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Post by bushfire on May 12, 2023 16:36:02 GMT -7
Good morning all,
I’ve just returned from a morning hunt with my fusil and hunting dog. Hoping to get a redcoat scalp or two but no luck. Did come across a deer where I wasn’t expecting to see one, she lives for another day.
In the beautiful early rays I grabbed a couple of snaps of my fusil, curious to know whether this is cherry or cherry stained maple wood?
edit: I’m struggling to get the pics to a low enough resolution to add in.
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Wood?
May 12, 2023 17:02:42 GMT -7
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Post by brokennock on May 12, 2023 17:02:42 GMT -7
If you want to send the pics to me via our offsite texts, I will try to post them.
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Wood?
May 12, 2023 18:02:14 GMT -7
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Post by hawkeyes on May 12, 2023 18:02:14 GMT -7
What's the coloration? Any figure?
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Post by brokennock on May 12, 2023 19:11:35 GMT -7
Let's see,,,,   |
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Post by bushfire on May 12, 2023 19:51:38 GMT -7
Thanks for posting that up mate.
It’s my favourite gun, still trying to track down a .610 ball mould though.
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Wood?
May 13, 2023 4:16:32 GMT -7
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Post by brokennock on May 13, 2023 4:16:32 GMT -7
Thanks for posting that up mate. It’s my favourite gun, still trying to track down a .610 ball mould though. You are most welcome. I thought I just saw .610 molds in stock somewhere, I'll look. |
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Post by hawkeyes on May 13, 2023 4:17:25 GMT -7
Looks like maple stained to my eye. One thing with cherry is it'll deeply darken/ oxidize with age. It'll have an almost dark pink look then the red tones will take over in time.
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Wood?
May 13, 2023 4:18:55 GMT -7
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Post by hawkeyes on May 13, 2023 4:18:55 GMT -7
Thanks for posting that up mate. It’s my favourite gun, still trying to track down a .610 ball mould though. Contact Larry Callahan in Missouri. He has a web page, excellent fella to deal with. |
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Post by brokennock on May 13, 2023 5:11:41 GMT -7
These Centermark guns are interesting. There seems to be a lot of variation in material and some of the construction. Putting aside issues of exact copy of a Fusil des Chase down to the finest measurements, I've never read of anyone who owns one not liking it. I've seen (from stuff posted on the internet) both walnut and maple stocks, and would not be surprised if there are some cherry or other fruit wood stocked Centermarks out there. I've seen both brass and steel furniture. My lock could use some tuning and had that weird issue with the ramrod and lock bolt interference,,,, it's still my "go to" flintlock. I've read of others with absolutely no issues. Now looking at these pictures I noticed a difference in sideplate mounting between Bushfire's gun and mine, Bushfire's sideplate,  Mine,  Note the tail position. I've wondered why the original Centermark owner called them a Fusil des Chase and opened himself up to criticism on the incorrect details. He could have called it a French influenced New England Fowler and had no issues about stock wood or some of the measurement issues nit-pickers will harp on. Interestingly, to me anyway seeing Bushfire's gun, I have many times considered staining mine with a cherry stain or something to give it more an applewood appearance and just going with the restocked colonial New England fowling piece story. Does anyone know, maybe Gus, if Centermark offered their guns delivered to the customer as a kit or "in the white" gun? I love the color and tone of that gun Bushfire. |
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Post by hawkeyes on May 13, 2023 6:19:28 GMT -7
So you both have the same firelock? Are these guns a mass production piece or semi custom firelock?
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Wood?
May 13, 2023 6:26:25 GMT -7
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Post by brokennock on May 13, 2023 6:26:25 GMT -7
Thanks for posting that up mate. It’s my favourite gun, still trying to track down a .610 ball mould though. Okay, I'm still hoping some folks will chime in with more answers about the wood on your gun. Is it stained maple? Did Centermark make guns in wood other than walnut and maple? I looked for .610 molds. I have heard many great things about the Callahan molds, not sure if this is the company that gave you grief about measure a bunch of stuff,,,, memory failing more and worse.... I'm not sure what you want to spend. Lee molds tend to be less expensive than Lyman. They are made of aluminum which some folks have issue with. Nicely, they come with handles but still cost less. I prefer my Lyman steel single cavity molds to my Lee aluminum two cavity mold, the steel seems easier to regulate the temperature of the mold. But,,,, Lee does not make a .610 mold. So your options are Lyman, Callahan, Marty's Arms. Callahan has a good reputation, as does Lyman, I'm not sure about Marty's, they are not cheap and they talk a good game about precision CNC, blah blah blah,,, on their website. Searching my usual suspects I found these available for Lyman molds... www.opticsplanet.com/lyman-round-ball-moulds.html?_iv_code=LY-RBM-DCECDD-2645610 I've done a lot of modern gun and gear business with Optics Planet and always have been pleased with them. www.buffaloarms.com/610-lyman-round-ball-bullet-lym2645610.htmlOf course there is the usual suspect, www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/1203/1/LYMAN-530 they list the Lyman mold as in stock. Remember you will need Lyman size large handles, Lyman molds do not come with handles. www.martysarms.com/products/round-ball-molds-inch-sizes?variant=21275718647862If need be, have them shipped to me and I will send them across the big water. |
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Post by brokennock on May 13, 2023 6:32:27 GMT -7
So you both have the same firelock? Are these guns a mass production piece or semi custom firelock? Neither,,, well, maybe semi custom... I bought mine used amny years ago. Gus has one too. They were a small company offering I think only the one model, I think it was originally a one man shop, maybe a couple helpers at some point. I understand the business sold several years ago and then seems to have quietly faded away. Having seen at least two different stock woods I'm not sure if they did custom orders or just built guns amd offered them for sale. I really would like to know more about the company, original owner/builder, amd what was available. Their guns come available in classifieds, on Track Of The Wolf, and on various gun selling websites now and then. |
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Post by Black Hand on May 13, 2023 10:14:59 GMT -7
...still trying to track down a .610 ball mould though. Look up Larry Callahan - makes great molds. I have one in 0.600. callahanbagmolds.com/ |
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Post by bushfire on May 13, 2023 14:19:17 GMT -7
I was very fortunate with this gun. Apologies if I'm repeating the same story.
Outside some basic production guns there are very few options in Australia for blackpowder. As I've mentioned before my grandfather was a Frenchman so I've always had an interest in the French side of history.
We have two online gun sale websites similar to your gunbroker and I check them religiously as do many others. When I decided I wanted a fusil i checked it every day for almost a year, and I do mean every day! It was the most movie cliche, there was one day I was so busy at work I didn't get around to checking until around 9pm, and lo and behold here's a GRRW fusil for sale. I contacted the guy immediately despite the late hour and he said I was beaten by less than an hour. Crestfallen was an understatement!
After that I put a wanted add up not expecting much as the aforementioned gun was the second fusil de chasse to have ever come up on any Australian gun site. A few weeks later I'd just conceded it was done when an older gentleman called and said he had one. He is a competition shooter and every 2nd year flies over for Friendship. He'd buy a new gun each year and brings it back to Aus with the paperwork. He'd brought this one back over 20 years ago and never really used it but said it was functionally fine. I knew I wasn't getting another chance and jumped at it, I'd deal with any issues later. The first being I had to buy a new gun safe to fit a 41" barrelled gun.
Anoway, I got the gun and to me it is flawless. Sure it has some rubbed browning on the barrel, and a few dints but no rust or pitting whatsoever and the lock and lock time is as good as any other flintlock I've had. I got it for a fair price but would honestly not sell it for triple that.
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Post by bushfire on May 13, 2023 14:26:25 GMT -7
Thanks for the suggestions regarding moulds.
I contacted the importer for lyman a couple of months ago, they've had .610 ball moulds on order for 3 years. I guess covid has made it challenging.
I currently own pedersoli and lee moulds. Both seem to work well.
I've looked at Callaghan moulds, I believe they're bag moulds? I had considered them.
Nock, the guy who confused me was the fella from England. I prefer moulds with a sprue cutter anyhow.
I currently do have a .600 mould so haven't been too stressed. I was just wanting to shoot period correct bare ball loads. I haven't been able to tighten up my .600 ball groups but read or was told somewhere that going to .610 can really improve it. Either that or I just start patching with what I have.
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