|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 18, 2021 12:17:51 GMT -5
I was looking at the pictures I've filed away over the years and found a few documenting a restocking of a short Jaeger I made in 1989. I thought I'd add a little commentary and post the pics for you fellows.
Back in the mid 80's, the game commission logged a section of game lands that abuts my property to the North. It came up so thick in the following years, that we didn't enjoy hunting it in muzzleloading season. You just couldn't negotiate the young saplings with the length of our rifles. So, three of us came up with the idea of building short rifles. We settled on a Jaeger styled rifle, hoping that the thicker butt and stock would give us a little weight to make up for the short barrel.
We ordered three .54 caliber x 24 inch barrels from Ed Rayl in West Virginia. Our friend Keith Casteel had told us when we had our locks, stocks and barrels, to give him a call and come down to see him. He had moved to Woodstock, Virginia and we planned to have him profile the stocks, inlet the barrels and locks, and drill the ramrod holes...all of which he did before noon on all three rifles. We installed the hardware, finished profiling the stocks, and applied the finish in time for hunting season that year. Over the next twenty years, I don't know how many deer those rifles brought down.
After twenty some years of use, my nicely figured stock developed two checks...one down through the lock area and one down through the wrist. It was about the time we moved to our new house and as I was moving, I found a piece of figured walnut that I had purchased years before to restock the Jaeger. I had acquired different hardware that was cast from an original Jaeger. I figured if I was going to trouble to restock it, I'd change the look of it. I contacted Ed Wenger of Catlett, Virginia and he said he'd be glad to restock it for me. Ed likes to specialize in Germanic rifles and fowlers. I furnished the walnut plank, butt plate and trigger guard. The rifle wasn't going to have a sideplate opposite the lock. Instead, the original Jaeger had two escutcheons to use with the lock screws
Here's a pic of the butt plate, lock screws and escutcheons.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
The first thing Ed did was to cut the stock and trace out the location of the rounded cheekpiece that I had requested.
Attachment Deleted
I'll add to this post until we have a full, functioning rifle.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 18, 2021 17:58:47 GMT -5
That's a nice looking piece of wood. Can't wait to see the updates!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Sept 18, 2021 18:53:58 GMT -5
Neat project Dan! Look forward to seeing that “shortie” when it’s ready to navigate/smoke those heavy cover deer!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on Sept 19, 2021 9:05:40 GMT -5
That is pretty wood!
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 19, 2021 12:48:40 GMT -5
The next thing Ed performed on the build was to cut the barrel and ramrod channel and drill the ramrod hole. He then inletted the barrel, breech plug and tang. Next, was the inletting of the buttplate with an inch of offset to provide the appropriate alignment when aiming the rifle.
Attachment Deleted
Ed then inletted the lock and triggers and made the initial cut to the cheekpiece.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
The ramrod thimble and entrance thimble were installed along the forearm. Additionally, the escutcheons that held the lock bolts were inletted and filed smooth to the side plate. At this point, the shaping of the stock could progress. As you can see in the following pictures, the shape of the forearm, lock plates, wrist, comb, cheekpiece and butt were defined further.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 19, 2021 13:01:56 GMT -5
Here's a closeup of the cheekpiece and butt area. I'd like you to note the end of the "bow" on the trigger guard. If you enlarge the picture, you can clearly see that the end of the bow is square or broken off. As I noted previously, this hardware was cast from an original Jaeger. We don't know what might have happened to the guard but Ed and I agreed that it didn't look right. Ed said he had a fix. He was going to dovetail and solder an end on the guard and round it off. One of the last items to complete was the addition of a horn fore end.
Attachment Deleted
The next picture is of the finished fore end and trigger guard. The rounded end of the guard bow that was "fixed" is laying next to the horn fore end.
Attachment Deleted
Next up, an addition to the trigger guard.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 19, 2021 13:31:58 GMT -5
I can see where perhaps on that trigger guard, the rifle was maybe dropped and that small "tail" broken off the original.
Or.....the owner hated the tail as it interfered with his ability to use the firearm. Ya just never know about that stuff!!
Nice post!! Keep it coming.
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 19, 2021 13:46:10 GMT -5
Ed and I believe that the original rifle may have been dropped during it's lifetime afield. The end of the bow was not truly squared off but irregularly broken. It looked as if someone had filed a sharp corner off square to possibly prevent personal injury. Anyway, Ed's fix works nicely and blends right in. I will tell you that the trigger guard is extremely heavy through the bow and was somewhat difficult to handle when shouldering the rifle as you want to have your fingers wrap around the fixture. It just felt uncomfortable. In the next post, I'll show you how I alleviated that problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 19, 2021 13:57:25 GMT -5
Just my two cents on flint rifle trigger guards. I re-did my T\C Hawken awhile back. I've always hated the factory trigger guard. Just did. So since I was updating the finish 'n stuff one of the changes I did was to inlet and install a "historically correct" double set triggers and trigger guard. I know it doesn't matter that the T\C isn't a historically correct flinter.....but I like the looks of this and it handles better than the factory "junk".  |
|
|
|
Post by blackbruin on Sept 19, 2021 14:33:16 GMT -5
Looking like its coming along really well dan!....definately no worries with ed on any project...
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 19, 2021 15:20:43 GMT -5
Dave, my first rifle was a custom built .54 caliber Hawken made by my then neighbor, Daryl Heckman. As I remember, he built four of them...all .54's with varying G.R. Douglas barrel lengths. I still have that wonderful, 47 year old, shooting firearm.
I watched with interest, as you restocked and reconfigured your Hawken and you're correct, that new trigger guard looks more historically correct. I don't know where Thomson Center came up with that brass trigger guard they used. With that said, or as an attorney would say, "The above not withstanding", some Germanic and European firearms, specifically Jaegers, DID have finger hooks of varying designs.
Dan, How the heck are you? I'll bet you're getting ready for next month's early bear season. I surely hope everything is well in your world, friend. Please keep in touch.
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 20, 2021 15:12:28 GMT -5
As I noted in my last post, the trigger guard was quite uncomfortable when shooting as you couldn't wrap your fingers around it to pull the rifle back into your shoulder. It's bow is heavy, thick, square with slightly rounded corners. I've seen Jaegers with finger hooks and suggested to Ed that we add one to the trigger guard. He sketched out the following hook and placed the trigger guard on it. After snapping a picture, he sent me a text.
Attachment Deleted
I've seen a good many Jaegers with a hook placed in this area but it was still quite a handful to get your fingers around the trigger guard. I told Ed that the guard had an indent about halfway on the bow and that was the location I was thinking of. The following pic is his next attempt in locating the hook.
Attachment Deleted
I told Ed to use his artistic license and place the hook in this location. The next picture shows the hook with the bow prepared to receive it. Ed told me that he was going to rivet and silver solder it in place. That process is shown in the following picture. Believe me, you can pull on this hook all you want and it ain't coming loose.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
Ed's wife loves this little rifle. She came into the shop one day as he was preparing to apply the finish and easily shouldered the rifle, holding it with one hand with finger on the trigger and middle finger pulling back on the finger hook. Here's a picture of the finished trigger guard with hook. You can also see the rounded end of the bow that Ed fixed.
Attachment Deleted
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 20, 2021 15:27:59 GMT -5
Since the butt plate was cast from an original that had a patch box, Ed went to work and made one to fit. The next couple of pictures basically denote a complete rifle. If the lock had the frizzen spring installed, this rifle could have been fired at this point.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
You'll note throughout the build that the front and rear sights are on the barrel. You have to remember that this is a restocking and not a new build. We're reusing my barrel, lock and triggers. I am, however, going to have Ed knock off the sights and replace them with a thicker front silver sight and a rear skeleton sight. He'll do this before we put the finishes on the rifle. The thicker sight will be better for my old man eyes and the skeleton rear sight will allow quick alignment in the field. A simple sight and open rear sight are better if shooting for score but I can assure you with these sights, I can still lay them in a target at 100 yards. Most of my shots at deer are 50 - 80 yards.
Also, I had left the barrel and lock "in the white" all of these years. Now, with this make-over, I'm going to have a French grey finish applied to lock and barrel.
Up next, let's add a little gingerbread.
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 21, 2021 15:51:19 GMT -5
Back in the late 70's and all of the 80's, I shot muzzle loading rifles competitively across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. You would see beautiful rifles with carving and engraving at these "shoots." This rifle is to be used exclusively for hunting and I didn't want it embellished to the point that I would regret taking it afield. Ed and I discussed this at length and he finally acknowledged that even utilitarian Jaegers had some sort of decoration. The old firearms would have carving and even some wirework in the usual places you'd find it...cheekpiece, entrance thimble, tang and wrist.
Ed thought that since the rifle didn't have a side plate, that this would be a great place for a little wire work. I had all the confidence in the world in Ed's ability and knowledge of these firearms so I gave him the go-ahead. This picture is the design he came up with for the stabbed-in, wire inlay. You can also see the polished escutcheons that will hold the lock bolts.
Attachment Deleted
Ed said that he had an old German design in mind for the tang area. The design was based on the acanthus leaf. It was a simple design, not very detailed, and he used this around the entrance thimble, tang, the finials on the lock and side plates, and the nose of the comb. This is a picture of the entrance thimble. The design transforms into a molding that runs the length of the ramrod channel.
Attachment Deleted
The next couple of pictures shows the tang, lock plate finial and the nose of the comb.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 21, 2021 16:08:02 GMT -5
I spent a lot of time researching designs that could be carved behind the cheekpiece. I found a nice, little design that I thought would look bully with the curved cheekpiece. It's also based on the acanthus leaf and would tie in well with the other carvings. Ed said he would add a little carving at the front of the cheekpiece to balance the design. I had asked for an undercut cheekpiece on this rifle. Ed performed this work with the carving of the cheekpiece and added a fine, engraved line along the edge of the cheekpiece. The next couple of pictures denote this work.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted\
The sliding patch box received a basic "shell" design of leaves. Ed also carved a delicate molding outlining the patch box. I wanted to keep the carving on the rifle true to the old Jaegers. Here's a picture of the patchbox.
Attachment Deleted
For those that don't know it, American black walnut does not lend itself to intricate carving to begin with because it's considered to have a quite porous surface that usually needs filled before finishing. Taking one's time and having extremely sharp tools is the key to success.
Next, we only have the finishing to complete.
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 21, 2021 16:25:06 GMT -5
WOW!! Nice wood working on that piece!!
|
|
|
|
Post by blackbruin on Sept 22, 2021 0:30:52 GMT -5
WOW!! Nice wood working on that piece!! Ed is a well accomplished carver.... |
|
|
|
Post by blackbruin on Sept 22, 2021 0:33:12 GMT -5
Dave, my first rifle was a custom built .54 caliber Hawken made by my then neighbor, Daryl Heckman. As I remember, he built four of them...all .54's with varying G.R. Douglas barrel lengths. I still have that wonderful, 47 year old, shooting firearm.
I watched with interest, as you restocked and reconfigured your Hawken and you're correct, that new trigger guard looks more historically correct. I don't know where Thomson Center came up with that brass trigger guard they used. With that said, or as an attorney would say, "The above not withstanding", some Germanic and European firearms, specifically Jaegers, DID have finger hooks of varying designs.
Dan, How the heck are you? I'll bet you're getting ready for next month's early bear season. I surely hope everything is well in your world, friend. Please keep in touch. It's as good as can be for the moment. Yes we will be hunting some. Have trail cams out etc. Seeing some. And some dandy bucks too. Even with all the gypsy moths this year and bald ridges. The acorns are plentiful in spots... Hopefully see you soon dan... |
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 22, 2021 8:08:04 GMT -5
WOW!! Nice wood working on that piece!! Ed is a well accomplished carver.... |
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 22, 2021 11:53:33 GMT -5
Oh yeah......I get it for sure. Carvings by someone who is good really set of the rifles appearance. Not much different than in modern rifles, handguns. or shotguns.
Those craftsmen do know their stuff!!
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 22, 2021 12:52:34 GMT -5
Well, it's time for the finishes. In the nest several pictures you can see the French grey finish applied to the barrel and lock.
Ed uses an applied bluing material to accomplish this finish. After applying and drying, he then cards off the pieces. When he attains the color he wants, he cleans the barrel and applies a healthy coat of motor oil. The resultant color is known as a French grey finish.
Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
Two coats of Alkanet varnish was applied and allowed to dry. This varnish also acts as a filler for the walnut stock. If you check back to the picture that shows the undercut cheekpiece, you can see what I mean that American walnut is very porous. After the stock was dry and a was given a light rubbing of steel wool, the stock was tacked and four coats of tung oil was applied.
Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 22, 2021 12:59:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by davet on Sept 22, 2021 13:44:00 GMT -5
Beautiful work!! I love the barrel grey color as well.
Give us a range report on it too!
|
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on Sept 22, 2021 18:50:11 GMT -5
Beautiful gun Dan!! What twist barrel does "Shorty" have??
|
|
|
|
Post by acorn20 on Sept 22, 2021 19:56:54 GMT -5
The twist in the barrel is 1:48", Larry. All the short barrels we had made for our short Jaegers had that twist and I've never had a problem with them.
I take it out once in a while to punch paper Dave. Remember now that I've had this rifle for about 31 years more or less and just restocked it about five years ago. It would clover-leaf holes out to 75 yards and gives you a nice pattern at 100. A friend of mine liked the short barreled rifles so much that he decided to have one built. I believe he has a .54 caliber Getz barrel on his.
|
|
