Underhammers

[pietro]

Nice sandals, too, Frank.

.

[frnkeore]

Hey,
Thoughs are my shootin' sandals. When i shoot I wear socks with holes and they usually get a point or two extra combined with the wind flags

Frank

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I was introduced to muzzle loading in 1959 by a neighbor and the Numrich copy of the H&A rifles were all I could afford to buy. I shot it in matches for many years and never had one problem with either gun. I have no recollection of them burning my arm either. I only wore long sleeves in the winter and we had matches all year long. I used the .45 cal for 100 yard shooting and the 76 cal for fifty yards. As a club we had so many members that we could buy wholesale and the guns were cheap even for that time. I had a friend mill the side of the barrel and install Redfield peep sights. It was the #85 and we got them for 5 bucks because they were govt surplus. Both guns were accurate and I regret selling them.

[John Taylor]

I was introduced to muzzle loading in 1959 by a neighbor and the Numrich copy of the H&A rifles were all I could afford to buy. .

Numrich bought the H&A name and introduced an under hammer under that name in 1955, H&A never made an under hammer. The under hammer design can be dated to 1750 with the first ones being flint lock. In the 1830s and 40s there were several people making under hammers, probably more pistols than rifles.

[frnkeore]

Not wanting to let this Underhammer thread die, here is my Underhammer Slug Gun. Originally built many years ago (40 or more) by a North Westerner named Milo Taylor. I rebreeched it (the larger octagon part) and rebarreled it to 38 cal. It's a closed igintion system that uses small pistol primers.

Sorry, I forgot to picture the shootin' sandles

Frank

[Coffeecup]

If it wouldn't be hijacking the thread, I've got an underhammer action on which I've trying to puzzle out the breeching system. Neat action, but I don't understand how it was intended to be set up--thought I had it once, but when I sketched it out I saw my ideas wouldn't work.

[tacklebury]

I've been wanting to try my hand at making an underhammer also. Thinking this winter will be the year. For those of you who might be interested, Mr. Renner (owner of Pacific Rifle) has a nice blog associated to Underhammer guns.

http://underhammers.blogspot.com/

[stuffy25thia]

Here's a picture of my under-hammer heavy bench gun.

[frnkeore]

That is very nice slug gun, Stuffy. I don't think that there is any place left on the West Coast to shoot them anymore. Do you still have matches in your area?

Frank

[waksupi]

Nice bench rifle.

[Ajax]

Snuffy that looks like a ton of fun.


Andy

[stuffy25thia]

That is very nice slug gun, Stuffy. I don't think that there is any place left on the West Coast to shoot them anymore. Do you still have matches in your area?

Frank

She has a roundball barrel on her. I don't shoot it much, takes a lot of work being so heavy, weights in at 28 lb.

[pietro]

WOW ! - Where's the undercarriage ?

[Hanshi]

Beautiful rifle; it still needs to be exercised occasionally.

Actually, for decades I never had any problem with a burned forearm from firing my H&A underhammer as long as I stayed within reasonable loads (60 - 65 grns). I started having problems about the time the tg/hammer/guard spring began to die. The weakened spring started allowing the hammer to blow back. I haven't fired it yet with the replacement spring but am optimistic the problem is solved.

[bpd303]

I have two underhammer pistols. One is a 40 cal made by Charlie Caywood the next to last one he made (retired now). The other one is a 45 cal made by P. Bondini (replica Italy) in 1983. Both are very accurate and fun to shoot.

[John Taylor]

Hammer for my next build.

Flintlock under hammer.

[rhbrink]

I wonder how long that it took for someone to work out the mechanics of that lock?

[Boz330]

Talk about a burnt arm. I know the flintlocks must work but it sure seems like it wouldn't.

Bob

[Tatume]

Talk about a burnt arm. I know the flintlocks must work but it sure seems like it wouldn't.

It all happens so fast the priming powder doesn't have time to fall out of the pan. Also, the flash hole is usually in the center of the pan instead of to the side, so the fire channel is more direct.

[John Taylor]

Looks like it would give a good burn but it happens very fast and as long as your arm is not lined up with the flash hole you should be safe.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGHFQxQZxeg