NW trade gun side plate screws

[Bebedore]

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.

[Clark Badgett]

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.

[Hungry Horse]

 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

[Mike Brooks]

What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

[Beaverman]

What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

That's what I was wondering!

[smylee grouch]

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

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

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.

[Ky-Flinter]

What in the $#*! is a cheese head bolt?  Made in Wisconsin?

-Ron

[Bebedore]

I will try rounding them in my drill press. Thanks for the advice.

[Mike Brooks]

Made it for 63 years with out hearing that term....

[P.W.Berkuta]

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" 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

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.

[smylee grouch]

The word "filster head" (sp) comes to mind.

[Pete G.]

Filister heads are rounded on the top corners; not what you want on a lock bolt. Turn them to match the screw head.

[Bob Roller]

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

[fahnenschmied]

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.