Fowler style buttplate screws

[smallpatch]

I know I've asked this before, but I can't find the last thread.

I am ready to screw down a buttplate on a Chamber's English Gentlemen's rifle.  I just can't convince myself to drill the screw hole for the traditional Fowler style buttplate.  You know, the one that screws diagonally into the heel of the buttplate rather than the traditional one on the return of the buttplate.

How do you figure out what angle to drill it on so it draws down the comb, and the flat part of the buttplate as well???  I just know I'm going to get the wrong angle, and pull it off one direction or the other.

Maybe Mr Brooks will answer... ??

Appreciate the help.

[Stophel]

I don't like putting them there either.

The normal method of fitting a buttplate like this doesn't use a heel screw anyway.  The front tang would have a tenon inletted and pinned (or a hooked tenon that hooks to a screw head down in the inlet), and only one screw near the bottom of the buttplate.   

[smallpatch]

Stophel,

So would you suggest soldering a hook on the front finial??  I guess you just inlet it and pin??  Seems like that would be easier than trying to get a screw head to line up??

[Robert Wolfe]

I am no expert but I just split the angle between the return and the back of the buttplate. Maybe I should have been afraid but I just eyeballed it and drilled and it looks fine.

[James Rogers]

Every English gun I have seen has had two screws. One in the heel and another up from the toe. This is in conjunction with a hidden hook or a pinned tab at the front area of the finial on top.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

The English Officer's rifle, (by Griffin) that I am building has the same plate with the lug for a pin through the comb.  This is the second of this style I have done, Like Robert, I just eyeballed the center point, center punched it and drilled it...  Holds tight with two screws... I am trying to figure out why I would want to drill a hole for the pin???  On the Griffin gun pictures I have seen, I can't see if a pin was used or not.

Just find the point of the heel, Then screw it into the butt so it pulls both the tang and the plate into the wood.  The bottom screw will help you  out too..

[smallpatch]

OK guys,

Well, I soldered a tab on the front finial, and pinned the return of the buttplate in place, then like Dr Tim said, centered a screw on the $#*! and the toe of the buttplate.

Worked like a charm.

Thanks for all your help.

[Mike Brooks]

If you're building the short rifle with that !@*%&@ fancy  finial the screw needs to come in from the top of the finial, no screw in the heel.