Lancaster sideplate brass thickness

[Jerry V Lape]

How thick should the brass be for making Lancaster sideplates and how deep is the decorative bevel?  I have used commercial ones in the past and won't be doing it this time. 

[Blacksmoke]

Jerry:  I make all of my side plates from solid stock.   It is usually 3/16" thick and then I file a bevel on that is 1/2 of the thickness. see photo:         Hugh Toenjes

[rich pierce]

Originals are often about 1/8".  No need to inlet deeper than just to have it in, not on, the stock.

[David Rase]

I use 1/8" on my side plates that stand proud.  1/16" inlet and 1/16" above the surface of the stock.  If it is a flush side plate then I use 1/16".
DMR

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I also use 1/8" brass stock.  I use my Vernier's calipers to scribe a line along the centre of the edge, and inlet to the line, and bevel the plate to the line as well.  You could inlet a little less - say 1/32" as there is normally not much wood there, and it is a weak area of the stock.

[B Shipman]

It depends on the period. Early 1/8th in. half in, half out.  Later, a little thinner, half in, half out. Later flush ( Fordney, Gibbs, Dreddard) 1/16 th or thicker.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

It depends on the period. Early 1/8th in. half in, half out.  Later, a little thinner, half in, half out. Later flush ( Fordney, Gibbs, Dreddard) 1/16 th or thicker.

Bill when you say early, later, later would you be willing to hazard a guess at the years when these changes evolved... just as benchmarks...

[B Shipman]

In really general terms, Early is 1780's or earlier. At the point where you see flush sideplates common is later and everything else is in between and overlapping.

[JTR]

Sorry I don't have a better picture.
Jacob Dickert about 1800. The plate is a little over 1/8" thick.
John

[B Shipman]

Of course. The trend is general. That's the point. You may find something from 1820 with a 1/8th in. sideplate.

[JTR]

Bill,
My post wasn't meant to disagree with your comment, just to show how the side plate bevel was done on this rifle.

John

[B Shipman]

JTR, I know. Your post helps the point. There are trends but not hard and fast rules.