I started a Flintlock podcast

Well after thinking about it for some time, I decided to start a podcast. Just me talking about building and shooting and hunting and history and possibles and all kinds o' stuff related to Muzzleloaders and flintlocks in particular. here is the link and it will be up on ITunes soon. http://yeoldeflintlockpodcast.podbean.com/

I will be starting up again.

HHmmmmm....Haven't worked on the fowler since November. Had a bad injury from Jiu-jitsu and been CRAZY busy with the new work hours(3pm to 11:30pm. Plus it's been crazy cold in the basement workshop. But have started again and will post a few pics and update in the next few days.

Did a little more

Didn't get a lot done this week. I shaped the tang end and started inletting it. I am waiting on the R.E.Davis Center to Center drilling guide and some stainless Pin stock from TOW. Once I get the tang completely done I am going to dovetail in the Octagon underlug and solder on the round ones. Then get the barrel pinned in. I am really taking my time and heading my Dad's advice at not pushing too fast.

Did a little more this week

It's been a crazy week. I was informed that I will be going to nightshift until further notice and have been battling a CRAZY cold that has knocked me on my ass. But on a positive note I felt better on Saturday, which was the one year anniversary of my Dad's passing, and I took a trip up to Dixon's. Haven't been there since I was a kid and don't really remember too much. I felt that was a fine way to honor his memory. I bought some inletting black, a copy of Dixon's book which I have been wanting, and the current issue of Muzzleloading Mag. All in all a nice trip. I was able to finish up getting the lockplate inletted. Going to clean it up some more this week and worked on inletting the breech bolt area. I miss measured the depth and came up short for the back of the barrel/breech plug. better short than long?!?! (ha! my wife says that's not true!) Anyways, I will finish that up and shape the tang and inlet it next. Anyone have any criticisms or ideas or hints, Please feel free to leave em'!

20gauge English Fowler Build

So I lost my Dad coming up on a year now this week. It's been hard but I am making it through. The one thing that we shared that no one else in my family did was our love of Muzzleloaders. In particular, Flintlocks. My Dad built around 40 guns in his life(I know that's not a lot compared to some others)for himself and others. He was extremely talented. For the last 3 or 4 years of his life, we often spoke about what gun he would like to build next. Without fail, it usually was an English Fowler. He became interested in Smoothbores after shooting only rifles. I decided to build it in his honor. This is my first completely solo gun without his help. I worked on a lot his guns with him also and spent hours watching and learning from him. I settled on a Clay Smith English Fowler Kit in 20 gauge with a 38inch barrel in fancy Walnut. This blog is mainly for me to document what I am doing and any mistakes I make. I started tonight by starting to further inlet the already partially inlet lock mortice. I put in about 2 hours tonight. I know that's not usually done first but I wanted to start getting it set in so I can see if I need to move the barrel back any to clear the breechplug for the touch hole. I took my time and didn't rush and made some headway. I think 2 or 3 more sessions should do it. Walnut is NOT an easy wood to work with. Very finicky!! Here are some pics from tonight. Also, when I talked to Clay to order, he had already installed the buttplate on this kit. He didn't even charge for the extra work!! Bonus!! A powder horn I am working on also.