Waterloo 2013

[Bobsen]

Well it's finally here (nearly) 2013 Waterloo re-enactment in Belgium this weekend
They expect more than two thousand people to turn up to participate in the battle so should be quite a spectacular show I will be taking my latest Baker rifle and accessories along to see if we can drum up some business and meet a few old friends and possibly make a few new ones.
I will take some photos and post them next week on my return thanks for the visit to the website every one we are getting closer to the top now and getting more hits every day thanks to you guys
www.antique-guns.biz
The best forum on the web love it thanks for making it so great
Be back soon Bob

 

[Bobsen]

Photo

Tried to post a photo with the above but didn't attach so hope this one does

 

[GCBurner]

Very nice case for the Baker. Love to have one like it, but I suspect it would probably cost as much as my rifle did.

 

[Bobsen]

Hi GC the case finished to your design would be about $1000 that's covered in real leather
And about 800 covered in faux leather all hand made.
I was talking to a guy who say's he had put a rifled Baker up against a smooth bore
And at fifty meters they were nearly the same??
Does any one have an opinion about the plausibility of that statement
I don't shoot them I build them.

Bob

The cost of

 

[Bobsen]

As I said I was going to Waterloo,
Today spent most of it walking the Battlefield, it is quite small end to end, through out the day people were turning up and setting up the camp. I met with a few guys wearing there uniform and carrying their kit after getting to know them a bit I asked if I could have a look at there Brown Bess'es and without exception i think they were Indian made weapons the teak stock was the giveaway unless the Italian manufactures use teak as well? I asked if they had had any problems and all said they had heard of weapons bursting but had never actually seen it for themselves they all seem to think it was due to multiple loads where in the excitement of the battle they did not realise the load had not gone off and continued loading one on top of the other????? Am surprised no one realised there ramrod was not going as far down the barrel each time any way as I said I will post some photos when's I get back
Take care everyone Bob

 

[4v50 Gary]

Bobsen - are all those Indian made guns teak wood?

If you've seen any Chinese (modern cartridge) guns, what wood are they?

 

[Bobsen]

Teak

Hi Gary
Yes without exception all guns made in India use teak in one form or another
The wood is ok it is stable and has a high bond strength in the grain
It can vary in colour from almost white to mahogany red depending on the type of teak wood used
It has a very high silica content so tools need to be very sharp to work it with any degree of accuracy and blunt easy :banghead:
It will stain but the resin in the wood tends to oxidise and turn black making the grain stand out under the polish
It needs bringing to the finished state stained, sealed, and polished in one go to minimise the effect if its done right it is possible to disguise the wood and make it look a bit more like walnut.
Hope this helps have fun
Cheers Bob