swivel wood patchbox lid

[Daniel]

I would really like to know how to do this type of patch box lid . Can some one lend a hand?

Daniel

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The way it was described to me was to think of it just like a barn door latch.  I rides and pivots on a screw and a spring holds it in place.  I set my spring up just like I would for a sliding wooden lid.

Coryjoe

[Daniel]

I have never done a sliding patch box . Is there any info as a tutorial out there?
Would really like to do one on a gun I have.

[PPatch]

Here is a tutorial that is on the site here: http://www.americanlongrifles.org/WorkShop_frame.htm You can do it all with handtools though, no need of a router. Careful planning and placement is the key, and slow but sure workmanship.

The book "The Gunsmith of Grenville County"  by Peter Alexander has information on doing it. If you do not have that book I recommend that you purchase it for general gun building info.

Good Luck and welcome to the ALR site.

dave

[Hungry Horse]

 I think you are referring to the Deep River  Southern type box that pivots on a center screw. I have not made one of these, but have done some study on them. The ones I've been able to get good a good look at, seem to use a spring catch in the box that engages a notch in the cover. I have not had a chance to examine what type of opening spring they use, but I would consider a flat spring that puts pressure on a post attached to the lid, that uses the recess in the stock as the stop to prevent the cover from spinning to far around. Maybe somebody else has had a hands on experience with this type box. They are fairly rare.

               Hungry Horse

[Daniel]

Thank you guys. I'm wanting to do some changes on my Southern smooth rifle.
It has a narrow butt plats profile , so I'm not to sure what all I can do. That is why I'm
wanting to do a swivel type.  A great tutorial on the sliding one though.

Daniel

[C Wallingford]

I am working on one at this time.This is the fourth one and I make a flat spring from mild steel, inlet and attach it to the bottom of the lid. File a notch in the edge of the butt plate for the spring to drop in and that will keep in place. Lift the end of the spring and rotate the lid to open. Does that make sense?
 Maybe I can get a picture later today. If I can figure out how to post it.

[Daniel]

I got it , but a picture is worth a thousand words.
I am greatfull for the help.

Daniel

[C Wallingford]

Let's see if this works. I don't know what happened to the other two

[[URL=http://s557.photobucket.com/user/cwknives/media/swivel3-1.jpg.html]/URL]photobucket.com/albums/ss16/cwknives/swivel1-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[Daniel]

   Thank you kind Sir.

[whetrock]

I don't know what happened to the other two

I’ll help you out. (It sometimes works better if you leave a blank line between the embedded links, rather than pasting them in right beside one another.)

[Nate McKenzie]

Here's a link to one I made a while back. Its the second one down in front of the stone wall.
http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/search/label/Nate%20McKenzie

[Kermit]

How'd I miss that one, Nate?!? Very nice. I'm finding swivel lid boxes interesting. Might have to have one...

[C Wallingford]

Thanks Whetrock Posting pix is not my favorite thing to do.

[EC121]

I just got a rifle this week with a swiveling lid.  Mike Miller Deep River rifle.  I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.  It has a side latch instead of the end style.  Push it down and push the box up toward the BP tang.

[blackbruin]

Here's another one Nate did for me this year.

[Daniel]

 The pics are great. My gun that I want to do this to is a Tennessee style. Kind of narrow at the butt.
Like my dad. Got to wear a belt or down the come.  I have the wood and looking at it real hard. I got
the piece in the white so thought I'd try.

[cheyenne]

Great thread...interesting twist  on patchbox lid. Here's one by Ian Pratt

[Stophel]

It is SUCH a neat design!  Too bad they didn't do them earlier and in other areas!

[cheyenne]

Where did they originate?

EDIT: Google helped out.....really liking this style of Southern rifle.....maternal family is from the Carolinas, so there is a reason to like them.....as if I needed one!

[deano]

Killer piece of wood on the Ian Pratt example! It looks like a later example than some of the early VA guns previously shown.

[Stophel]

Where did they originate?
 

Not my area of expertise, but they seem to be VERY limited to certain areas of North Carolina.

[whitebear]

Very nice patch box lids but I am thinking that after opening and closing a few times that the finish on the edge of the stock would start to wear and show the original color of the wood.  Has anyone had this to happen if so what is the solution?  More stain and finish when needed or some kind of buffer to prevent this from happening.  Although as my daddy said I am good at killing snakes before I see them, or imagining problems before there is a problem.

[Micah2]

No more wear than a sliding wood pb lid. It should not be a very tight lid until the spring is engaged in the closed position, when open it should swing freely.  If the screw is not square in relation to the lid it might have a particular wear area.

[whitebear]

Micah 2, I have had very little experience with wooden patch box lids so thanks for the explanation.