The Packhorse

[Sharps40]

In the damp box. 90% humidity. Crock of water set on the lowest of three settings (warm, low, high).

Ready for its third boiling and carding.

The part, fresh from the third boil in good old tap water.

Beginning the carding in preparation for the next rust cycle. Removing all the loose smudge with 0000 steel wool......nope, I ain't degreased a piece of steel wool for this work in years. Whatever keeps the wool from rusting, don't keep the parts I rub down from rusting. Course, that may be where I get an occasional spot from but I'm inclined to believe it to be fingerprinting or less than adequate prep work. In any event, used to degrease the wool but saw no difference in the final output, so, I eliminated that particular step.

 

[Sharps40]

Parts are out of the last boil, carded and resting in oil. Final assembly this evening if everything is even and spot/streak free.

 

[Sharps40]

Some more after rust. Its normal and it settles down over a period of days or a few weeks. Not as bad as I expected with the heavier texture on this frame but......

Time to warm it again with another coat of beeswax/vasoline. Just to ouch temperature after glopping on the mix.

After melting for a bit, hang it to cool and I'll come back for near final assembly.

More photos this evening as this one approaches completion. As predicted, likely done this weekend and then just to sit until I'm satisfied with the browned finish, maybe another two weeks.

Last of the jobs are to finish knocking back and sealing the brown. Future maintenance of the finish is as simple as wiping it down with bore butter or other similar muzzleloading finish preservatives.

I need to make up a shoulder nut for the ejector rod housing and blue it. That'll be from La Salle fatigue proof steel and have a small shoulder in the base to retain the ERH and prevent any movement under heavy recoil. It can be as simple as a tapered bottom on the pinch nut.

Last item will be to clearance the head of the cylinder pin. It just slides over the barrel band. Assembly and disassembly is possible but a bit snugger than I'd like so, that'll get reblued again once clearanced for ease of assembly and disassembly.

 

[boneboy96]

What a treat it was for me to read thru all 5 pages and see the transformation. Beautiful work on a great looking gun.

 

[Sharps40]

Coming together. Still heavily coated in beeswax. I'll wipe it down and start the follow up with Bore Butter on the brown.

A simple relief on the back side of the Cylinder pin to make room for the band at the end of the barrel. A bit of touch up blue and the gun assembles and disassembles now with no more difficulty than a factory set up.

A few quick pics. Not the best light, its fading but you can see the heavy texture in the brown and the smoother black and brass. Better pics later when the final bits are done and installed......but, This one is looking like it did in fact make that 500 mile solo walk for a Gals heart across the Alaskan Frontier to the Coast....and then back when love wore out its welcome?

 

[7pt62THOR]

Another purty one!

 

[sw0596]

Oh my! That is fine!

 

[shell_waster]

Bravo and thanks again to bringing us along on the journey. Waiting on the range report and next project.

 

[Sharps40]

almost done. Gotta make up a shouldered pinch nut for the ejector rod housing to lock it down for zero movement under recoil.

 

[TattooedGunner]

Wow, great looking gun, and great write up. I bet you spend as much time taking pictures and writing posts as doing the work.

There is no way I would have the patience to do what you do.