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Thread: UnderHammer of Jethro

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    UnderHammer of Jethro

    Built some from kits, but I decided to build one from whatever I had lying around.

    Here's a short video of the action, and the nearly finished product - still have to sight it in and file down the front blade.

    The barrel is a Colerain 36 twist I had made for maxiballs. It's a 54 caliber.



    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    ??? Is this a muzzleloader ? We need more information.

    Jedman

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jedman View Post
    ??? Is this a muzzleloader ? We need more information.

    Jedman
    54 CAL muzzleloader based on of a Billinghurst Underhammer action.

    Barrel is a 36 twist to throw maxi-ball type projectiles.

    Aside from the screws, butt plate, rear sight, and barrel, everything else was made from plate or bar stock using mostly hand tools. Did use the drill press some, especially for setting up tapping, and a grinder. Did use the wire welder on the tang/breech, as well as a piece of circular bar stock that the tang screw threaded into.

    Other than that, a lot of filing.

    The trigger guard spring was made from stock, had to bend that, cut the notches and the hooks for the hammer, then do the tempering and annealing, which took a couple passes to make muster.

    But it works, and feels comfortable to shoulder and shoot.Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #4
    Boolit Master 1989toddm's Avatar
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    Well thats cool!! Good job!
    For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8,9

  5. #5
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    Very ingenious. I especially like the use of the trigger guard as the mainspring.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Gebirgsjager View Post
    Very ingenious. I especially like the use of the trigger guard as the mainspring.
    I can't take credit for that; it's been a thing for quite a while, they just aren't popular.

    About the only thing ingenious about the concept is man's desire to make things go boom, as simple as possible.

    Based on reading, underhammer single shot pistols were very common for the non-firearm oriented settlers leaving the east for wide open spaces. Many were made without sights to hang up on clothes and such.

    Beyond that, rifles were mostly taken up by target shooters of old because of the reduced lock time compared to sidelocks.

    I like them because I shoot left handed and I hate paying a premium for left hand locks....

  7. #7
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    I've always wondered about the cap falling off the nipple?

    DG

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Der Gebirgsjager View Post
    I've always wondered about the cap falling off the nipple?

    DG
    I've been shooting them in one form or another for about a decade and hadn't had one slip off yet.

    There's enough taper on the nipple that the cap holds fine.

    I did have one nipple that was a little straight; I'd pinch the cap a little before putting it on and it was fine.

  9. #9
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    Good to know. I'm into BP rifles and revolvers, but the nipples are either upright or horizontal, not upside down. I always wondered about the effect of gravity! Sometimes I've lost them with gravity working for me!

    DG

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    Nice work, it's good to see folks building their entire guns. I still have the hots to build an underhammer flintlock but so far haven't done much to make it happen.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nobade View Post
    Nice work, it's good to see folks building their entire guns. I still have the hots to build an underhammer flintlock but so far haven't done much to make it happen.
    I've got an entire notepad dedicated to an UnderHammer flintlock.

    The thought of one in a nice squirrel caliber makes me tingle.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    I like, smooth and svelte, nice job!

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    Looks very functional and should work well. I have been building under hammers for more than a few years but only a few Billinghurst from castings. There was a story about the cast action molds that were basically stolen from the original builder. Most of the actions I make now are close to the H&A stile.Click image for larger version. 

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  14. #14
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    Whoa John,,, That H&A style UH is beautiful! Spectacular wood !!!

    The Pacific Rifle Co guy did some really nice work on that type of gun. I especially liked his 12 and 20 bore guns.

    Your gun looks better!

    Randy.
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by W.R.Buchanan View Post
    Whoa John,,, That H&A style UH is beautiful! Spectacular wood !!!

    The Pacific Rifle Co guy did some really nice work on that type of gun. I especially liked his 12 and 20 bore guns.

    Your gun looks better!

    Randy.
    I don't think my guns compare to Roger's, he does some fine work. I did make a few barrels for him over the years.

  16. #16
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    RWE great job on that under hammer , very nice

  17. #17
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    I have liked the under hammer rifles for years. It all started with the photo of the Navy Arms underhammer buggy carbine in the 1964 Dixie Gun works catalogue. It took over 50 years but I finally got one.
    I have a 45 caliber barrel blank and I will be building one similar to the one in the video in the next few years.
    A 36 caliber with a 22" barrel would be a great small game rifle.
    Go now and pour yourself a hot one...

  18. #18
    Boolit Master BigEyeBob's Avatar
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    I believe Pedersoli have just released an underhammer muzzle loading pistol.

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigEyeBob View Post
    I believe Pedersoli have just released an underhammer muzzle loading pistol.
    They have two of them.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nobade View Post
    They have two of them.
    Dixie sold H&A underhammer pistols in the 1960's as "Boot pistols"
    Looked at the Pedsoli website, nice looking pistol. It seems the receiver is separate from the barrel.
    Go now and pour yourself a hot one...

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check