paulmoreland.com

Archive for October, 2011

Some time ago I came across the work of Colin Stolzer.  Someone mentioned a 2 bore cartridge rifle that was being built and I had to check it out.  Big bore rifles have fascinated me for some time, although there’s nothing around that would call upon the use of such an implement.  There’s something fascinating to me about the launching of an ounce or more of lead by means of black powder.  In this case it is the launching of 8 ounces of lead. The “bore rifles” are named according to the number of balls the diameter of the bore of the rifle that it takes to equal a pound.  Samuel W. Baker (author of The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon, Wild Beasts and Their Ways and other works from the 19th century) referred to rifles in varying ways.  “Number 10″ was a ten bore, “Number 12″ was a 12 bore, “two ounce” was an eight bore, “four ounce” was a four bore and then there was “Baby” – his two bore rifle. One could also refer to them by gauge, thus a 10 bore would be the same as a 10 gauge, a 12 bore as a 12 gauge, etc.

Now Colin is looking to outdo himself.  He has taken on a project in which he will build a DOUBLE BARREL 2 bore rifle.  He calls it the “Double Deuce” – and he’s documenting his build on YoutTube. I intend to keep updating this post and adding the videos in order as they come out.  So far he is up to video five, over forty hours of machine time alone.

Mr. Stolzer also has published a book on making muzzle loading locks from materials.  You can preview then order it by clicking here.