Thread: Custom Flintlock Longrifle

Gents suspect the rifle was made in the late 1960's, was recently given to me by an old mate who is now to old to shoot. It seems to be an early style of rifle, with straight 40 inch .36 Douglas Barrel, and a Russ Hamm lock. The rifle is a real tack driver, shot it last weekend. Is muzzle heavy compared to my swamp barrelled .40 Lancaster County rifle. The lock is not very reliable, so will purchase a RPL Lock from Track of the Wolf, as they make a high quality replacement for these early commercial locks. This rifle is very similar in style to my lancaster, but am not sure if it is just a generic example of a long rifle. There were no kits available in the early 1960's so someone has done a ver nice job.
Cheers
Heelerau

Thats a very nice Rifle,Dixie had Kits in the 60s,I made one(percussion) in metal shop around 64

Looks like a great gun. I live close to Dixie Gun works in Tn. One of my friends was Freddy Harrison who made very good quality rifles and mostly long rifles. we still hunt with them. Mine is a 54 cal. and my wifes is a 45 cal. enjoy it.

Mate, do you think that may be a Dixie kit?

Originally Posted by heelerau

Mate, do you think that may be a Dixie kit?

Dixie as far as I know and I've been doing business with them since about 1970 or there about did offer kits but not with Douglas barrels. the Douglas was in my opinion one of the best. and there locks with the kits were cheaper. the rifle you have seems to be one that the parts was bought individually and with care. the lock and barrel and trigger with all the inlays are quality. the stock how ever looks walnut and if I had built the rifle I would have gone for quarter sawed maple or tiger strip maple which ever you chose to call it. in either case you have a very nice weapon. I would love to shoot it . There's just something about the smell of smoke. from the looks of the photos it was a user and not just something to hang on the wall.

Mighty fine ticklicker! Would be proud to drag that one down the trail an point it at a turdy point buck!

Originally Posted by heelerau

Gents suspect the rifle was made in the late 1960's, was recently given to me by an old mate who is now to old to shoot. It seems to be an early style of rifle, with straight 40 inch .36 Douglas Barrel, and a Russ Hamm lock. The rifle is a real tack driver, shot it last weekend. Is muzzle heavy compared to my swamp barrelled .40 Lancaster County rifle. The lock is not very reliable, so will purchase a RPL Lock from Track of the Wolf, as they make a high quality replacement for these early commercial locks. This rifle is very similar in style to my lancaster, but am not sure if it is just a generic example of a long rifle. There were no kits available in the early 1960's so someone has done a ver nice job.
Cheers
Heelerau

that should prove interesting to shoot. It has a good trigger

Have worked on several orig flinters in the past.before you change the lock (you want to preserve the orig. inletting)
Take it apart and polish the inner Mainspring,sear and tumbler,also the outer frizzen spring,can work wonders.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Have worked on several orig flinters in the past.before you change the lock (you want to preserve the orig. inletting)
Take it apart and polish the inner Mainspring,sear and tumbler,also the outer frizzen spring,can work wonders.

Mate, that has been done inside, the mainspring is pretty weak, so is the frizzen spring. The angle of the cock is not right, and it smashes the flints into the frizzen. It only takes a 1/2x 5/8 flint, any bigger and it rests against the frizzen holding it off the pan. I have tried bevel up and down re fitting the flint. The replacement lock only requires very minor adjustment to the lock moritse, probably a wider mainspring. The
RPL lock is exactley the same re lock plate dimensions. You can only fire this rifle once the trigger is set. lovely let off .Thanks for the advise re the lock all the same. It did work a little better after the work, the frizzen was also rehardend.

cheers

Heelerau

Well, gents looks like a RPL flintlock from L and R locks, it is a drop in replacement for the Russ Hamm Maslin style lock, needs minor deepening of the mortise to accommodate more robust internals. I am getting a chap to polish the inside of the lock and tune it before it comes down under, will post again with photos when its been fitted. I did shoot the rifle the other day and it loads and shoots real sweet, the mainspring in the lock finally failed, just a cast replacement from years ago by the looks.

Cheers

heelerau