forging gun mounts

[smylee grouch]

After seeing recent photos of iron mounted rifles and reading post on steel thickness for rr-pipes, etc. I was wondering how thick of steel do you use to make the two piece but and forged trigger gaurd. How thick is the steel when you start working it into a trigger gaurd and how thick material do you use for the butt?   Thanks    Gary

[M Tornichio]

Gary I use 1/8" steel for the buttplates. This how I was taught, However I think that you could use 1/16" just as well. I forged one with that thin of material is it turned out just fine. I actually think that it was easier to work with the thinner stuff. It would also be more authentic to use the thinner material. Some rifle buttplates were so thin, they have nearly rusted away over the years. AS far as triggerguards go, it really depends on the style. I have used 1/4 x 3/8 to 1/8x1/2 all the way to a railroad spike. I use what ever I have on hand depending on the style. I suppose you could even use 1/16 stuff for a real simple barn gun strap type guard. Really depends on what you have and the style you are going for.
Good luck forging,
Marc

[Ken G]

Gary,
Marc already summed it up.  Most original 2 piece TN buttplates are pretty dang thin.  I think I use 16 or 18 gauge sheet metal.  You can buy that at the local Ace Hardware, Home Depot, or Tractor Supply.  Don't overlook fenders and washing machine shells as a source for sheet metal.  I inlet the buttplate so the wood is supporting the buttplate rather than the buttplate being strong enough to be 1/8 or a 1/2 away from the wood.
For the trigger guards I use much thicker.  1/8" thick and like Marc said that is dictated more by what I have laying aroud.  I've seen some real nice trigger guards that were made from thin material and were plenty strong..
Ken 

[KentSmith]

I use 1/8" on buttplates for early rifles, 2" wide mainly because I file he 5 flats in and bump out the heel a good bit.  I have used 1/16" for later mountain rifles that seems a lot easier to tweak so they fit nicely before brazing together.  For triggerguards on early rifles I like 1/4" or 3/16" thick by 1/2" so I can get a good bolster and wide bow.  For the grip rail i use 1/8" X 1/2".  Later Tn style I might go thinner for the bow but it all depends on if I want that bolster or not.  However, I usually use what I have on hand and forge it out to suit the job around the above.  I use hot rolled mild steel or wrough iron, though wrought iron for a late buttplate still is a work in progress.  Sooner or later I do not get it hot enough and end up with it splitting and a lot of repair work/welding to fix.

[J.D.]

I'm probably not the person to answer this question, but that has never stopped me before.  The few two piece buttpieces I have forged seemed to work best with 3/32 material, cold forged and brazed. I made one from 1/8 material and it felt kinda heavy and klunky compared to the ones made of 3/32 material.

God bless

[Steve Bookout]

I'll use what is on hand, but favor 1/16" to 3/32" for butt plates.  Early butt plates normally call for thicker material.  Cheers, Bookie