Just finished Kentucky flint.

Status
Not open for further replies.

BlackNet

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2008
Messages
429
Location
confusion
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?
IMG_9420.JPG


side view!
IMG_9419.JPG


IMG_9432.JPG


IMG_9433.JPG


Some bad photo's I took outside, plan on reshooting these very soon.
IMG_9410.JPG


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.

IMG_9356.JPG
 
Oh and for those not aware of this model.

S213b.jpg

This is the factory finished version. What I got was the kit version.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
IMG_9415.JPG


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.

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.

before-after.jpg


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)

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.
IMG_5123.JPG
 
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
 
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.
 
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??
 
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.
 
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)
IMG_1145.JPG


Rest of that target.
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.
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.
 
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.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top