Could have engraved it?

Phil Coggan · Jan 28, 2018

I made this Navy back in the early 1980's, it was not made from plans so dimentions vary a touch, it was cut mostly from block steel with a hacksaw :shock:

I think I was just learning to engrave at the time, but I made the choice not to engrave it and leave it in it's original state, I don't think I would engrave it even today?

Phil

dcurrie911 · Jan 28, 2018

Very nice Phil. I'm always amazed with what people can do with hand tools. Engraving it would certainly be a personal decision given the history. But for me engraving and guns go together like food and bacon. Everything is better with bacon!

Dan

Fred Bowen · Jan 28, 2018

You must have had a lot of "spare" time back then. There is something very satisfying about starting with chunks of raw material and hand-working them into a well made piece like this.

I recall buying a piece of steel approximately 2.5" X 8" X 1" years ago with the intention of removing the material I didn't need to make a Twigg style flint lockplate for my wife's rifle. Then a company came out with a complete lock and now I use the steel to hold my book (The Oxford Popular History of Britain) open at the breakfast table.

SamW · Jan 28, 2018

So Phil, how many hacksaw blades did that take? Not to mention medication for blisters!

Roger Bleile · Jan 28, 2018

Amazing that such a gun can be made with basic tools. Did you take gunsmithing lessons from the smiths in Dara, Pakistan?

Was your 1851 Navy sacrificed on the alter of political correctness when Whitehall banned all handguns?

jerrywh · Jan 28, 2018

That is truly amazing. How did you rifle the barrel? Also how did you bore the cylinder? You must have had a lathe at least.

Dave London · Jan 28, 2018

Beautiful craftsmanship Phil
Jerry the first lathe was made with hand tools, sand castings , files , scrapers, etc. MTC

Phil Coggan · Jan 29, 2018

Here's an Adams I also made back then, with a hacksaw and with the help of a lathe, this is when I was teaching myself to engrave!

SamW · Jan 29, 2018

There may be a run on hack saw blades now Phil! Those show such great craftsmanship!!

Phil Coggan · Jan 29, 2018

Bought up all the stock before I started Sam

Here's the bits and pieces.

Phil

Crossbolt · Jan 29, 2018

Very interesting and impressive.
Not an engraving question of course,but can you describe the making of the trigger guard?
Jeremy

Riflesmith · Jan 29, 2018

Impressive isn’t it where the will overcomes the way? A few basic tools and the application of the mind can create such ingenuity as to overwhelm the senses.

John B. · Jan 29, 2018

Is the cylinder with the buggered screws an original old one Phil?

Phil Coggan · Jan 29, 2018

To answer a couple of questions, the trigger guard was cut from one piece of steel, if I remember right it was 5/8" thick, after the cutting, it was filed to the right profile and then finished with various grades of wet & dry.

I made Both the Navy and Adams cylinders, however, I found a piece of old round of the right diameter for the Navy, it was already pitted so I left this on.

Phil

Could have engraved it?

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