If you want to lean to work with wood and metal this would be a good candidate IMO.

A few years ago I would have jumped all over this just for a fun project, I have way too many now.


This is not mine and I don't know the owner.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Potwin-Musket-45BP-37-Barrel.cfm?gun_id=100235511

[img][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/JJFLt.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HPI6W.jpg[/img][/img]

Sorry for the quickly snapped photos,but yes,you are right Michael.I spent many hours on this one,the stock was broken through the lock(splintered would be a better description),I held my breath and broke it over my knee.and started over!
There was enough of the original rifling left for a cutter to follow ,so I re-cut it the old way.Dirty tough job,I'm in no hurry to do that again.I think kids had been playing with it and beat the lock and nipple to pieces,that had to be rebuilt also.I could go on and on,but it shoots clover leafs at 30 yards and I shoot some squirrels with it every fall.It's a hoot!

Yikes!Sorry about giant photos,I'm a slow learner.

Great work, R. Glenz!

You saved a very nice rifle. Next winter you could reconvert to flint if you run out of other projects. Is there an indication as to the maker? Do the thimbles match, or was this a full stock converted to half, perhaps when it was converted to percussion?

Usually the highly ornamented rifles to not appeal to me, but all the inlays "work" on your rifle. Both you and the maker are to be congratulated!

Thanks Terry
It's still a work in progress,I'm undecided on going back to flint.There is a name on the top of the barrel but it is so faint, I can only make out a couple of crazy letters,some hearts and 1806.The barrel has been set back about 1 1/2",this is based on the staples new positions.I assume this was done when it was converted to percussion.The front thimble is a poor replacement and the rear is starting to wear through.

I'm usually not in the "over the top" category either,but with patriotic inlays, engraving,and the hooked breach, I was sold.

I can see no evidence that it was ever a fullstock,but anything is possible.

I like it as well and think these are fun projects that a person can do and learn a lot doing them.

If you want to post some pictures or tell us what the name on the barrel looks like maybe it could looked up.

I see the rifle I started this post about is now sold.

Michael,this is the best I can do.I'm not sure if the first letter is a Y or J. I did a drawing of what I can make out. [img]http://[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/pv4Yl.jpg[/img][/img]

Here's some folk art. [img][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/JhZ7D.jpg[/img][/img]

[img][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/vRFfv.jpg[/img][/img]

I had a tig welder build up the original tang screw,he thought he was helping me out by putting to his grinder and hack saw.We will do that one ---------again!

I knew my eyes were bad (in fact I have an appointment in less than an hour to discuss cataract surgery) but I can't see any of the markings on your rifle barrel! I do see what appears to be a plugged screw hole just toward the muzzle from the vertical line. The line might be the remains of a sight cut or pressure mark, and the screw hole part of the sight mounting.

Have you tried making a rubbing? Actually, your drawings are probably the best that can be done, but another detail or two which just look like part of the 200 years of dings might show up in a rubbing.

I know I'm a bit odd, but I love that engraving! The fox and the bird are really excellent in my opinion.

Brent

Last photos,I promise! I'll try another barrel shot and one more for Brent. [img:center][/img] [img:center][/img]

In the first pic of the bbl marks (link) with your interpretations below them...
Is there an additional bird, wings out stretched, head looking to the viewers right...
I think I see that plainer that the rest. On the far left of the pic,,left of the broken verticle bar that begins your line of characters.

Nice looking rifle. Alot of satisfaction when you can save on like that.

"5:30s the time sweetheart Jay the cat passed the lake, tracked through the valley, climbed the mountain and glissaded down the other side, in 1806, love and two big kisses"

that one was easy...

The eagle looks Haida inspired(?)

It's 5:30 and it sounds like you been in the cooking sherry

Kutter,I never noticed that.There is a larger, feathery out stretched wing in the middle of the lettering.That's should explain the little V's in my artwork.The quality is better than any engraving on the rifle,barrel makers stamp maybe?

Steven,you made me smile,I think you nailed it!