Here are two views of the modified copy of an 18th century rifling machine built by Hank. The oak spiral cylinder creates the barrel twist. It has seven grooves for typical black powder rifles.
The rifling cutter is inset within a hardwood rod, slightly smaller than the bore. Lard is used as a lubricant and the cigarette papers as shims to raise the cutter on progressive strokes.
The original Lukens has 15 grooves. This indexing head uses dividing head plates to allow any number of grooves. note the barrel held in the center.
Hank at the labor intensive end.
Some bronze cuttings at the end of a stroke.
copyright Martin Orro, DDS - all rights reserved.
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