Installing Trigger Guard

[frogwalking]

My sort-of, English trade pistol is coming along reasonably well.  I am getting to the place where I will be installing the trigger guard before too long.  It has become obvious that the guard I have cannot be installed with the front attachment lug where it is, or it will obstruct the ramrod hole.  It can be cut off and moved to the rear a ways and then it will work.  The  question is can I soft solder the lug back in place?  (guard is iron) I have some of the good solder and flux sold by Brownells.  I may have a piece of silver solder somewhere if that is necessary.  I think I  used to use it with no flux. 

I assume one never uses a screw to attach the front of the guard on this type of pistol??

[Pete G.]

I don't think soft solder would be good for this. There is not a lot of area for the joint, and if the guard ever get whacked from the side it would put a lot of stress on the joint.  Since the guard is iron, use welding or brazing. Silver solder might be OK if you make a lug sort of T shaped to get more contact with the guard. My own experience with soldering is never attempt  without flux.

[B.Habermehl]

Cut off you old lug keep it if it is long enough or scrounge another piece of scrap steel about 1/8 in thick. Take your new lug and hack saw the top forming a 1/8 in square by 3/16 tall spigot.  File this round, drill a 1/8 in dia hole in the guard where you need your new lug to be. Countersink the top of the hole about 1/32.  When you drill and file everything up use no oil and do not touch any of your "machined"surfaces. Now flux the spigot and hole. Grip the lug in the vise with the spigot up. Set the guard on the spigot and peen until you fill the countersink riviting the lug and guard together. Now inspect, and solder. Done, takes less time than it took me to two finger type this.

P.S. Soft solder works just fine

[Swampwalker]

Don't know about the layout of your pistol, but does the ramrod hole have to be as deep as it is?  It might be easier to glue in a short plug in the bottom of the ramrod hole, and inlet your triggerguar attachment lug as is.  The ramrod only has to be as long as the bore is deep.