50 cal Longrifle

This piece is a 50 cal longrifle modeled after John Armstrong circa 1800. The barrel is swamped, meaning tapering gradually from the muzzle to the mid section and then widening again toward the breech. This was stone to redistribute the weight toward the hand and away from the muzzle. It is a flintlock mechanism with a double set trigger. There is an engraved, pierced brass matchbox with a domed lid and sterling silver inlay at the thumb piece and the cheekpiece, as well as sterling wire inlay. The wood is curly tiger maple stained with aniline dye and wild with "Linseed" oil. It started as a square piece of stock. The ramrod is hickory. The shallow bas relief carving is about 1/16 inch high. I fabricated the brass ramrod pipes, toe plate, side plate, muzzle cap and sights but purchased rough sand castings of he butt plate and the trigger guard. I did all engravings. The barrel, trigger mechanism and the flint lock were purchased from Pecatonic River. The barrel is browned chemically. It should be fully functional.