Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit

[Curtis]

Many thanks, guys!

52Bore, I hope to be at Friendship for the fall shoot, but that will depend on what trips my better half has planned for us - I could be in Montana and Idaho at that time. As for metal finishes, I think I will wait and actually shoot the rifle for a while, I really want to see what kind of groups I can get out of her! I will brush up on my engraving and learn how to make a decent English scroll - then get to engraving the rifle. I will likely rust blue the barrel and such, and have the parts that are traditionally color cased done by someone.

Got any recommendations for that job? I would like to learn how to do color case but will probably have a pro do it for this gun. Talked to Tom Snyder about it, but he won't color case one of Rod's lock plates because he is afraid it will through harden, an wouldn't be able to straighten it if it warped. I would think the lock plate could be braced to prevent warpage....

That being said, what would you suggest for proper metal finishes? I would like it to be as traditional as possible, and you have seen a lot more of these guns than I have! I am certainly open to suggestions.

Curtis

 

[52Bore]

Yes, on the bone case color, Eric M. is retired, but I bet he’d do it as it’s a small job. I’ll send you a PM. I did it myself once on a pair of hammers I made, not hard but you need the right stuff. JimW knows Eric as he did my AH falling block.

I was hoping you’d want some engraving! Seems only Henry contract and lower quality arms didn’t have any, or just boarder line.

Don’t blame you for wanting to shoot it 1st, but don’t be like Mark Silver and leave it in the white - He asked me to shoot hishe completed it , now some 15-20 years ago and I bet it’s still in the White! lol

You’re spot on with rust blue on the barrel.
Also, blue the butt plate & trigger bow. All other metal color case.

No hurry on quality work..

 

[Curtis]

Don’t blame you for wanting to shoot it 1st, but don’t be like Mark Silver and leave it in the white - He asked me to shoot his he completed it , now some 15-20 years ago and I bet it’s still in the White! lol

LOL, I be you are right, it probably hasn't been finished yet. Unless Tom got tired of looking at it and put the finish on it for him!

And thanks for the info, that tells me what I need to start thinking about finish-wise. I have a rust cabinet but need to make something to boil or steam the parts in.

Got the rifle assembled again, now for some shooting!

Curtis

 

[wildcat2]

Kind of late replying to this one, but on my custom henry build I did it has a Rod E. Lock and I had the lock plate ,hammer ,trigger plate.and breech plug colored cased by Lee Shaver, and it did not effect it in any way,I also did engraving on it by Mike yazel, another great job,

 

[ENCORE50A]

Damn, that's a beautiful rifle. Great work!

 

[Idaholewis]

That is a BEAUTIFUL Rifle Curtis, a True Work of Art there

 

[wildcat2]

Yes nice work ,don't know what you did for work before retirement, but you have skilled hands.

 

[Curtis]

Thanks for the compliments fellas! I have been working on a flintlock rifle for a while, but have been gathering photos of period engraving and hope to start engraving on the Alex Henry rifle before too long.

I also just received a shiny new bullet mold from Buffalo Arms and plan to get some 530gr bullets cast up soon for some shooting. A friend sent me a few bullets he cast from the same model of mold and they showed promising groups.

Wildcat2, I wasn't aware that Lee Shaver did color case work, but found some examples on his website after reading your post. He is only a couple of hours south of where I live and I may have to go talk with him when the time comes. If you could post a photo of your lock he color cased I would love to see it.

I was a computer nerd for 26 years when I retired, before that I worked as a design draftsman. Back in the dark ages I was an art major for a couple of years before I switched to something I thought I could make a living at!

Curtis

 

[wildcat2]

I will definitely try to do that ,soon as I get it back from Rod, he is lighten up my trigger pull. I had lee rust blue my barrel also . I trye'd to send pics of my builds threw my Samsung Galaxy 7 tablet but it won't let me. I will have to take pics with my camera and load them on my desk top and try that. Now if you pm me your email I can send them threw my tablet files. I have sent Rod and Rick pics many of times. Amazing your work talent , you would of made a great tig welder, your great patient in working really shines. Hope to see you and your gun at freindship or Oakridge soon.thanks .

 

[Cent540]

Wow, that was great! I started reading last night, finished today.
I need a cigarette......
Neil

 

[wildcat2]

test for Curtis. this was just a picture of us at Oakridge shoot two years ago.

 

[wildcat2]

OK it worked for me ,on my desktop. Now I can at least send pics on the site this way . Upload pics from my camera onto pc. Then to here . Someday will have to break down and buy a cell phone or tablet that will work for me. Rather spend my coins on gun builds.

 

[wildcat2]

ok Curtis found a pic of my lock and henry rifle ,hope this works for you. thisis a case i made out of real american chestnut. my stock on the rife is chestnut also.

 

[Cent540]

ok Curtis found a pic of my lock and henry rifle ,hope this works for you. thisis a case i made out of real american chestnut. my stock on the rife is chestnut also.

Dude, those pictures should have two folds in them because they're gun porn!
Seriously beautiful work, on the gun and the case.
Neil

 

[Curtis]

ok Curtis found a pic of my lock and henry rifle ,hope this works for you. thisis a case i made out of real american chestnut. my stock on the rife is chestnut also.

Nice rifle and case!!! It's really awesome you found some American chestnut to work with. Thanks for the photos!

I made a case for the last English gun I built, it was more work that building the gun! I don't get along with straight lines very well. Here are a couple pics of the gun and case:




Curtis

 

[Curtis]

I thought I should take a second and try to clarify something I had mentioned in an earlier post that may have given a wrong impression... I had talked to a gunsmith that was unwilling to color case one of Rod's lock plates because they are currently made from 4140 steel and he was afraid of the plate warping.

That was just one gunsmith's opinion. There are many talented folks out there who have done beautiful color case work on Rod's lock plates, such as the work Lee Shaver did for Wildcat2 on his rifle he recently posted. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression from what I posted earlier.

Curtis

 

[Cent540]

Nice rifle and case!!! It's really awesome you found some American chestnut to work with. Thanks for the photos!

I made a case for the last English gun I built, it was more work that building the gun! I don't get along with straight lines very well. Here are a couple pics of the gun and case:
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Curtis

You're not one to be easily outdone. Beautiful work, really!
Neil

 

[wildcat2]

Thanks Curtis for the case and gun pics. Nice case. Yes my chestnut was growing in my yard and was spit ready to fall on my house, had to take it out . Used it in honor of my father ,for that was his favorite tree. Glad you cleared that up for Rod.

 

[Cent540]

Thanks Curtis for the case and gun pics. Nice case. Yes my chestnut was growing in my yard and was spit ready to fall on my house, had to take it out . Used it in honor of my father ,for that was his favorite tree. Glad you cleared that up for Rod.

Great provinance! You should write something up and secret it someplace under the flocking to be found years from now.

 

[Matthew323]

Doesn't Wyoming Armory do bone charcoal color case hardening?