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I was going to respond to an eariler post on the US 1861 and possible ways to better affect
a more authentic "weight" and feel to the Italian reproduction version--specifically
the removal of excess wood from the stock. I think some discussion of what constitutes
all the excess weight is in order.
The three main components of a musket are the Lock, Stock & Barrel. The only
repro part which is not significantly heavier than an original weapon of the same type is the lock.
Taking the US 1861 as an example, the target weight of an original was 8 3/4 lbs.
The Italian made reproductions are at least a pound heavier than that, the Euroarms
more than a pound. What accounts for all the excess weight? Obviously the stock
and barrel. The "lawyers" barrels are heavier than originals, both thicker and larger at several
points and the stock is made larger (and is somewhat misshapen) to accomodate the beefier
barrel.
The oversized barrel accounts for about half the excess weight and there is not
much that can be done about it, hence we concentrate on removing excess wood
from the stock. Part of the problem with the weight of the stock, aside from
proportions, is that the European walnut is denser and heavier than American walnut
wood. The walnut used for US gunstocks in the 1860s was about 2.8 lbs per
board foot, and European walnut is around 4.0 lbs per board foot.
The point being, even when you remove wood to better reflect the contours of the
original, not enough excess weight wood can be removed to approach the original and
still maintain the proportions and balance of the weapon. The walnut used is just
denser and heavier. In the end the result is that the reproduction is usually going to be
heavier than the original it is attempting to copy, and not too much can be done about it.
a more authentic "weight" and feel to the Italian reproduction version--specifically
the removal of excess wood from the stock. I think some discussion of what constitutes
all the excess weight is in order.
The three main components of a musket are the Lock, Stock & Barrel. The only
repro part which is not significantly heavier than an original weapon of the same type is the lock.
Taking the US 1861 as an example, the target weight of an original was 8 3/4 lbs.
The Italian made reproductions are at least a pound heavier than that, the Euroarms
more than a pound. What accounts for all the excess weight? Obviously the stock
and barrel. The "lawyers" barrels are heavier than originals, both thicker and larger at several
points and the stock is made larger (and is somewhat misshapen) to accomodate the beefier
barrel.
The oversized barrel accounts for about half the excess weight and there is not
much that can be done about it, hence we concentrate on removing excess wood
from the stock. Part of the problem with the weight of the stock, aside from
proportions, is that the European walnut is denser and heavier than American walnut
wood. The walnut used for US gunstocks in the 1860s was about 2.8 lbs per
board foot, and European walnut is around 4.0 lbs per board foot.
The point being, even when you remove wood to better reflect the contours of the
original, not enough excess weight wood can be removed to approach the original and
still maintain the proportions and balance of the weapon. The walnut used is just
denser and heavier. In the end the result is that the reproduction is usually going to be
heavier than the original it is attempting to copy, and not too much can be done about it.
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