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General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: okawbow on September 26, 2022, 07:00:06 PM

Title: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 26, 2022, 07:00:06 PM
I have an original Later percussion Bedford county rifle with the”Q” style patch box. The lid is missing. The finial brass thickness is .038”. This has the hinge made on the underneath side, so the topside feels flat and smooth.

What was the norm on original patch boxes like this one? .038 seems too thin for a lid.

(https://i.ibb.co/QmYwbZn/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3hSZrwW)

(https://i.ibb.co/XZp4YL9/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d06cmMS)
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: JTR on September 26, 2022, 10:11:54 PM
From what I've seen, the lids were made from the same material as the rest of the box.
By the time you get a get a slight arch in the lid to match the finale shape, it'll be pretty stout.

Of course, if you want to make it a bit thicker, I don't think anyone will notice.... unless it noticeably sticks up above the side plates.

John
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 27, 2022, 01:18:10 AM
Thanks, John

I measured the depth along the side plates, and came up with .065. I have some old brass sheet which fits flush. I’ll try that first.
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 27, 2022, 09:22:10 PM
A few hours work and a good start. Now I need someone to match the engraving style that is on the rest of the rifle.

(https://i.ibb.co/1KLt4L7/FD636246-37-B8-4-BE4-835-A-647131-A14-D40.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Gk04r0n)
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: JTR on September 28, 2022, 12:00:24 AM
Nice job!
A little engraving and some black powder smoke will make it look right at home!

One thing, and maybe it's just the angle of the picture, but the door looks like it's just a smidge too long? Say like a sixteenth?

John
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 28, 2022, 03:57:35 AM
Thanks, yes, the door has not been filed even with the butt plate yet.
One thing that is unusual on this patch box, the latch has no push button catch release. It simply snaps into place with a spring that has a rounded bump that snaps into a round notch on the lid pin. Opens by thumb nail at a indent filed in the butt plate. Holds and works well.

I would appreciate if someone could point me to an engraver that would be willing to match the style and workmanship of the existing engraving.

Chuck
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: JTR on September 29, 2022, 04:58:34 AM
Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: Gaeckle on September 29, 2022, 05:10:43 PM
Here's a simple, easy to cut and a somewhat typical pattern. I am planning on using this on an upcoming rifle
(https://i.ibb.co/0C72L5L/20220819-132359.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PcLjyky)

(https://i.ibb.co/nw2DGbw/20220819-132352.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RgnCF9g)
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 29, 2022, 06:00:02 PM
Quote from: JTR on September 29, 2022, 04:58:34 AM
Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?
I was thinking of something that compliments the side plate pattern.
(https://i.ibb.co/J5NfWCS/7-DB9-D71-F-0207-44-EB-BC3-D-46-D8-E5-BB6-B04.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D5NxPLj)
Or maybe something like this, based on another George Fay rifle. Please excuse my poor art skil.

(https://i.ibb.co/qFHjg28/B080-FADC-D745-40-D2-A4-F4-52770-A33250-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cXW38s9)
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: Gaeckle on September 29, 2022, 06:32:31 PM
Is there anything on the toeplate?
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 29, 2022, 06:34:53 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/3FspjCp/B821-C846-7-C82-4-CF1-BE86-ED94-C422-B2-D4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n107YL7)
This.
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: JTR on September 29, 2022, 08:24:31 PM
Maybe take the side plate design, and stretch it out. Make the center part into a more slender oval with the cross hatching, and stretch out the arms on either end to fill about 3/4 of the length of the door. A couple wavy border lines along the edges of the door would finish it off.
Whatever, as you said, it needs to be kept simple to exist with the original work. 
John
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: Gaeckle on September 30, 2022, 02:47:04 AM
Quote from: okawbow on September 29, 2022, 06:00:02 PM
Quote from: JTR on September 29, 2022, 04:58:34 AM
Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?
I was thinking of something that compliments the side plate pattern.
(https://i.ibb.co/J5NfWCS/7-DB9-D71-F-0207-44-EB-BC3-D-46-D8-E5-BB6-B04.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D5NxPLj)
Or maybe something like this, based on another George Fay rifle. Please excuse my poor art skil.

(https://i.ibb.co/qFHjg28/B080-FADC-D745-40-D2-A4-F4-52770-A33250-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cXW38s9)

Got a picture of this?
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 30, 2022, 04:41:46 AM
That drawing I made was only similar to the George Fay rifle picture. Here is the picture I had in my files.

(https://i.ibb.co/dcCB1XN/7-C6-C18-C8-7-D05-4-AB1-9-A80-E1-BBC5-A8103-E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8BvMTGy)
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: Gaeckle on September 30, 2022, 04:57:35 AM
The rifle you are working on is by George Fay also? Halfstock, full stock, percussion, flint?
Title: Re: Patchbox lid thickness
Post by: okawbow on September 30, 2022, 03:13:36 PM
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=73371.0

Here is the post on the rifle I am working on.