Whitacre's Machine Shop. http://www.whitacresmachineshop.com/ He has his shop on a farm outside Winchester, VA. Usually sets up at the N-SSA Nationals in Winchester.What exactly is a "Whitacre" barrel?
I'll sure be curious as to what it weighs in at when done.
I do plan to weight it once complete, but will take some time to completely finish. I work around 50 hours, some weeks. I’ve watched a few videos and PATIENCE is something I’ve got to keep in my. Measure twice and cut once type thinking. I don’t have all the parts but only a few left but plenty to start working on it.
Hovey Smith has some videos on YouTube where he repairs an old Brunswick rifle that are good references to working a stock.
USPS lost my first barrel I ordered from Whitacre. So, someone has a nice 1863 Springfield Barrel out there. Whitacres makes barrels to fit to original specifications. They have a removable breech plug and progressive depth rifling as the originals did. I’m no expert, but that’s were a lot of the reproductions gain so much more weight than originals. The reproduction barrels and stocks are more bigger.
That's correct, although the Armi Sport stock is also dimensionally larger than other repros.I suspect the extra weight is in the barrel.
A ram-rod channel is very close to the lock bolts, on various guns.
The remedy would be to fill the ramrod hole with a dowel (glue it in), and then drill a new ramrod hole in the correct position.
View attachment 1065408 View attachment 1065407 View attachment 1065406 BAD UPDATE
I received the stock from The Rifle Shoppe and started working on it. Got the lock plate set and then drilled the first hole. I went to blow out the chips and noticed air shot out the ram rod channel. I placed the ram rod in and noticed I could not see light through the hole. So I put the bolt in and pushed the ram rod and to my horror it bumped the lock plate bolt. I’ve sent an email to see if I can send it back and hopefully get a replacement.
The saddest thing is everything else was very good on the stock. I’ve had a lot of trouble with this and hence why I should have just bought and Armi Sport 1842. If The Rifle Shoppe won’t replace the stock, I may just sell all the parts and buy and 1842.
Dunlap Woodcrafts is the go-to place for this, but they're expensive.Does anyone know of anyone who has an (Repro for Original) 1855/61/63 3 Band Rifle stock, figured I’d ask.
That is a very good repair and one I have used to save a few stocks I misdrilled before I got a proper bit to drill deep holes in wood. I have also just used a router (or chisel) instead of the drill to make the ramrod hole. You don’t need to inlay the Dutchman but it does make a neater job.The ram rod hole was not drilled straight.
That can be fixed.
I've fixed bad ram rod holes by machining a slot in the barrel cannel with a ball end mill (the size of the ram rod).
Machine the slot down to the proper depth making sure the lock bolt will go in with the ram rod in place.
Next use a larger regular end mill to cut a wider slot in the barrel channel to a depth just shy of the ram rod (usually less than 3/8 inch deep).
(Example; I cut the RR slot with a 1/4 inch ball end mill to depth and cut the wide slot 1/2 inch with a regular end mill about 1/4 to 5/16 inch deep).
Cut a flat piece of wood the size and thickness of the large slot and epoxy it in place (make sure to remove the Ram rad).
Re drill the lock bolt hole.
You may have to run a long drill bit in the ram rod hole if the rod is a tight fit, but if done correctly you won't have to.
With the barrel in place this repair will never be seen.
SC45-70
I just called and was told they don't have any 1861 Springfield Stocks. Then gentleman stated that he had some wood air drying and would possibly be ready around Spring. I don't believe that means they don't have any others, it may just pertain to 1861 Springfield's.Dunlap Woodcrafts is the go-to place for this, but they're expensive.