I have a video from England of a guy carving a set of Rigby style patent breechplugs and a tang using die sinker chisels. He did use a lathe to turn down and thread the plugs but carved and filed the snails and Rigby flats on them. You have to wonder how these were made before machine tools became available and I suspect this is how. He started with two pieces of 2" round stock.
Camer please post a picture of your treadle lathe,now that would be a nice project !Daryl,you have done this before ? Yes you are 100% correct.
DIE SINKER’S CHISEL – An engraving chisel used by steel die engravers. Much longer than the usual arms or jewelry engraver’s chisel, it usually measures about 6 to 7 ½ inches. Some arms engravers in past times preferred to use diesinker’s chisels for large scrollwork. Diesinker’s chisels are sold in size and shape from # 1 to # 12.
Just in case you don't know what a die sinkers chisel is, (I didn't!):QuoteDIE SINKERS CHISEL An engraving chisel used by steel die engravers. Much longer than the usual arms or jewelry engravers chisel, it usually measures about 6 to 7 ½ inches. Some arms engravers in past times preferred to use diesinkers chisels for large scrollwork. Diesinkers chisels are sold in size and shape from # 1 to # 12. All information courtesy of: Hand Engraving GlossaryMore info including suppliers: ALR Forum: Die SinkersYour friend,Albert
DIE SINKERS CHISEL An engraving chisel used by steel die engravers. Much longer than the usual arms or jewelry engravers chisel, it usually measures about 6 to 7 ½ inches. Some arms engravers in past times preferred to use diesinkers chisels for large scrollwork. Diesinkers chisels are sold in size and shape from # 1 to # 12.