Questions regarding standing breech disign.

[Rolf]

I have just finished making a left-handed version of a percussion breech plug for a pistol.

If you look at the rear end of original plug, you will notice that the right- and left-hand sides are dished inwards. This makes the rear end of the plug about 6mm (1/3”) slimmer than the end breech of the barrel.

Aside from making the standing breech slimmer, does this have any other practical function?

Looking at the snail side of the standing breech, there is an outgrowth behind the top of the shield of the plug. Is this just for cosmetic purposes or does it have a practical function?

I have not dished out the plug I made and had planned to make the standing breech the full width of the breech plug and without the lump on the shield side. Any reason why I should not?

 Best regards
Rolf

[heinz]

Rolf, the standing breach reduces the amount of wood thickness in a critical area of a pistol stock.  The lock inlet also removes wood from this area.  An extra 0.5 cm may be doubling the thickness of the remaining wood in that area.  That original breach seems to have been well thought out.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

heinz beat me to it.  Narrowing the plug on the side allows more wood to be left in an area that is very likely to crack down to the lock retaining bolt.  the extra wood there helps prevent it.  Here's the pistol with similar breech I made for my buddy Ron showing a 'dishing out' treatment similar to yours.  One more thing...there has to be enough steel in the breech to allow for removal of steel from the side.

[Rolf]

Thank you both for your explainations. I have dished out the plug as advised and I've startet on the standing breech. Will post pictures when done.

Best regards
Rolf