Entry thimble question.

[Rt5403]

So I have looked at every entry thimble made possibly and can't seem to find one with this profile. I see thimbles with thumbnails and double thumbnails but never one with a pronounced hump like that. Anyone know where I can get something close or how I can possibly make this?

[Acer Saccharum]

You might be able to take a store bought pipe, and raise that hump with punches and lead or maple anvil.

If you are familiar with silver soldering, you can construct one from a store pipe and pieces of brass.

[Jim Kibler]

What are you building?

Jim

[Rt5403]

What are you building?

Jim

It's the Crockett first rifle plans. Not trying for a carbon copy( Not that talented) . But I do like the profile and some of the features. Going to be my first blank build. Going to do as much of the work myself as possible. Going to use a rice .44 inch c weight .54 cal Lancaster barrel. I am going to use Dave keck to inlet the barrel. Was thinking I could take a production thimble and maybe anneal it and see if I can stretch that hump out a little.

[TommyG]

I made a crude forming die from aluminum.  I first drill a hole thru the center of the block to accept the outside diameter of the pipe.  Then I slice the block in half and finish making the mold using a dremel with a ball cutter.  To form the pipe I first fabricate the entry pipe & tail, leaving a bit oversized, set in my form and use polished punches I made to form the pipe. Anneal often. It comes out a bit rough, but finishes up nicely.  I made this one using .040" brass.

[StevenV]

Nice job!      Steve 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I made the entry pipe for my Jacob Kuntz rifle with .032" thick brass.  I formed the bulbous thumbnail using a lead block and a punch shaped from a bridge spike.  One good smack with a 3 pound whacker into the annealed brass did the deed.

[flehto]

I'd use brass of 2 different thicknesses and silver solder together. The solder I use is the color of brass.,,,,,,Fred