LAGS is up to something again

[armoredman]

Remember this picture? One of the barrels didn't get used.

1.
https://i.imgur.com/ForkpyX.jpg

Well, let's have @LAGS tell the story...

2.
https://i.imgur.com/fXuupx2.jpg

3.
https://i.imgur.com/Km8SEIw.jpg

4.
https://i.imgur.com/aYjXimV.jpg

5.
https://i.imgur.com/pUVi4EZ.jpg

6.
https://i.imgur.com/OlCdooD.jpg

[LAGS]

Thank you Armoredman.
It is true.
I don't let old parts go to waste.
The new pistol is the cut off section of the rifle from the Bubba'ed barrel thread.
That stock I am building is made from a old piece of a Mesquite Tree Branch that broke off one of my trees a year ago.
The lock is a Philadelphia Derringer lock that I made a new side plate made to fit the barrel with a drum installed instead of the patent type breech plug.
This is a .54 cal and will be fun to shoot.

[Hannibal]

Interesting! Looking forward to seeing this project progress. :D

[Nobade]

Gotta love projects like that!

[LAGS]

I love that a friend post pictures of my projects.
I would like to inspire others to do this kind of work themselves.

[Texas by God]

Philadelphia Thumper!
Watching this; thanks for sharing it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LAGS]

I have another "Salvage" project going on also.
I have a TC Renegade barrel that had a stripped breech plug thread where it was rusted bad inside the barrel.
I replaced the breech plug with a flintlock style breechplug, and intend on installing a drum on it for the nipple instead of a standard breech plug that I don't have.
The bore is rusted also.
So I am going to send it to Bobby Hoyt and have it rebored from .50 cal to .54.
When I get it back.
I have a TC lockplate that is really rusted.
I intend on modifying that lock to fit the barrel with a drum installed nipple.
Then I will either modify a Renegade stock to fit the modified barrel and lock.
Or just build a New stock for the rifle.
I also have 7 TC rifles that I intend on Restoring them.
Plus three New rifle Kits that I intend on building.
But I love doing the Salvage Projects just for the challenge of using my skills to build something nice.
Rather than just being like a Parts Replacing type of Gunsmith.

[Nobade]

I heartily applaud your efforts. It's things like this that keep the trade interesting.

[725]

I love to follow LAGS and his efforts. Photos are always so instructive.

[LAGS]

There are a bunch of Ticky Tack things I have to do on this project.
Like
The barrel I am using was from a barrel that was Bubba Built from an expensive kit by somebody else.
The dovetail for the front sight was hand filed in and all messed up.
So,
I had to refile the dovetail so it was usable.
Refiling it made the dovetail larger than standard sights will fit.
So I had to make my own front sight with a larger base to fit the wider dovetail.
Once the stock is finished , I will install a dovetail for a rear sight.
I may just build the rear sight too.
Why buy , when you can build.

[Hannibal]

If you would, ask Armoredman to post some photos of those sight builds. I've been thinking of going that route but haven't yet. I'm always interested in seeing how someone else decides to approach a job.

[LAGS]

I will send him some pictures of that new front sight.
But I didn't realize that people might be interested in how they were put together , or I should have done pictures as I built them.
But that is a thought for if I build the new rear sight.
I haven't decided if I want to build one that is elevation adjustable for a pistol.
But it is a thought.
Now remember.
I no longer have a mill.
All my parts are shaped with a hand file and hack saw.
And maybe once in a while with a Dremel tool.

[Hannibal]

I will send him some pictures of that new front sight.
But I didn't realize that people might be interested in how they were put together , or I should have done pictures as I built them.
But that is a thought for if I build the new rear sight.
I haven't decided if I want to build one that is elevation adjustable for a pistol.
But it is a thought.
Now remember.
I no longer have a mill.
All my parts are shaped with a hand file and hack saw.
And maybe once in a while with a Dremel tool.

Well as a machinist once told me power equipment doesn't make you any better, it just allows you to screw things up a lot faster.

If you're going to build a rear sight that's adjustable for elevation by hand I'd definitely like to see how you approach that. Cool guy stuff in my book and I ain't blowin' smoke about that.

[HamGunner]

Well as a machinist once told me power equipment doesn't make you any better, it just allows you to screw things up a lot faster

Now that is for sure.

Nice work LAGS

[armoredman]

Ask and ye shall receive...

7.
https://i.imgur.com/HGroo4p.jpg

8.
https://i.imgur.com/rIhk3zn.jpg

9.
https://i.imgur.com/GxDgcEL.jpg

[LAGS]

That is the new front sight that I made.
I will do the final shaping and finishing once the pistol is close to being finished.
The brass blade will be thinned , and filed to the correct height once the rear sight is installed.
I line the sights up and adjust the height using a laser bore sighter to get them close before the test firing.
Doing that on other pistols set the sights close enough to be with in 6" of the bullseye on first firing at 25 yards.

[armoredman]

I notice the barrel is now flush with the wood.

[LAGS]

I am installing the trigger right now and starting to shape the stock.
I haven't decided if I am going to install a nose cap on the stock.
If I do.
I will have to cast my own to fit the stock.
Since I don't have my furnace set up at this house.
I won't be able to cast it out of brass.
But I might cast it out of old Zinc Wheel Weights.
I have done that and butt plates out of Zinc before.

[Hannibal]

Thanks for the sight pictures. I definitely appreciate it.

[LAGS]

I got the stock fit for that trigger that is shown in picture #1.
Now I have to work on that trigger.
The trigger is fairly new.
But it is not a high class trigger.
The trigger flops around side to side a lot because it was built sloppy.
So I will remove the pivot pin and replace it with one that is larger diameter that fits well into the trigger lever better.
I may even solder some brass washers to the side of the lever to make it fit better in the trigger plate with less side to side play.
I am not trying to make some Olympic quality trigger.
But since it is apart , why not just improve it some.
To give you an idea of what I mean.
The trigger pivot pin is .118" dia.
The pivot hole in the trigger lever is .135"
That let's the trigger flops around a lot.
Plus the trigger lever is made of sand cast brass.
So any wiggling around will cause the hole in the trigger lever to widen out even more in a very short time.
The trigger lever is .112" wide.
The slot it fits into on the trigger plate is .135" wide.
So I can just solder a brass washer or two to the side of the trigger lever to make it fit the trigger plate slot better.

[LAGS]

I rebuilt that trigger today.
I soldered two brass washers to the trigger lever that were .025 thick with one on each side.
Then I filed them down at the total thickness of the trigger lever is .135" to fit better into the trigger base plate.
The pivot pin was replaced with a piece of old drill bit that fit the trigger lever hole better.
Now that trigger works so smooth and works the lock so much better.
Next project is now the trigger guard.
I do have an old brass CVA / Jukar trigger guard.
But I am going to keep that for a CVA pistol that I am going to build a stock for.
But I think I may just make one out of steel like I did for the pistol I built for " 725" a year ago.

[armoredman]

Noice!

10.
https://i.imgur.com/lMziARi.jpg

11.
https://i.imgur.com/QErPQOX.jpg

[LAGS]

Hmmm.
Something just came to mind.
I might try casting a copy of that CVA trigger guard out of those Zinc Wheel weight metal.
I got to check and see if I have some plaster of Paris to make a mold out of.
But I do have some Cat Litter that can be used to make a mold also mixed with sand.
I also have the option of casting the trigger guard out of pure Tin or some Pewter that I have for hardening my cast Boolits for my center-fire guns.

[armoredman]

If you use cat litter to make it a gun, does that make it a pooper shooter?

[charlie b]

LOL

Nice work LAGS. I have also converted myself back to hand machine work (I also am back to mostly hand tools for wood working).

If you want some interesting videos, watch the series on the Antikythera clock reproduction by Clickspring. He reproduces all the tools to make the clock as well. Drills, taps, reamers, files, soldering, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_rCm1rAeg&list=PLZioPDnFPNsGnUXuZScwn6Ackf6LGILCa&index=1

[LAGS]

Building a clock totally by hand would be great.
But you have to put a lot of Time into that clock.

[charlie b]

I just liked the tool making and techniques for building it. Making a drill and bits, files, broaches, etc. Hardening tools. Then how to lay out and bond parts. Slots, cams, lock works, etc. Making gears by hand is a bit over the top for me :)

[LAGS]

Due to our modern times.
People find it easier just to build a Digital Clock.
Too bad we cant make Digital Guns.
I don't do electronics.
So that would be a line of guns I wouldn't work on.

[Hannibal]

There's a thing called an Electromagnetic Rail Gun the defense department has been playing with. No propellant of any kind. A sabot in a steel sleeve as I understand it.

Science fiction is here and has been for awhile.

[armoredman]

I got the stock fit for that trigger that is shown in picture #1.
Now I have to work on that trigger.
The trigger is fairly new.
But it is not a high class trigger.
The trigger flops around side to side a lot because it was built sloppy.
So I will remove the pivot pin and replace it with one that is larger diameter that fits well into the trigger lever better.
I may even solder some brass washers to the side of the lever to make it fit better in the trigger plate with less side to side play.
I am not trying to make some Olympic quality trigger.
But since it is apart , why not just improve it some.
To give you an idea of what I mean.
The trigger pivot pin is .118" dia.
The pivot hole in the trigger lever is .135"
That let's the trigger flops around a lot.
Plus the trigger lever is made of sand cast brass.
So any wiggling around will cause the hole in the trigger lever to widen out even more in a very short time.
The trigger lever is .112" wide.
The slot it fits into on the trigger plate is .135" wide.
So I can just solder a brass washer or two to the side of the trigger lever to make it fit the trigger plate slot better.
Can you tell me what the difference is in sand cast brass?

[LAGS]

Sand cast brass is just metal that is poured into a mold made from green sand that is moist and you form it to fit your part.
I used sifted sand that is all the same size , mixed with ground and sifted cat litter to add a binder to the sand.
I make the mold with the sand damp.
Then let it dry before casting the metal in the mold.
Sand casting makes a part that is the Shape of the part you want.
But it is rough and you have to do final shaping and polishing of the cast part.
If you look at pic # 10 &11.
You can see that the trigger lever is rough on the sides.
When I cast a part that is polished.
I add a little thickness to the part by putting on a coat of something to add a little thickness to the original part.
Then the molded part is just a little thicker and gives you extra metal to finish down on the cast part.
I also cast molds out of Plaster of Paris.
Those molds are a little smoother.
But the cast metal doesn't come out exactly perfect.
Those parts will need finishing the cast part too.
Plaster of Paris molds are a little tough to make because the plaster sticks to the part.
Putting wax on the part you are casting in the mold helps.

[armoredman]

Thank you! Always good info to be had here! :)

[armoredman]

12.
https://i.imgur.com/epvI2Cq.jpg

13.
https://i.imgur.com/KR9BGUp.jpg

[LAGS]

I welded up a steel trigger guard for the pistol.
I still have some shaping and polishing to do before I blue or brown it.
I would have liked to cast one.
But it is just too hot here to work outside.
Just doing that little bit of welding on the guard about killed me outside.

[Hannibal]

Looks nice to me. It'll clean up really well!

[indian joe]

Ask and ye shall receive...

7.
https://i.imgur.com/HGroo4p.jpg

8.
https://i.imgur.com/rIhk3zn.jpg

9.
https://i.imgur.com/GxDgcEL.jpg

I have done a bunch of these (blade replacements on CVA style sights) - old eyes need fatter sights - its never occurred to me to solder them (dunno why, I just followed what the last bloke did) so I just rivet them in - make the tab a tad long and peen it over with the blade held firm in the vice --its worked but a little touch of solder has to be better.

[LAGS]

The solder works better if the blade only has a round pin that goes into the dovetail plate.
That way the blade can't rotate to the side
If I make the blade with a square or oval pin out of the blade.
Then soldering isn't needed.
But can be used on ones with a square or oval connecting tab.

[Trinidad Bill]

I watch Clickspring quite a bit. Fascinating what he can do!

[armoredman]

Things are starting to come together;

14.
https://i.imgur.com/c9bqZFC.jpg

15.
https://i.imgur.com/2UQBYUP.jpg

[LAGS]

I am still rough shaping the stock.
That is the wood from a Mesquite Tree Branch off one of the trees in my yard.
I decided to put a Brass side plate to hold the lock screw from the opposite side from the lock.
Since the lock is a different style than what is usually found on the bulk of the caplock pistols made.
I decided to make the plate match the modified lock style and shape.
I could always have that side plate engraved to fancy up the pistol when I get done.
One other thing.
I made that steel plate for the lock to fit the barrel drum.
When I built that , I also built a lock plate out of Brass.
That to being installed on the lock could fancy the pistol up some more.
The brass plate I used to build that lock plate is pretty hard brass.
So I think it will not wear out right away.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Interesting approach to the offside of the lock. By the way Lags I got that 1875 serial number number taken care of.

[LAGS]

That is the nice thing about building a pistol basically from scratch.
You don't have to follow Historical model of pistols.
Well you could , if you had all the correct parts.
But I like designing the pistols out of several styles that I like.

[armoredman]

Methinks LAGS might have been a favored gunmaker during the early years of this country.

[725]

lookin' good, LAGS.

[LAGS]

Just to let you guys know so it can prove that these projects can be made without tons of power tools.
For example.
That stock was all Hand cut.
I do not have a Band Saw or even a working Jig Saw.
The shaping and fitting of the stock is also done by hand with sanding blocks and files made out of wood with sandpaper or sanding belt material glued to the wood blocks or even paint sturing sticks.
Lots of the shaping is also done with a Vulcanite wood file I got from Brownell's.
It is a Perfect tool to round off and shape the stock.

[LAGS]

@ Jackrabbit
Another reason for that brass side plate on the left side of the stock is for possibly installing a Belt Hook for carrying the pistol.
A belt clip can be bolted or even brazed to the sideplate with the hook going down the left side of the stock.

[armoredman]

Ah, a pirate hanger style, very cool.

[LAGS]

Yep.
If I shoot it Pirate Style.
I don't have to be so picky on the accuracy.
I will be shooting it with an eye patch on , so aiming might be a little harder.

[armoredman]

Eye patch plus, need to get you a Cap'n Jack hat. ;)

[armoredman]

Some update pics.
We start with the rear sight development.

16.
https://i.imgur.com/xaSsmf0.jpg

17.
https://i.imgur.com/zbxIMaE.jpg

18.
https://i.imgur.com/s5p3udl.jpg

19.
https://i.imgur.com/CrQY5b5.jpg

20.
https://i.imgur.com/p28ofwn.jpg

21.
https://i.imgur.com/XfnviiB.jpg

22.
https://i.imgur.com/4t5RQlf.jpg

Showing some inletting and wood repair.
23.
https://i.imgur.com/SjDU8A9.jpg

24.
https://i.imgur.com/9wAza9q.jpg

And brass nose cap
25.
https://i.imgur.com/LtDL7AP.jpg

[armoredman]

Missed one sight picture, oops.
26.
https://i.imgur.com/eaI1uqN.jpg

[armoredman]

Unrelated, but if you remember the LAST pistol he built, well, he went and updated it.

26.5
https://i.imgur.com/AaJ4Zmx.jpg

[LAGS]

I did update the pistol in 26.5 pic.
I replaced the trigger guard with one I built , because the brass on that I had used was not shaped the way I like it to fit my hand.
Plus I finally installed a ram rod

[LAGS]

I have been doing some stuff on this new pistol build.
I made the rear sight out of an old rusty piece of steel.
It was cut with a hack saw , then filed to final shape.
I cut the dovetail into the barrel with a hand file that is Triangular with two blank sides and one file surface.
I have this one set up for a ram rod and installed a brass nose plate.
This wood that I used for the stock had some defects in the wood like worm holes and internal natural cracks
I filled them with bedding compound as soon as they showed up.
Then I kept reshaping the stock.
Some of the defects will be totally sanded off.
But maybe some of the others will still be in the final shaping.
But it is better and easier to fill the defects , then continue shaping the wood.

[armoredman]

And we're done! Nice work sir!
27
https://i.imgur.com/8462xb9.jpg
28
https://i.imgur.com/CNb9UNR.jpg
29
https://i.imgur.com/RcswR2g.jpg
30
https://i.imgur.com/PLrqjju.jpg
31
https://i.imgur.com/0nztQiz.jpg

Now lets see how she shoots!

[LAGS]

Well I finally found time to work on this project.
I decided to call it "Mesquito" because it has a Mesquite wood stock.
Yesterday I checked out the functing of the action.
So far it works good.
Now I just need to find time to get to the range and test fire it.

[armoredman]

Oh yeah - we need to do that together so I can bring my good camera.

[LAGS]

Just to give you guys an over all on what this was made from.
The barrel is a piece of Cut Off barrel from a .54 cal rifle that I modified.
I had to install a breech plug , the Drum , and drill the drum for the nipple.
The lock is a used one from a CVA Philadelphia Derringer , that I made a new side plate to match up to the new nipples drum.
The trigger is a used one from a Jukar pistol.
I made the trigger guard out of old steel welded together then shaped.
The stock is Mesquite from a branch that broke off one of my trees a year ago.
The sights are hand made by me from old scrap metal.
The finishes are Tru Oil on the stock and the metal is browned.
Now I may slow Rust Blue all the metal later . Maybe ?
All work is pretty much hand done , and I feel that many of you can do the same kind of work.

[725]

Looking forward to the range movie / photo.

[Texas by God]

I like it!
A practical size .54 pistol will be quite handy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[armoredman]

We are working on the timing. This will be fun.

[LAGS]

For test firing this week.
I want to try different loads.
I am going to start with the .535 lead ball and try different thickness of patches.
I also have some .54 cal Sabots that I want to try different .451 slugs.
Some cast lead , and possibly some jacketed bullets.
The main thing is to find a combination that loads quickly , and easily.

[armoredman]

Camera battery is charging!

[LAGS]

Last night we had a Micro Burst at my house.
The wind blew about 60 mph.
It broke more branches off my mesquite trees.
Too bad the thickest branch is only 4" diameter.
After I dry out the branches, I will use the wood to make Barbeque Charcoal and use some for my wood smoker.
I guess I could make some pistol grips out of some of the wood.
But these branches aren't big enough to make a gunstock out of them.
But the size of this tree and how old it is , I might end up taking out the trunk.
That wood will make good gunstocks.

[armoredman]

Hmm, Mesquite gunstocks, that might look very interesting.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Have done several myself, Mesquite is a beautiful figured wood, work it with rotary tools. The grain changes direction abruptly so planes and chisels cause lots of problems with pieces chunking out. I restocked a CVA St Louis Hawken a long time ago as well as a Rolling Block and a 94 Winchester. It's not easy to work with but worth it in long run.

[LAGS]

The problem with the sudden grain changes in the Mesquite wood was why I had mentioned defects in the wood in this stock that I built.
The small voids or natural cracks are so minor and are easily corrected with either crazy glue or epoxy.
But the finest thing I have found by using Mesquite was the Cost.
Have you seen the price of wood ?
Building a stock out of wood from trees that I grew in my property is so much cheaper.
I will probably use more of this Mesquite Tree for more stocks and grips.
Plus I have a Palo Verde tree that I am cutting down.
I will save some of that trunk wood and maybe try and make a stock out of it.
Years ago I made a stock out of a Jacaranda tree that died at my last house.
I found that by using Free wood that you have laying around saves you lots of money when you are experimenting with lots of new stock designs .

[mdatlanta]

I've really enjoyed reading about this project and seeing the pics as it came together. Good luck with the test firing! :)

[Hannibal]

The problem with the sudden grain changes in the Mesquite wood was why I had mentioned defects in the wood in this stock that I built.
The small voids or natural cracks are so minor and are easily corrected with either crazy glue or epoxy.
But the finest thing I have found by using Mesquite was the Cost.
Have you seen the price of wood ?
Building a stock out of wood from trees that I grew in my property is so much cheaper.
I will probably use more of this Mesquite Tree for more stocks and grips.
Plus I have a Palo Verde tree that I am cutting down.
I will save some of that trunk wood and maybe try and make a stock out of it.
Years ago I made a stock out of a Jacaranda tree that died at my last house.
I found that by using Free wood that you have laying around saves you lots of money when you are experimenting with lots of new stock designs .

I've made some stuff out of Osage Orange or Hedge as some call it locally. It's really heavy, hard and dense but I like the unique appearance.

I thought about using some Locust but I think it splits along the grain too easily. I'm going to shy away from that.

There's a lot of Black Walnut around here. I think I might give that a try especially if I run across something with some figure in it.

[armoredman]

Then the best traditional for our desert area would be a Winchester 1894 30-30, restocked with mesquite wood and inlaid with brass tacks, Indian style. ;) Or, a Trade Rifle restocked the same way...
Battery is charged, camera and tripod are ready to go.

[armoredman]

My, my, my...now THAT was a fun morning, thank you, LAGS! Oh, wait, you readers weren't there, lets get you up to speed.

First, the new ones are ready for final range test.
1.
https://i.imgur.com/WdM8BaH.jpg

The victim at aproximately 10 yards.
2.
https://i.imgur.com/OZjlpDt.jpg

Feeding the baby.
3.
https://i.imgur.com/5GgSJxR.jpg

It works!
4.
https://i.imgur.com/qDwDKxc.jpg

I think this was the second shot - the first shot shattered the top of the target stand, but we wouldn't disover that for a little bit of time.
5.
https://i.imgur.com/zYcCdTD.jpg

Even a light load behind a heavy lead ball can do some damage! Half inch white pine, clean through.
6.
https://i.imgur.com/yhyAB6E.jpg'

Video proof - https://i.imgur.com/0Q2UGhO.mp4

Now the other one.
7.
https://i.imgur.com/VdF3fRA.jpg

Yay!!!
8.
https://i.imgur.com/4fRCVcU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VVRzpoc.mp4

[armoredman]

He brought some interesting new loads.
9.
https://i.imgur.com/dVAIAiq.jpg
10.
https://i.imgur.com/0QyKjFe.jpg

And again, this time a .45ACP boolit in a sabot.
11.
https://i.imgur.com/z85ZDMN.jpg

A very good morning was had!
12.
https://i.imgur.com/kTWjdsu.jpg

The little .54 shot VERY comfortably, was a lot of fun. The pirate pistol with the severely curved grip was NOT unpleasant to shoot, something I had wondered about with that half moon grip. After LAGS replaced the trigger guard with one that was relieved behind the guard, it became much more pleasant to hold and fire. Yes, I fired them both - I got the first almost bullseye with the little .54. I did get to shoot some of my own sidearms, as well. All in all, I haven't had a morning this nice in a long time, thank you, LAGS!

[LAGS]

Most of today was a Home Made Day.
Both those pistols are home made.
The BP was home made.
The primers Lead projectiles and patches were home made.
This should give you guys something to think about doing.
Oh.
The target frame and target stand are also Home made.

[Hannibal]

Nice to see a plan come together. Excellent job!

[LAGS]

Picture 9&10 are for the .54 pistol along with #11.
9 & 10 are .54 sabots that I cut off the ears and used them as a wad with a .54 Powder coated ball.
Pic 11 is the sabot used with a 230 gr cast .451 lead slug that is PC'ed.
They both were easy to load and shot well.
I have to work on the sights for both pistols.
Both shoot about 5" high at 10 yards.
On the one pistol I can just put a taller front sight on.
Or file down that handmade rear sight to get it to hit better on the target.
The .45 pistol is a little more work.
I had installed shotgun bead sights.
It shoots high also.
So that one I need to install a rear sight and replace the front bead sight with possibly a blade front sight.
But with both pistols,
You can aim at the chin and still get a head shot to work.

[Jackrabbit1957]

Hi Lags, great work on those pistols. Just a quick comment on the Palo Verde wood, it may be way soft for gunstocks, keep me posted as to how it works. I have seen the cost of lumber and it's gone through the roof. Mesquite has always been spendy, even more so now.

[LAGS]

I agree with your thoughts on the Palo Verde wood.
If I dry it out.
It does get kind of soft.
And around the desert , if you see those broken off branches.
They seem to rot pretty quickly.
But ,Hay
I have a tree coming down.
So why not just give it a try.
But it didn't seem to be good wood for my BP charcoal.
The wood seems to turn mostly to ash rather than charcoal.
You can see that out in the wild too where there was a brush fire.
The trees seem to end up a pile of grey ash and not chunks of burn wood.

[725]

I like 'em. Fun to shoot.

[armoredman]

Still looking for a mesquite stocked 1894 or Trade Rifle...just sayin'...

[LAGS]

That is an idea for me to look into if I end up with a piece of wood large enough , if I take out a mesquite tree.
I have a spare barrel , lots of locks and other parts to make a ML Trade Rifle

[armoredman]

So, I found this video editor on my new Edge program...I don't know how the "add logo" thing didn't vanish, but here it is. I think I will explore the abilities of this new toy...
Edited - I made a MUCH better version now.

https://youtu.be/mkRXBJBNDeU?si=KhOeGOvU3UEXfmjT

[Jackrabbit1957]

Lags, you certainly have the experience and talent to pull off a Mesquite stocked trade gun. I have done a CVA phony Hawken in Mesquite as well a pair of dueling pistols, a 94 Winchester butt stock, and a rolling block. Its not easy, rotary tools seem to work best. Sharp, really sharp chisels are a must. Keep us posted if and when you do the build!

[LAGS]

That riflestock build will be a while.
I have to cut down the tree trunk.
Then let it dry about a year or the wood will warp or crack if the wood is used when too green.

[armoredman]

Seasoned wood is best. My grandfather was a carpenter, built hospitals in France in 1917-1918 with the AEF, taught me how to swing a hammer, among other things.

[Hannibal]

That riflestock build will be a while.
I have to cut down the tree trunk.
Then let it dry about a year or the wood will warp or crack if the wood is used when too green.

It would require longer than a year where I live but I don't have the benefit of low humidity like you folks in Arizona. 35% is pretty low around here and that doesn't happen very often.

[armoredman]

We are in our wet season, and humidity is 22% right now.

[LAGS]

I can't wait to see how the sight adjustment is going to work.
I would like to set the sights on this pistol for 25 yards.
I am very happy with how this latest pistol shoots so far.