@@HoffmanReproductions Idea submission (didn't know where else to post it?) but: pocket watches. I bet that would be a neat one to do a vid on, especially for those of us who collect (and adore) watches from the colonial through the 19th century. Just throwing it out there.
The individual right to bear arms is freedom's insurance policy. Not just for your children, but for infinite generations to come. That is it's singular sacred duty, and why we preserve it so fiercely. Smiling happily, Heston held up the gun and said: “I have only one more comment to make: From my cold, dead hands.”
I would imagine those were commonly made for buck and ball. I don’t see why someone making rifles wouldn’t occasionally make a easier to produce smooth for simple hunting use seems reasonable to me.
I enjoyed my visits to Schoenbrunn, bit far to visit all the time now. Lived 15min from The Log Cabin Shop in Lodi for years, moved to Oklahoma a couple of years ago. Thanks for the video on the smooth rifle!
Was unfamiliar with the smooth rifle even though I have built several rifles and have been muzzleloading for 50+ years. Thanks for filling in this blank spot with this excellent video.
Late to the party, But I'll add very nice video, and I just ordered that exact Smooth rifle in 58 and the Cherry wood. And I think Smooth rifle is a good term.
Excellent video and rifle, but the most impressive aspect is your shooting form. You have been trained and your experience is obvious. Thank you for taking the time required to share.
As a novice when I first heard this term smooth rifle it made sense to me, and I am just now hearing it. I own one BP a 1860s English double shotgun. And I immediately wanted to shoot slugs or buck and ball because that to me was very simple and versatile l. I can stuff about anything into it. This makes complete sense to me I’d make em and I’m sure they were also converted later when the family got a nicer rifle for the kids to hunt with. Btw I’ve been using kids plastic cap gun caps to shoot it cuz I couldn’t find percussion caps at all. That’s all I’ll probably ever use now cuz they seem to work great. And cheap
Very nice rifle build. Nice idea, rifle/smoothbore. Glad to see your using your home brew powder. Thanks to you I’m doing the same thing and enjoy making BP. How did you finish the Cherry stock? Stain, no stain, oil finish? Thanks for the video.
Hey that is great Wayne! Finished with an acid called chromium trioxide cut down by 50%, then dark stain in the carving to highlight. 6 coats of true oil varnish, then buffed out with oil and 0000 steel wool. Thanks!
Beautiful gun, plain and simple. Just what a frontier gun should be. I tend to believe these guns started as rifles and given the quality of the metal used in the barrel, I think they would wear out quickly. MAYBE bored out or just kept shooting till all the rifling was gone. I don't believe they would have gone to the trouble and expense of using a "rifle" weight barrel when a true smooth bore would be more cost effective. Great video, keep them coming....
Very true. The original upon which this one was based, had a octagonal to round barrel and was thought to be a true smooth rifle at .62 cal. Thanks a bunch for watching and kind words on the gun!
The versatility of a smoothie is it's shinning point. Spend time with it, learn it's quirks with shot, buck & ball and round ball loads and it will not let you down
Regardless of which way you go on the authenticity of these, they would be nice for reenacting as they'd be a bit faster to clean. Probably more fun at the range for just shooting 50 yards and in too.
What would you say to a smooth rifle in .62/20ga with something like a 38” barrel? I want a versatile smooth bore but I love my long rifles Also how exactly were you sure of the “f” grading of your homemade powder? How did you know it was fff or ff or what?
Having built one now, I would highly recommend a smooth rifle. Good shooting and very versatile guns in then woods. On the grain size, I have commercially made powder to compare it to. So, I just sifted mine till it was close to what I was going for be it 1,2,3, or 4F size.
Down the road I'm going with a trade gun, perhaps a Carolina trade gun. My ancestors opened up Western North carolina in the 1740s so I think that might be what they had. BTW what Sulphur do you use to make BP?
I think smooth rifle was made in the day, as I have seen references to ‘rifle mounted fusils’. I have a Lancaster style and I love it. If they didn’t have them they needed them.
Fantastic. I have a 28ga. TVM smoothbore. Have killed some squirrels with it, and a turkey, but no rabbits or birds yet. Be neat to knock a pheasant down with it this year if I am able. I heard you mention Shunbrun village. I grew up in Newcomerstown and was wondering if you live around those parts. I Live over in Muskingum county now.
"Smooth rifle" --- New term for me. Logical explanation. I am familiar with the concept of "freshening" where a gunsmith would drill out any residual rifling left from a worn out bore, and then re-rifle it. But I can see a frontiersman choosing to just go smooth because it was, indeed, and still is, a very very versatile firearm. Most of the Westward pioneers kept a shotgun at their side simply because it could be loaded to take game from birds to buffalo. As for range, a shotgun that is well set up can hit targets at 300 yards. There are people having matches for just shotgun and surprisingly, they are seeing some accurate shooting. Yes, the drop is atrocious, but Billy Mitchell shot an Indian at a mile with a black powder 50. And don't forget, our military artillery men shoot miles away by calculating how much drop the shell will have. It's a parabolic curve for the flight path, but it can be done.
There is no such thing as a rifled smoothbore. It's either a rifle, or smoothbore. Get your terms correct! If rifling wore out and ground out, it's a smoothbore. Period. In reality what that happened, they were re-rifled.
Some feel differently Sir. There are a few such guns from the 1700's that appear to be 100% rifle while looking like the barrel's were made smoothbore intentionally. I agree many were most likely guns that had the rifling shot out and the barrels reamed out to be smoothbore. The term "smooth rifle" is what modern makers refer to them as. Some feel a better term for them is "Sighted Fusil" Its a bit of a mystery that we most likely will never know the truth unless a primary document should surface. Thanks for watching!
Rifled smoothbore of course that’s a rifle but the idea of this is a rifle type gun that’s either made as a rifle then made into a smoothbore or a rifle maker that happened to make a smooth. Why do ppl feel the need to be websters dictionary for everyone? Personally I believe they were purposely made in the style of a rifle with a smoothbore. I’d wander how many bullets would it take for a soft lead ball to wear out a barrel? How many licks does it take to get to the center? Let’s find out 1-2-3 licks. Bull shit they were made that way or reamed before (shot smooth) “Get your terms correct! “. Or learn a new term. This term is the implication of an idea or theory
I would imagine that in the initial production, rifling got screwed up at times. These blemished barrels were then honed smooth and used like a musket. OR like you said worn out.
That rifle came out really nice. As always, love the vids, and am always excited for them to come out. Thanks and well done, Ben!
Thank you Dan!
@@HoffmanReproductions Idea submission (didn't know where else to post it?) but: pocket watches. I bet that would be a neat one to do a vid on, especially for those of us who collect (and adore) watches from the colonial through the 19th century. Just throwing it out there.
Thank you Dan!
The individual right to bear arms is freedom's insurance policy. Not just for your children, but for infinite generations to come. That is it's singular sacred duty, and why we preserve it so fiercely.
Smiling happily, Heston held up the gun and said: “I have only one more comment to make: From my cold, dead hands.”
I'll never forget that moment.
Very true. Thanks for watching!
Gorgeous rifle! Love the cherry stock. That lock time was unreal! Well done sir.
Thank you most kindly!
What a beautiful rifle! Thank you so much for the video.
Thank you Sir!
Beautiful work, brother.
Love the videos.
Very kind of you. Thank you Sir!
I would imagine those were commonly made for buck and ball. I don’t see why someone making rifles wouldn’t occasionally make a easier to produce smooth for simple hunting use seems reasonable to me.
I enjoyed my visits to Schoenbrunn, bit far to visit all the time now. Lived 15min from The Log Cabin Shop in Lodi for years, moved to Oklahoma a couple of years ago. Thanks for the video on the smooth rifle!
Thank you!
Was unfamiliar with the smooth rifle even though I have built several rifles and have been muzzleloading for 50+ years. Thanks for filling in this blank spot with this excellent video.
Your most welcome! Thank you!
Great job the rifle is a beauty for sure ! Fired wonderfully . Also , once again great vids always look forward to a new upload. Good job as aways !
Thank you!
Mr. Hoffman, That is real beauty. Thank you.
Thank you!
Beautiful.
Excellent finished product,excelent,shooting. I like the rifle.good to see how the powder works.David Back from Menifee county Kentucky
Thanks 👍
WOW thats a really quick ignition what kind of lock nice rifle
Kibler CNC'D billet lock.
Beautiful flintlock!
Thanks Jake!
Subscribed, look forward to these videos
Thank you!
Late to the party, But I'll add very nice video, and I just ordered that exact Smooth rifle in 58 and the Cherry wood. And I think Smooth rifle is a good term.
Thank you!
Great video
Thanks!
I’ve been interested in what the heck a smooth rifle was! Thanks for filling me in. Good video! Cool your using your own powder. God bless
Thank you!
You would be locked up if you made your own powder here in the UK 😢
Excellent video and rifle, but the most impressive aspect is your shooting form. You have been trained and your experience is obvious. Thank you for taking the time required to share.
Most kind of you! Thank you and glad you enjoyed the video.
As a novice when I first heard this term smooth rifle it made sense to me, and I am just now hearing it. I own one BP a 1860s English double shotgun. And I immediately wanted to shoot slugs or buck and ball because that to me was very simple and versatile l. I can stuff about anything into it. This makes complete sense to me I’d make em and I’m sure they were also converted later when the family got a nicer rifle for the kids to hunt with. Btw I’ve been using kids plastic cap gun caps to shoot it cuz I couldn’t find percussion caps at all. That’s all I’ll probably ever use now cuz they seem to work great. And cheap
I would tend to agree. It would make for a very versatile gun. Thanks for watching!
You did a great job finishing that stock. What did you use to stain seal and finish.
Great looking rifle and good shooting :-) Also interesting that the stock is cherry
Thank ya! Not used as much as maple, but cherry makes for a nice stock wood for sure.
Very nice rifle build. Nice idea, rifle/smoothbore. Glad to see your using your home brew powder. Thanks to you I’m doing the same thing and enjoy making BP. How did you finish the Cherry stock? Stain, no stain, oil finish? Thanks for the video.
Hey that is great Wayne! Finished with an acid called chromium trioxide cut down by 50%, then dark stain in the carving to highlight. 6 coats of true oil varnish, then buffed out with oil and 0000 steel wool. Thanks!
Beautiful gun, plain and simple. Just what a frontier gun should be.
I tend to believe these guns started as rifles and given the quality of the metal used in the barrel, I think they would wear out quickly. MAYBE bored out or just kept shooting till all the rifling was gone. I don't believe they would have gone to the trouble and expense of using a "rifle" weight barrel when a true smooth bore would be more cost effective.
Great video, keep them coming....
Very true. The original upon which this one was based, had a octagonal to round barrel and was thought to be a true smooth rifle at .62 cal. Thanks a bunch for watching and kind words on the gun!
The versatility of a smoothie is it's shinning point. Spend time with it, learn it's quirks with shot, buck & ball and round ball loads and it will not let you down
Very true!
NICE
Thanks
Fast lock, and it looks great too.
Thanks 👍
Enjoyed your video. That is a nice-looking firearm. What is the barrel length?
real nice.
swamped barrel ?
thanks for showing us
Thank you! Yes Sir, 44" swamped.
I am interested in the process you used to finish this gun. Blued? Antiqued? How did you finish the brass?
The whole gun has been gently aged using various things such as, bluing, browning & good old fashion soot on the low spots on the stock.
Regardless of which way you go on the authenticity of these, they would be nice for reenacting as they'd be a bit faster to clean. Probably more fun at the range for just shooting 50 yards and in too.
Very true!
That is a really nice flintlock. What do you use for a stock finish?
Thank you! Watered down Magic maple stain, soot here & there and about 5 coats of true oil, rubbed out with oil and steel wool to finish.
Do you happen to know how much the rifle weighs ?
Hey really nice job on the gun!!! I am looking at buying a Kibler and was wondering is that a custom made rifle just for you or was that the colonial?
Thank you! it is a Kibler Colonial but I thinned down the wrist, pulled back the comb & shortened the patch box.
1 year and 10000 miles out .
Hell it’s worth $5 just looking at it👍
Thank you!
What would you say to a smooth rifle in .62/20ga with something like a 38” barrel? I want a versatile smooth bore but I love my long rifles
Also how exactly were you sure of the “f” grading of your homemade powder? How did you know it was fff or ff or what?
Having built one now, I would highly recommend a smooth rifle. Good shooting and very versatile guns in then woods. On the grain size, I have commercially made powder to compare it to. So, I just sifted mine till it was close to what I was going for be it 1,2,3, or 4F size.
@@HoffmanReproductions I really appreciate it thanks.
@@HoffmanReproductions have you had trouble finding powder lately btw?
Yes, hard to come by.
@@burnsboysaresoldiers Welcome!
Down the road I'm going with a trade gun, perhaps a Carolina trade gun. My ancestors opened up Western North carolina in the 1740s so I think that might be what they had. BTW what Sulphur do you use to make BP?
Sounds cool Brian! Oh man! SO sorry forgot to send you that info! Will do so in the AM.
@@HoffmanReproductions no big deal. I still haven't made my charcoal yet. What size mesh do you use? I think I forgot to ask that
I just use a section of old window screen. Comes out to about 2 f.
I think smooth rifle was made in the day, as I have seen references to ‘rifle mounted fusils’.
I have a Lancaster style and I love it.
If they didn’t have them they needed them.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
@@HoffmanReproductions tried to email you for the raffle got rejected is it the correct address
@@jeffreyrobinson3555 hoffmanreproductions@yahoo.com should get the job done. I'll shoot you the info if it won't come through.
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks
Fantastic. I have a 28ga. TVM smoothbore. Have killed some squirrels with it, and a turkey, but no rabbits or birds yet. Be neat to knock a pheasant down with it this year if I am able. I heard you mention Shunbrun village. I grew up in Newcomerstown and was wondering if you live around those parts. I Live over in Muskingum county now.
Hello! Yep, were close to you. Were over on the east side of Licking County on SR 79. Thanks for watching!
@@HoffmanReproductions I work in Frazeysburg.
@@coldandaloof7166 Hey how about that! We live about 12 miles north of town.
@@HoffmanReproductions we will have to get together and do some shooting some time.
"Smooth rifle" --- New term for me. Logical explanation. I am familiar with the concept of "freshening" where a gunsmith would drill out any residual rifling left from a worn out bore, and then re-rifle it. But I can see a frontiersman choosing to just go smooth because it was, indeed, and still is, a very very versatile firearm. Most of the Westward pioneers kept a shotgun at their side simply because it could be loaded to take game from birds to buffalo.
As for range, a shotgun that is well set up can hit targets at 300 yards. There are people having matches for just shotgun and surprisingly, they are seeing some accurate shooting. Yes, the drop is atrocious, but Billy Mitchell shot an Indian at a mile with a black powder 50. And don't forget, our military artillery men shoot miles away by calculating how much drop the shell will have. It's a parabolic curve for the flight path, but it can be done.
Thanks Kirk! Yes Sir, smoothbores are great! Indeed, with the proper powder charge and load combo, the can be track drivers.
Trade guns were smooth. I’m not a historian but I think it only reasonable that the common man would have a smooth gun.
Smoothie's were popular for sure.
Whats' chugging in the background?
Oil Well/Pump Jack
Rifle mounted Fusil sounds better.
Because early gun making was essentially a cottage industry was it common to build lefthanded versions?
No Sir, not common at all back then.
A fowling piece.
Muskets cant be a rifle they smooth bore .
True but theses are very much documented as being called "Smooth Rifles" during the 1700's
Sort of a rifle shot gun?
There is no such thing as a rifled smoothbore. It's either a rifle, or smoothbore. Get your terms correct! If rifling wore out and ground out, it's a smoothbore. Period. In reality what that happened, they were re-rifled.
Some feel differently Sir. There are a few such guns from the 1700's that appear to be 100% rifle while looking like the barrel's were made smoothbore intentionally. I agree many were most likely guns that had the rifling shot out and the barrels reamed out to be smoothbore. The term "smooth rifle" is what modern makers refer to them as. Some feel a better term for them is "Sighted Fusil" Its a bit of a mystery that we most likely will never know the truth unless a primary document should surface. Thanks for watching!
Rifled smoothbore of course that’s a rifle but the idea of this is a rifle type gun that’s either made as a rifle then made into a smoothbore or a rifle maker that happened to make a smooth. Why do ppl feel the need to be websters dictionary for everyone? Personally I believe they were purposely made in the style of a rifle with a smoothbore. I’d wander how many bullets would it take for a soft lead ball to wear out a barrel? How many licks does it take to get to the center? Let’s find out 1-2-3 licks. Bull shit they were made that way or reamed before (shot smooth) “Get your terms correct! “. Or learn a new term. This term is the implication of an idea or theory
I would imagine that in the initial production, rifling got screwed up at times. These blemished barrels were then honed smooth and used like a musket. OR like you said worn out.
There are straight rifled also