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General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Bebedore on December 28, 2020, 07:27:43 AM

Title: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Bebedore on December 28, 2020, 07:27:43 AM
Some background, I am building my second kit gun which is a Northwest trade gun from sitting fox. The serpent side plate comes with 2 cheese head bolts that attach into the lock plate and a rear most wood screw that has a round head. I am going for a late 1700s version and I was wondering how much I should worry about the screw and bolt heads all looking the same. Should I try to round the cheese heads or buy new boots already in that confirmation? Should I just use the included wood screw and that would be in character for a gun like this?

Any advice is appreciated.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Clark Badgett on December 28, 2020, 08:20:19 AM
Well, from what I've been able to learn, the earlier trade guns used 3 lock plate bolts, with the 2 bolt and 1 screw version showing up sometime in the earlier 1800s. Good luck getting that 3rd bolt into most currently available lock plates with enough room to clear the sear.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Hungry Horse on December 28, 2020, 06:11:01 PM
 If the cosmetics of the bolts are the problem, and calling them cheese heads indicates to me they are tall, flat topped, single slot. Just chuck them up in your electric drill, and run them against a fine cut file until you match the contour of the screw head.

  Hungry Horse
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 28, 2020, 06:51:29 PM
What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Beaverman on December 28, 2020, 06:57:52 PM
What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

That's what I was wondering!
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: smylee grouch on December 28, 2020, 07:45:39 PM
Hi and welcome be before. I have done as HH said to make the bolt heads look alike and some times to reduce their Over
all size
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on December 28, 2020, 07:51:56 PM
That term refers to a machine screw that has a head that resembles a block of cheese or a round of cheese.  To add further mystery to the OP's inquiry, I don't know if the heads should be rounded or not, to be HC.  I have made a lot of lock bolt screws out of 1/4" x 20 carriage bolts, turning them down in my electric drill or drill press with files, and then threading them 10 x 24 once they get down to 3/16" diameter.  That gives bolts that have a nice big domed head and lots of length for threading.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Ky-Flinter on December 28, 2020, 08:15:57 PM
What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

(https://i.ibb.co/NTsyrmZ/cheese-head-screw.png) (https://imgbb.com/)

-Ron
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Bebedore on December 28, 2020, 08:41:52 PM
I will try rounding them in my drill press. Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 28, 2020, 08:42:46 PM
Made it for 63 years with out hearing that term....
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: P.W.Berkuta on December 28, 2020, 09:49:23 PM
To me when the OP used the word cheese (should have been "cheesy") in his description of the head of the bolt I took his meaning as the bolt head was "tacky" in appearance, odd looking. The word "cheesy" back when I was a teen (1960's) was used a lot. Here is an informal definition of the word "cheesy" - cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic "cheesy motel rooms"  ;)
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on December 28, 2020, 10:42:45 PM
I'm sure I learned the term from my dad, who had a machinist's interests and background.  It's been part of my vocabulary since I was a youth.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: smylee grouch on December 29, 2020, 12:48:19 AM
The word "filster head" (sp) comes to mind.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Pete G. on December 29, 2020, 01:17:46 AM
Filister heads are rounded on the top corners; not what you want on a lock bolt. Turn them to match the screw head.
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: Bob Roller on December 29, 2020, 02:16:44 AM
What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

My question as well.Is this another word for a fillister head screw or???????????
Bob Roller
Title: Re: NW trade gun side plate screws
Post by: fahnenschmied on December 29, 2020, 08:46:32 PM
Hmn - Ive known the term since I was a teen, but my father had apprenticed as a tool and die maker early in his career.
But a late 18th century Northwest Gun would have three screws in the lock.