Refurbed KY Long Rifle w/ PIC!

[MMA1991]

I purchased a used KY long rifle last winter as noted on my original post:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=692182

Pls note the photos at the end of the first post showing what the rifle used to look like. .

The stock was made from some unknown wood probably from Italy and frankly, I hated it. Despite sanding, stripping and staining, the color was not what I wanted.

In wood shop back in the early 80's, Mr. Parker taught us that you can darken a piece of wood by charring it with a propane torch. We did it in class and charred a decorative piece of wood and then used steel wool to clean off the carbon and what was left was a nice dark color.

I tried it on my KY rifle stock and the attached pic is the result. After charring and steel wooling, I treated the wood with Tung Oil. I am very pleased.

Sorry the pic is not the best quality but you can clearly see the difference between the before and after.

The only thing I noticed is that the torch opened up some of the cheques in the grain. The secret is to char not burn. I used a small HOT flame and constantly kept blowing the fire out and ensured an even char throughout.


Thanks Mr. Parker. Just thought I would share.

R/

MMA1991

 

[drago9900]

I like it, looks alot nicer.

 

[MattShlock]

Mr. Parker was a public sector union shop teacher.

 

[303tom]

I think it looks great, good job !...........................

 

[Pilot]

Hmmm. Looks like a Pennsylvania Rifle to me.

 

[Delawarean]

Is there any difference between Kentucky and Pennsylvania rifles? I have heard of them both refered to as American long rifles.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Looks good.

 

[BCRider]

It's a little heavy on the stain for my own tastes. But even so I prefer it over the light and lifeless look from your other thread.

 

[MMA1991]

No stain used.

The color is 100% from the char created by the torch. Only clear Tung oil used as a finish.

 

[Crawdad1]

What a discussion that could be. People say the word ‘Kentucky’ rifle as a generic term applied to all the long rifles built in America. However, what I’ve noticed when I was overseas in Europe, that if you were to say “Kentucky Rifle” Europeans and others know instantly what you mean and no further explanation is necessary. I guess that’s why we also keep that term to describe the American Long rifle, built in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and so forth and so on.

But, as one British General stated in his observations during and after serving during the Revolutionary war, "I have never seen better rifles then those made in America."

 

[Foto Joe]

Very nice job. How's it shoot?

 

[MMA1991]

Have not shot it yet...

 

[Noz]

FYI

A local "oldtime" gun builder would take some of the old plain stocks and wrap them with "tarred" string. The wraps were 1/2" or so apart. He would them heat the wrapped stock until the strings steamed (visible vapor). He would unwrap wipe off the excess tar, sand and put on an oil finish.
Looked kinda like tiger striped maple.

For you stock builders: Look around old defunct print shops. Many of the old machines had maple tables and backstops. Some really pretty wood can be found.

 

[Pulp]

Kentucky, Pennsylvania, clip, magazine, tomato, tomato. Some folks are picky, some folks accept what is said. Clip and magazine bother me much more than Kentucky or Pennsylvania.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I have a similar Spanish made rifle with identical two piece stock and heavy brass spacer.

I'm going to convert mine by soldering a rib beneath the barrel to make it a half stock rifle. I'll then pour a nose cap for it. It'll look a lot better then.

 

[Col4570]

this is one I built some years ago from scratch including rifling.

 

[Col4570]

another view.