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As I said, Himself built muzzle-loading rifles until post-polio made it impossible. It is an art that is being lost. This one is a Germanic style. Each of our 5 grandsons got a rifle made by their Grandfather. Here are a few photos to show his work. The stock started out as a block of wood about 5 feet long and 4 to 5 inches thick. This rifle was made using only the tools available in the 18th century. The lock and the barrel were purchased - as the gunsmith of the 18th century would have done. The patch box and spring were made by Himself, the carving was by him as was the "furniture" - the metal pieces (lock plate, trigger guard, patch box, and butt plate) that he filed to match his design. He also made the sights. Then he "browned" the barrel and put it all together and also drilled the hole for the ramrod, a delicate job because the wood of the stock is so thin under the barrel. There is a reflection on the butt of the rifle (the bluish rectangle) - the finish was that polished - one lady said it was like silk. The tang is what holds the barrel in the stock. 
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