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GMWW
05-22-2009, 01:08 PM
A gunsmith by the name of John Taylor has been making frames similar to the HA Underhammers out of brass. He made a small calib. frame which was engraved. I finished the stock for him. (Fig. 1 & 2) The underhammer above (Fig. 2) is an older HA which I had John machine the sides to give it that interesting cut. The bluing on John's underhammer was professionally done.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/IMG_7501.jpg(Fig. 1)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/IMG_7539.jpg(Fig. 2)

As you can see he also added a lollipop rear sight. I told him I wanted a brass underhammer frame capable of handling the larger calibers. He came through and made me a frame. (Fig. 3) He also made me a lollipop sight. The difference between the sight in (Fig. 2) from (Fig. 3) is that the later one is adjustable for windage. Based on the style of rear sight that use to come with the HA underhammers John made one up. He's had it a couple of years and I'd bug him to let me have it since it was just sitting in his shop needing an owner.

After bringing home the parts, I went to work the steel parts. I used the Laurel Mountain Forge (LMF) solution and rusted the parts. After four applications, I boiled them in distilled water to turn them black. I then did another three applications of LMF and boiled them again. The result is the dark black you see in the photos.

He altered the rear stock set up. He kept it round in the back and added pins to prevent the rear stock from spinning. (Fig. 4) Right now I'm trying to salvage someones attempt at stock making using a nice piece of Koa wood. I'm not too thrilled with the shape the previous owner did but I'm going to try and clean it up and mount it to the Underhammer.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/P5210055.jpg(Fig. 3)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/P5210057.jpg(Fig. 4)

captchee
05-25-2009, 10:59 PM
nice

Smokey
05-26-2009, 03:56 AM
Excellent looking rifles. I very much like the sights.

Rattus58
05-26-2009, 11:54 AM
Beautiful... almost makes me wanna try one..... :)

Aloha.... :cool:

PALIDIN
08-19-2009, 10:52 AM
My first blackpowder rifle was an H&A in 45 caliber. Great shooting gun and I definitely like the cap being on the other side of the action.

DaveHawk
08-19-2009, 11:20 AM
Nice gun, I'd like to see you try that with a flint lock. :D

Bill Gunn
08-19-2009, 11:24 AM
I like that... NICE !!

captchee
08-25-2009, 09:18 AM
nicly done .
no real reason why you couldnt do a flintlock version .
a flinter fires just fine upside down

GMWW
08-25-2009, 06:56 PM
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/P8250037.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/gmww/P8250039.jpg

I know the photos aren't up to the quality I usually put. I used a cheap point and shoot. The barrel is an old .45, 1:66" H&A barrel. The rear stock is Koa wood. Someone had tried to make a modern rifle stock out of it and bunged it up badly. I salvaged what I could and made the rear stock. I have a section of Koa wood to make a front stock. Until then the Cherry stained front stock will have to do.

What's interesting is this barrel just loves Maxi-balls. I mean a small charge of 70 grains of Pyrodex RX will stay in a 1" group at 75 yards. I hope to take white tail with it this fall. It will be a doe because thats what I have to shoot on this private farm if I want meat.

captchee
08-25-2009, 10:09 PM
if the rifling is correct and the charge matches the conical , a slow twist will shoot just .
In fact if we look back at the long range shooting of the early 20th century here in the US we find a whole lof of those rifles were very slow twist . exspecialy in the 40 rod matches
i have an article from American rifleman dating to 1935 and it describes rifles with 1 in 112 rates of twist

My 1 in 70 54 , shoots 435 grain minie’s just fine

Rattus58
08-25-2009, 11:03 PM
Beautiful fer an ol guy.... :)