Welcome everybody to the TFB Armorer’s Bench! As talked about within the little blurb beneath, this collection will deal with a whole lot of dwelling armorer and gunsmith actions. Lately the tasks have been stacking up however so have the odd jobs so there was little or no time to cease and take footage for ongoing content material. I did nevertheless discover a while this week to work on a Traditions Blunderbuss Muzzle Loader Kit that I acquired a short while in the past. These types of kits are frequent sufficient and related ones have been bought for many years. I’ve by no means used one however I figured it could be a enjoyable venture that I may probably impart some normal ideas alongside the way in which. Let’s dive into the preliminary steps!
Be aware: I’ve by no means performed with a package gun like this. I’ve loads of expertise in steel and woodworking however on the subject of these kits, there could also be a number of ideas and tips that I personally don’t find out about them particularly. Be happy to share with everybody down beneath! Armorer’s Bench is meant to be a welcoming and informative area for rookies and fanatics.
Current TFB Armorer’s Bench Content material:
TFB Armorer’s Bench: Preliminary Steps with a Muzzle Loader Equipment
Right here, we at TFB hope to tell, entertain, and even encourage any would-be gunsmith or armorer on the market. Ideally, with the knowledge I present and with the assistance of our sponsors, you possibly can have some helpful information in regards to the conservation and enchancment of firearms know-how whereas on the similar time sharing experiences and educating one another new ideas and tips alongside the way in which within the feedback. Digging deep into what it’s to be an armorer or gunsmith has significance however what’s essential is what these folks do to point out they’ve earned that title. I’m blissful to share my experiences and information and hope it’s informative!
Make your private security a precedence:
- Observe correct gun security. All the time ensure that earlier than the firearm hits your bench that it’s unloaded and secure to be dealt with.
- Put on the right security tools. The principle one can be security glasses (respectable ones) since elements are sometimes underneath spring pressure and it’s possible you’ll work with excessive RPM instruments. Different honorable mentions can be latex gloves or a respirator when working with probably dangerous solvents and oils. Additionally listening to safety when working with loud equipment or test-firing firearms.
- Modifications, alterations, and customizations will void your firearm’s guarantee 9.5 occasions out of 10. Please take that into consideration earlier than making an attempt any at-home gunsmithing.
- If you’re not sure about correct security practices, disassembly procedures, or guarantee requirements, cease, put down the instruments, and seek the advice of a reliable gunsmith.
The Equipment – Traditions Blunderbuss Flintlock Muzzle Loader Equipment
So yeah, I picked up a blunderbuss package from muzzle-loaders.com which appeared to have partnered with Traditions some time again to promote some blunderbuss kits. Purchaser beware if you’re on this package for any kind of authenticity. The package could be very a lot an effort in enjoyable and effectivity. It is extremely clearly an unrifled 54 caliber barrel with a threaded finish the place the funnel-looking flare was threaded on and thread locked, brazed, or soldered, and many others. This blunderbuss goes for that kind of Looney Toons Thanksgiving Elmer Fudd vibe.
The package comes with all the pieces you want so far as elements are involved. The precise lock portion is absolutely case-hardened and assembled. It’s in all probability a good suggestion since these V-springs is usually a ache to reinstall as soon as they’re eliminated. The screws, set off meeting, and screw inserts are already blued. The brass set off guard is polished (on the outside), nevertheless, the remnants of the sticky sprucing compound are very obvious on the within parts.
The inventory is formed and inletted. Issues are left pretty tough however fully manageable. Just some frayed threads of wooden right here and there.
The tang piece had a pleasant burr on one aspect the place the drill bit will need to have exited and one way or the other was by no means taken care of although the highest portion was additionally polished to a mirror end. A aspect observe is I want this was not the case for the reason that barrel is a matte end. We may all the time polish the barrel to match or sandblast the tang.
Dry Becoming – Traditions Blunderbuss Flintlock Muzzle Loader Equipment
Per the directions, we must always kick issues off with a dry match. I had a tough time not going straight to cleansing elements up so I eliminated the entire frays and frilly bits contained in the inventory. No particular device is required for this. Simply one thing with an edge. I used a pointy chisel to kind of push in a scrapping movement. The frays don’t have to be “lower” the glances of an edge will detach them.
With these guys out of the way in which, dry becoming can start extra comfortably. I began with the lock mechanism/plate. It ought to be as simple as a plug-in and play however mine had some edges that had been catching someplace. If you may get one aspect considerably aligned or inserted and gently faucet the opposite with a hammer it’s going to make an imprint on the excessive aspect of the wooden.
Inletting black will also be used right here however it actually isn’t obligatory.
This may be filed, sanded, and/or chiseled. I simply chiseled it down because it wasn’t a lot. Be sure you have a pointy set of chisels earlier than utilizing them. a boring one will simply smash a venture.
Subsequent, I sanded issues down contained in the lock plate space as uniformly as I may.
Whereas doing this I’d periodically check the match of the lock till it sat in.
Subsequent up had been the lock plate screws and their spacer/inserts. These had been simple sufficient to put in. I put the screws by the spacers and put them of their holes. With a number of mushy faucets of a nylon hammer, they had been set. Simply remember that the inserts will keep put after they’re pressed in.
Be aware: Don’t hammer, squeeze, or twist the inventory too arduous. Elements are inletted very thinly and will crack in case you aren’t cautious.
After the lock plate and screws, I put in the flash gap into the barrel. This can be a threaded and slotted screw with a gap by it that threads into the barrel.
Some antifreeze could be very advisable since black powder fouling is a few nasty sticky corrosive stuff.
Subsequent, I wanted to check the match of the tang however it had that enormous burr on the aspect that wanted eradicating. Chucking it up in a vise and submitting it down was not a giant deal. I wouldn’t fear about damaging any end on the edges since it is going to be hidden by the inventory.
After the burr was eliminated the tang, tang screw, and set off may very well be put in. The tang wanted to be set fairly low in its manufacturing facility inletting for the screw to achieve the set off.
The set off was stated to have been a decent match within the directions however it was extraordinarily free and wanted no sanding, chiseling, or submitting.
Arguably probably the most nerve-racking step that each lengthy gun muzzle loading package by Traditions would require you to do is becoming the set off guard. Since these elements are solid and probably bent right here and there they are going to be a bit of lengthy on the inventory finish. It’s essential to draw the place it overlaps and chisel your extension.
Fortunately this didn’t require an excessive amount of materials to be taken out so with a number of swipes of a rounded chisel I used to be off to the races…or so I assumed.
Since this set off guard is solid it has a small nub protruding out the aspect. That is one other fast file job.
Just some swipes with the file and she or he’s gone.
After the set off guard is in place we have to drill some pilot holes for the wooden screws meant to carry down the set off guard. Discover a drill bit that has a diameter that seems smaller or about the identical dimension because the wooden screw and tape the drill bit roughly half the size of the screw. Wooden is fairly forgiving. It isn’t rocket science.
The manufacturing facility inletting was a bit deep on the rear finish however that’s nothing some wooden putty received’t repair.
Subsequent, I turned my consideration to the brass buttplate which got here connected to the inventory. It was a bit of proud across the edges. To repair this I wrapped the rear of the inventory in tape (round three layers). this can ideally forestall an individual from unintentionally submitting away at some wooden.
I simply filed the extent round the entire buttplate till I started to hit the primary layer of tape.
As soon as all that was carried out, it was time for the whole dry match meeting.
Closing Ideas
Properly, that’s all for now people! Subsequent time we are going to hopefully cowl sanding and ending. After that, we are going to rust blue the barrel and tang, toss a sling on it, and take it to the vary. I’ll see you down the street. Be secure on the market and secure smithing!
As all the time, thanks for studying TFB! Be secure on the market, have enjoyable whereas capturing, and we are going to see you subsequent time for the TFB Armorer’s Bench! Additionally, tell us what you suppose within the feedback beneath! We all the time respect your suggestions.
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