Over the comb tang question

[Ezra]

I know Ken Guy and has a great tutorial on this (thanks Ken) but I have had one question.  It is probably obvious to everyone but me.  The question is, on East Tennessee style rifles with over the comb tangs, can I assume these rifles have no castoff?  I think the answer is no you dummy, of course they don't.  But...I'm just not sure.  Guys? 


Ez

[M Tornichio]

I am certain that I have seen at least 1 original that had a noticable cast off.
I think it all depends on how you want to build your rifle.
It is probably correct either way.
marc

[Ezra]

Castoff would make the difficult process of completing the over the comb tang even more complicated, wouldn't it?


Ez

[Dphariss]

Castoff would make the difficult process of completing the over the comb tang even more complicated, wouldn't it?


Ez

I don't see a significant problem. Just bend the tang to match the stock centerline.
cast off at the break of the comb would not be that extreme anyway.

But this feature is outside my experience, never did one.

Dan

[rich pierce]

The big challenge on doing these as I understand it, is that as they are inletted down, they somehow seem to shorten and so any lollipop inlet toward the end can then be found to be misplaced.  I've seen articles that advise inletting them progressively from breech to tail.

I agree, cast-off is the least of problems.  The tang should be malleable and as easy to bend side to side as to profile.

[Ken G]

As Dan suggested, run the tang right down the centerline of the stock if you want a little cast off in the stock.   Keep in mind the buttstock is rather thin when compared to some of the PA rifles where castoff is desirable to have a rifle that shoulders and shoots comfortably.  TN rifles are to be shot off the bicep rather than the shoulder.
Ken

[rsells]

I have an original that I have copied a couple times now, and it has a cast off with the over the comb tang.  When I copy the rifle, I leave the line straight down the barrel center, down the tang until I get to the top corner of the front of the comb, and then I draw a reference line from the front of the comb  back to the butt with the cast off I want.  I bend the final of the tang to line up with the reference line and inlet it accordingly.  Seems to work out OK.  I leave the trigger plate centered like the front portion of the tang, and bend the rear final of the triggerguard to line up with my reference line with the cast off I have drawn on the bottom of the stock from the toe to the back of the trigger plate.  Good luck with your build.  I am slow and it takes me a long time to do the inlet without any gaps, but it is well worth the effort.  I have another set of parts in the shop now that I plan on building like this.
                                                        Roger Sells
               

[LynnC]

In Foxfire 5 there is a Bean rifle with what apears to be the original scribe line down the comb and the tang off center indicating cast off.  - built mine with 1/4" cast off in similar fashion.......Lynn

[LynnC]

Opps - looks like I bent mine at nose off comb to follow center line.  Sorry, built it several years ago.  Bean didn't seem to bother with bending his tang and left it straight.