The work on the Gold Hibbard sxs 12 gauge is 99.5 percent complete! I am still searching for a replacement for the hand made left side hammer, but everything else is done. Myrtlewood is so much easier to work with than Black walnut. Now to let the oil settle into the wood, and repeat oil and rubbing until she glows.
Delivered to the owner. He is ecstatic! I am well pleased. Win all around!
Some exciting times going on here! I have come into possession of an open hammer, 12 gauge Gold Hibbard branded double barrel shotgun that needs a bit of help - my favorite kind of project! I have a couple of myrtlewood blanks to work with this time. Myrtle is much easier to work with than Black Walnut, I think this will go much faster, although I will, of course, take my time and use lessons learned when getting down to the delicate work.
Damn, it's been a while since I was here! After I get my shop all set up the way I like it, with my FFL in hand and business starting to pick up - my wife decided that she doesn't want me around anymore... So, I'm now moved to Copperas Cove, Texas. Good thing - my daughter and granddaughter are only 1 mile away! Sad thing - I can't move my shop with me. Most of my tools I can move, except for the two lathes, drill press and such. My new medical issues preclude me from doing the heavy lifting like I could when I still thought I was bullet proof.. 😠Will have to find movers for that stuff.
So I now have to rebuild in a two car garage and a spare bedroom. It's okay, I can do it. Such is life, embrace the suck and move on.
Here is my brand new furniture! This house is going to definitely become an entire man cave. Dark leather and oak. it speaks of cigars, scotch and long stories...
By the way, I DID finish the Baker SxS 16 gauge shotgun I have been working on. Here is the result!
I've gotten to the point where I have everything fitting together quite well, and got down to sanding with 220, then 400 grit sandpaper. I have the first 2 coats of Danish oil on the stock, and man does the pattern in the wood POP! I also stripped the old, light oak varnish off the fore end, and stained then coated with Danish oil as well. This thing is coming together! Now, just waiting on the trigger guard to come in the mail, and we can see how the whole, complete gun looks!
Funny thing, the wood becomes much lighter in color right at the wrist, and there is no reason for it except that the blank I started with just had that sudden transition right there! It's going to be a really unique piece when it's all done, I'm thinking!
I blink, and it's been a month since I last updated y'all! Crazy! Been working almost exclusively on the Baker shotgun, between bouts of asthmatic attacks - I guess the asthma I brought back from Iraq has decided to step up it's game. I have never experienced this lack of free airflow before. Or the amount of strain my system has to do to get these dark yellow chunks up and out. I thought my eyeballs were going to pop out the other night!
Anyway, I have some more pictures of the stock work. It's nearing completion, which means I am really, really getting a little "gun shy" about taking things down to the final dimensions... whew!
I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. I'm getting to the point where it is best if I just do an hour or two of work, then walk away before I get excited and start going too fast on things. This will take time, patience and sharp tools to get done. But we are almost there!
I have spent about four hours so far on the new buttstock for the Baker shotgun. I chose a nice piece of Black Walnut to work with. I am using the stock from the Gold Hibbard/Belgian shotgun as a guide. I like the way that stock fits and looks.
The work on the Gold Hibbard sxs 12 gauge is 99.5 percent complete! I am still searching for a replacement for the hand made left side hamm...
