Butt plate tang mouldings

[ptk1126]

Before I mess it up anymore than I already have, does anyone have tips/tricks for forming the
moldings (rings) on the butt plate tang ?

The picture below shows what I am trying to achieve.



Thanks
Paul

[George F.]

My problem when filing wedding bands is to keep them square to the centerline of the butt plate( not going crooked), and keeping them even. One miss or a file skip out of where you want it can lead you to modify the bands alittle.How about usind a piece of masking tape cut to the width you need. Then you could position it where you want, then file the one side of the rings, remove the tape then file the wedding band.For files I use a sharp edged file with an acute angle (knife edge), I don't know the name of it. I also use the triangle needle file. I don't know if this helped you or not.   ...Geo.

[Dave B]

Paul,
the secret to doing this well is to have a safe edge ground on your files. I will grind off the side of the mill file I use so no teath are left and the surface is slick. I will also do this to my triangle files leaving only two surfaces with teath. I use a divider to scribe the surface of the brass then cut the only to the line on one side keeping the safe edge tward the line. It is also very helpful to have magnificaiton with good lighting to make sure you are not wandering with each pass. It is comforting to know that some of the originals are not perfect in this sort of detail either.





The middle one is in the midst of the filing detail being done. I will come back to do the bead to the left side of the band by knocking down the flats like you see done on the originals I have included.

[flehto]

I take a steel flexible rule or a strip of soft , thin sheetmetal and hold it down on the tang and scribe a fairly deep line for each detail and this is done by "eyeball" keeping the lines parallel.  A  knife file is then guided by the scribed line until the req'd depth is reached and then a triangular file is used for the radii. I don't file the bands on until the comb has been finish sanded so in the process of filing and sanding, the bands aren't flattened and have to be touched up. Everything is done when the BP is attached to the rifle......Fred

[David Rase]

I use my dial calipers like a marking guage.  I set the distances and the use the front of the butt plate extension as a reference.  Scribe the lines at the distances required.  Then I usd a jewelers saw to cut the depth on the scribed lines.  Then using safe edged, square and triangle files I shape the bands and beads.
DMR

[ptk1126]

Thanks to all for the info and pictures. The jeweler's saw worked fairly well freehand. Now to try to
round the edges.

All the best
Paul