Push Button Rod Through Top of Butt plate

[mountainman]

Hoping this makes a good topic, and then again maybe not a big deal.
I know you can buy them!
But is there any builders out there that make their own? If so how do you make them?
I'm specifically talking about the type that go through the top of the butt plate and down the to catch peg, and then that will release the lid.
My dimensions I like for the head is .300 and the shoulder around .375 in diameter, the over all length before fitting about 3", and about 1/8th inch thick for the rod.
I don't like the small brass heads that you see on the market.
I think traditionally they used steel, and shaped it like a round screw head and filed a slot to make it appear like another screw.
Any makers out there that make these types?

[P.W.Berkuta]

Since I have a lathe and the metal I do make my own as it is very simple item to make. I do make the button a bit smaller in diameter than 3/8" - around 5/16"+ or so. make it like a little "top hat". The length of the rod will depend on the release mounting position.

[mountainman]

Thanks for your reply!
I imagine all kinds of wonderful things could be made with a lathe. I failed to mention that I don't have a lathe.
So another question are there makers that make these push rods without a lathe?

[45-110]

I forge and bend the rod, then integral rivet on a lathe turned round button head. Make a square or rectangular one by filing?

[hortonstn]

I use a double headed concrete nail, cut off top head to make top hat

[Joe Stein]

You can turn an item like the button for a patch box release by chucking the metal in an electric drill or a drill press and shaping it with files. If using a hand held electric drill, put the drill in a vise. It's not hard to do.

[P.W.Berkuta]

And there you go - where there is a will there is a way!

[Daryl]

You can turn an item like the button for a patch box release by chucking the metal in an electric drill or a drill press and shaping it with files. If using a hand held electric drill, put the drill in a vise. It's not hard to do.

That works and was my first "lathe". I even made a primer firing device using the vice-held drill when I couldn't get caps in Smithers BC.

[coopersdad]

I always like it when folks show photos of parts, really helps me visualize it. Here are a few photos of one I did recently. I also like the button to look like a screw. I also used a lathe but have used the drill press or hand drill in the vise.  That first time the lid clicks shut and then you push the button and it pops open is very satisfying!

[Birddog6]

Thanks for your reply!
I imagine all kinds of wonderful things could be made with a lathe. I failed to mention that I don't have a lathe.
So another question are there makers that make these push rods without a lathe?

I may be able to solve that issue.    PM me where you are located.

You can easily make one.  Just a long steel rod & thread the end of it.  Get a piece
of round brass from the hobby shop, if you don't have any.   Round it, drill & tap it
& you are good to go.

[taterbug]

one of my battery drills has flat bosses on the sides, clamps up nice in my pattern makers vice either horizontal or vertical. 

finally figured out a way to pull the trigger since I needed two hands for the file... one of those small one-handed wood clamps. another squeeze to increase the speed.  brand name sounds like one of the famous basketball players from a few years back. 

Thought I was a genius until my buddy reminded me that it was him that showed me that trick...oh well.

[mountainman]

So thanks all for the comments, lots of wonderful ideas, I especially like Cooper'sdad's pictures, and would like to know parts of the steel used.
I had a friend that made me a push button and all he used was a nail and a portion of a bolt. Now I believe he did use the lathe some, but I think you still can do it without a lathe.
First step was to take a bolt of appropriate size, and drill a hole in the head of the bolt, and then he downsized the head of the bolt, which is the shoulder, and the upper button is part of the shank of the bolt cut off, and the rod itself is a 16 penny nail with the head cut off, and is inserted into the drilled hole in the head of the bolt, and is soldered or welded on. Here's the results.

[JTR]

Just for the fun of it, here is how Jacob Dickert did it.

[mountainman]

Thanks for sharing!! Very interesting, I have seen others that were similar except the pushrod part. That's a very heavy pushrod! I especially like that what appears to be a staple to hold the rod in place.
Very neat to see!  Jacob Dickert probably would have never suspected that we would enjoy seeing that aspect of his work!

[mountainman]

Although the push button didn't go through the top of the butt plate, this had a concealed button underneath the toe plate. In this rifle the push rod is missing.
This gun was the one that was found in an old church attic, believed to be built by Jacob Mier of Somerset, Pennsylvania

[mountainman]

I always like it when folks show photos of parts, really helps me visualize it. Here are a few photos of one I did recently. I also like the button to look like a screw. I also used a lathe but have used the drill press or hand drill in the vise.  That first time the lid clicks shut and then you push the button and it pops open is very satisfying!

Did you also make that catch that is fastened with a screw? The one that catches for the peg on the lid.

[coopersdad]

Yes, hacksawed and filed from mild steel.  I know the spring driven into the wood as in the Dickert and Mier originals shown is the real way to do it, but it seems it needs to be right the first time, and I had the latch in and out many times before I was satisfied. Someday I'll learn how to do that! 

[homerifle]

Although the push button didn't go through the top of the butt plate, this had a concealed button underneath the toe plate. In this rifle the push rod is missing.
This gun was the one that was found in an old church attic, believed to be built by Jacob Mier of Somerset, Pennsylvania

I would like to see a picture of the carving and the patch box if possible. Thanks!

[mountainman]

Here you go homerifle.

[mountainman]

Yes, hacksawed and filed from mild steel.  I know the spring driven into the wood as in the Dickert and Mier originals shown is the real way to do it, but it seems it needs to be right the first time, and I had the latch in and out many times before I was satisfied. Someday I'll learn how to do that!

I know what you mean about getting it right the first time, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. I believe it's easier to place an assembly with a screw. You fabricated some nice metal parts out of steel. Looks great!