Revolutionary War : Musket

Colonial Musket

Supplies :

• 2x4 wood 
• sand paper
• wood stain
• varnish
• band saw
• metal pipe (at least 10" long)
• spoons (ones that can be ruined) (about five)
• vise
• small lapel pin of your choice (like a flag or an emblem)

Directions :
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITH HELP FROM AN ADULT!!!!!!

• Sketch the pattern of how you want your gun to look on a length of 2x4 wood.  If you want a 20" gun, you'll need a piece of wood at least that long.  
• Have someone help you cut it out with a band saw.
• Hand sand the wood to make it smooth.
• Stain the wood, and hang it to dry.
• Press a lapel pin into the wood stock to personalize your gun.
• Varnish the entire piece, and hang it to dry.

For the barrel -

• Use 1/2" electrical conduit (this is a light pipe that won't rust).  
• Cut it to the length that you want your barrel and paint it black.
• Create barrel bands to hold the barrel to the wood by stripping the sheath from #10 copper wire and hammering it flat.

For the trigger, trigger guard, and attachments -

• Cut and bend spoons using a vice and grinder.  Spoons can also be used to make sights and a spoon pan.  Drill holes into the wood and use screws to hold the spoons in place.
• Old spoons look better, but newer spoons are easier to cut and bend.

This is a complicated project, but the muskets will last a very long time and can be used with many different costumes!

We used these with many of our costumes!

• Revolutionary War (Patriot & Regular)
• Civil War (Confederate & Union)
• Explorers
• Colonial American