're going to sell them.
That's the law.
You can build and sell all the muzzleloaders you care to, without a firearm Mfr's license, since they're not regulated by the Fed.
 
I want I will send info on making the guns from scratch Including cutting the lands an grooves in the bore. But Most dueling pistols are smooth bore, but for a better gun buy a .45 cal blackpowder barrel blank from Numrich for $51 to $55 dollars plus 1 dollar shipping. Buy the breech plugs and or tang cut the barrel to length then thread to match the breech plugs. buy the locks for $26 to $35 and make them work together. that is what many gunsmiths have done in the past and they still do it today. They get the best parts and make them match. Then spend a little time engraving the customers name and other artwork on the lock plates adding a cast trigger guard and lions head metal butt end on the pistol which is available from Dixie Gunworks for about $3 dollars each. I am a gunsmith and just restored a 1903 30-06 springfield for a customer which will pay for a FM#1 Vaultlock rifle which I am chambering in 44-77 blackpowder cartridge, but I purchased the barrel blank from Numrich for $46 dollars which is a modern .44 cal Harrington and Richards barrel 1.2" in Diameter and 24 inches long. I will have to neck the cases down to accept .429 Diameter bullets I cast for that modern barrel. but in your case using a stock barrel insures that even store purchased ammo (ball ) will work and you can pick cap or flint depending on which lock you decide to modify. so it makes firing the dueler and if you engrave and fancy them up it would fit what high class duelers looked like and fired like if you custom fit the parts you want into it
 
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