Customizing a Traditions Kentucky Pistol

[Sim Carstairs]

View attachment 994186 Traditions Kentucky pistol kit from Midway with free shipping: $209

Pedersoli Kentucky pistol kit from Dixie Gun Works without shipping added: $375

Both of course are pistols (that are only shot at close range) and numerous reviews on the very impressive accuracy of the Traditions kit makes one question the $375+ for the DGW Pedersoli kit. I own numerous Pedersoli weapons, and in my opinion for a pistol you’re paying exorbitantly more just for a slightly better lock. It’s not like your trying to make 300 yard shots with it.

Here’s my question: what historically accurate cosmetic improvements like inlays, etc would make the Traditions kit absolutely stunning? I aim to find out. Looking for some suggestions. Photos of originals would be welcomed as well.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Wire inlays come to mind, check out Mark Silver's work, the guy does absolutely stunning work. I guess the thing here is to not make it look like a production gun, most kits I have seen had lots of extra wood that can be removed. Study the wood on an original and you will see what I am talking about. What caliber of pistol are we talking about? I have a scratch built 50 cal that I have knocked bowling pins over at a hundred yards. With the right load you can reach out and touch something with a pistol, just takes practice.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

For sure, as long as the barrel is rifled, it's the shooter that is the limiting factor as far as long range shots.

When it comes to decorations, I'm not much of a wire inlay big-buck decorative firearms guy. I totally admire such guns, but could not afford to have such work done. But, I'm not real shy about getting out the brass tacks and nails. One could "tack up" a pistol and make it really nice, with a well thought out design, and using small tacks or small brass nails, not the big furniture tacks one might put on a rifle. Some checkering on the handle really looks nice on single shot pistols.

Using brass wire or rod, or silver wire (don't know if you can get big enough silver wire) even I can drill holes, (in a pattern) set the wire in, and then finish it flush with the wood. That can look really nice and be very subtle. I've done that on knife handles with brazing rod.

On a flintlock gun, you almost cannot pay "too much" for a lock. A man (or woman, or...it) cannot afford a cheap lawyer, doctor, or flintlock. But percussion locks, not a concern. And the "slightly" better lock may not actually be better.

 

[arcticap]

View attachment 994186 Traditions Kentucky pistol kit from Midway with free shipping: $209

Pedersoli Kentucky pistol kit from Dixie Gun Works without shipping added: $375

Both of course are pistols (that are only shot at close range) and numerous reviews on the very impressive accuracy of the Traditions kit makes one question the $375+ for the DGW Pedersoli kit. I own numerous Pedersoli weapons, and in my opinion for a pistol you’re paying exorbitantly more just for a slightly better lock. It’s not like your trying to make 300 yard shots with it.

Here’s my question: what historically accurate cosmetic improvements like inlays, etc would make the Traditions kit absolutely stunning? I aim to find out. Looking for some suggestions. Photos of originals would be welcomed as well.

Consider painting the stock glossy white to imitate a real ivory stock like this Traditions Derringer has. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...aditions-white-philadelphia-derringer.849106/

Then any inlay that you add to the white stock will really have some pop.

And also mirror polish the barrel and coat it with car wax to protect the luster like the pistol in this thread. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lyman-pistol-kit-finally-finished.752430/#post-9477687
It was mirror polished with Mother's Mag & Wheel Polish and looks like chrome or stainless.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Whoa Arcticap...you really be pimping it out! Dang! However, it surely would POP!

 

[Sim Carstairs]

Ugly Sauce, my pimp hand is strong, but I’m saving it to keep the historical accuracy working long.... Don’t worry, man! I won’t disappoint the traditionalists.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Just a quick FYI, wire inlay is actually a ribbon of material maybe .030 inch thick by about 1/4 inch wide. It's installed by cutting a channel with a tiny chisel and the ribbon is tapped into place with a small hammer. Its left standing slightly proud so it can be sanded flush with the wood.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If I tried that, wire inlay, it would look like yesterday's left over spagetti, left in the pot. It would not be pretty.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Ugly Sauce, my pimp hand is strong, but I’m saving it to keep the historical accuracy working long.... Don’t worry, man! I won’t disappoint the traditionalists.

What me worry? No, not me. But now I can't get the picture of Arcticap's bordello pistol out of my mind. !!!! Dang.

 

[arcticap]

Whoa Arcticap...you really be pimping it out! Dang! However, it surely would POP!

If you missed seeing the Derringer with the real ivory stock, here's the link. --->>> https://www.icollector.com/item.aspx?i=9387463
It sold for $16,000 on the auction floor +$3,120 buyer's premium.
Look at the cap compartment under the butt.
That must have been quite the pimp gun back in the day.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

That be the SUPER PIMP! And Super Swag! Someone be styling with that in their pocket. But I like it. Wouldn't take a whole lot of ivory micarta to carve out a derringer stock like that. Now if one duplicated the Kentucky pistol stock out of ivory micarta...I'm beginning to see your vision....!!! The glossy white paint...not sure about that. Might be losing me there. !!

 

[arcticap]

A pistol with a buttcap really looks handsome.
There's tutorials showing how to make one from scratch but that's a lot of work.
There's also a video showing how to inlet and install one.
Some are easier to install than others.

Buttcaps for sale:

1. TOW --->>> https://www.trackofthewolf.com/list/Item.aspx/677/1
2. 3 pages of butcaps and buttcap retainers --->>> https://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/mbs3cart/agora.cgi?&product=ButtCaps
3. Tutorial Part #12 inletting a buttcap



Making a buttcap from scratch
1. --->>> https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=32410.0
2. --->>> https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6615.0
3. Making your own buttcap tutorial Part #11 begins after the 6:20 mark.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Right on. Truth, butt-caps do pop. Even a small, flat one doesn't look bad. Silver coin? or would that clash with the brass? I often consider doing some kind of butt cap on my Plains Pistol, but "never get around to it". !

 

[Sim Carstairs]

View attachment 994622
Interesting grip pattern. I’ve only seen one done like this at auction so I’m leery about the historical accuracy and the taper of the short grip on the Traditions Kentucky Pistol. I do like the butt cap notion and I’m strongly considering it, but I have to see if I could incorporate it with the tapered grip.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I'd give that one a giant WOW. That is fantastic. That looks like it would be highly functional too.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

That wasn't done in 5 minutes, interesting way of checkering.

 

[Sim Carstairs]

Regarding the diamond checkering, it looks cool and I could replicate it, but it totally lacks historical accuracy. It’s a modern pistol and sold at auction for only $150. That was a whole lot of highly detailed woodworking for just about nothing.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Dang. I would have paid $150 for that.