Drift for putting I barrel keys

[mtlonghunter]

Hi, sorry it took so long to answer your question. I've been off line for a few days. The basic technique is to pound the drift in a 16th or so and pull it back out . Continue same little by little until it goes through the underlug. After it has gone in a ways a pair of pliers is needed to pull it back out. You can go in from both sides if you are worried about blowout. The little one I made 40 years ago and has broken off several times. Made of stainless, not a good choice, but that's what I had at the time.  A good grade of tool steel would be best and tempered. The larger one could have used more taper. The smooth section is the size of the keys being used. You can also use a smaller piece of metal to push the tool back out of the hole each time instead of the pliers but you need caution not to mushroom or damage the end.[img]. Ok , a little help here. I'm sending this from my tablet and don't seem to be able to send picture. I'm also using a rotary phone , but that's another issue.

[David Rase]

I am posting the following 2 photos of the barrel key drift for mtlonghunter.  Please address any comments concerning the drifts to him.  My machinist background puts this tool into the category of a broach.  Anyway, I like the concept and may have to give making one a whirl.
David

 

[mtlonghunter]

Thanks Mr. Dave,  yes that would be a more appropriate name for them.

[Jerry V Lape]

Do you use this to shape an existing hole or work it into the solid wood? 

[Joe S.]

looks like he just carefully punches the slot thru with the tool.I would have to see how it works on some scrap,my fear would be to much blowout in the barrel channel or worse a split in the stock.Perhaps drilling atleast a hole in each end of the slot would stop a split but if your already drilling two holes what's one more.

[mtlonghunter]

One, two , or three holes will work just fine as long as they are a bit undersized , and go through the underlug nice and strait. Best used when stock is still square but stabbed off a bit..

[flehto]

After drilling a series of undersized holes and favoring the slot bottom side, I use a red hot pc of steel and burn in from both sides. The bbl lug is already finished and only the top sides of the slots on both sides of the stock  need filing for a slight press fit w/ the bbl lug.

The resultant oversize slots are covered w/ escutcheons, but have also installed keys w/o them and then the slots have minimal bottom clearance.....just takes a little more time.

The broaches should work just as well.....Fred