Dressing up a chip

[burch]

I need some advise on what I can do to this ugly chip. I have no idea where the chip went since I didn't notice it missing until I got home. This a J. Brown poor boy so I don't want anything flashy or fancy. I know I could just live with it but it bugs me knowing its there.
         Burch  

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

The chip happened because the recoiling barrel moved rearward with a sharp smack.  To replace the missing wood, remove the barrel and tang and file a flat to remove all of the irregularities of the broken wood.  Then glue a piece of like wood with Titebond II or III under the pressure of a clamp.  When it cures, dress off the repair wood down to the stock.  Cut away the wood at the end of the tang so that this doesn't recur.  Stain and finish...Voila!

[burch]

How do I keep it from happening again

[Mark Elliott]

How do I keep it from happening again

You leave a small gap at the rear of the tang.   About the thickness of a piece of paper should do.   The main thing is that you don't want to "preload" the wood with the tang tight up against it.   I just make sure I chisel off all the marking compound so that there is no metal touching wood at the back of the tang.   

[Daryl]

You can also bed the bolster, rear of the barrel and/or tang in glass. I like JB Weld for this - the one that cures black.

[Dennis Glazener]

You can also bed the bolster, rear of the barrel and/or tang in glass. I like JB Weld for this - the one that cures black.

and make sure you use PLENTY of good release agent or several coats of good wax (I have had them stick with only one coat, and a bear getting them out.
Dennis

[FDR]

You can also bed the bolster, rear of the barrel and/or tang in glass. I like JB Weld for this - the one that cures black.

and make sure you use PLENTY of good release agent or several coats of good wax (I have had them stick with only one coat, and a bear getting them out.
Dennis

As Dennis said wax the tang twice and then again for good measure. I like Johnson's paste floor wax.
If you ever have one stick just put it in a freezer overnight. Comes right out.  Wonder how I know that ?  

[bama]

You need to stop the barrel from moving backward due to recoil of the shot being fired. This happened because the barrel breech did not have good metal to wood contact. This allowed the barrel to move just enough to cause a chip out at the end of the tang.

You can repair as mentioned by the others, bed the barrel, leave a gap or put a slight taper on the end of the tang, this will allow the tang to ride up instead of chipping out a piece. Bedding the breech is by far the best fix.

[flehto]

Possibly inlet an inlay behind the tang?  But first correct the problem by  either removing some wood behind the tang or some steel of the back of the tang.....Fred

[burch]

Let me see if I'm understanding this right >. I want the barrel tight against the wood by bedding the breech to the wood where it recoils. Then a paper thin gap where the rear of the tang is against the wood.  Right ?

[Turtle]

 I don't like leaving a gap at the rear of the tang where everybody sees it. I understand the reason. Would filing an extreme draft angle at the rear of the tang address this problem? Any momentary setback would ride up instead of breaking the wood? Crazy idea?
                             Thanks,Turtle

[Turtle]

 I have learned to always make a repair I want to hide darker than I think a match would be.
                                      Rich

[Ky-Flinter]

Let me see if I'm understanding this right >. I want the barrel tight against the wood by bedding the breech to the wood where it recoils. Then a paper thin gap where the rear of the tang is against the wood.  Right ?

That's what I would do.  Oh, and I would make a little U shaped inlay out of brass or silver to cover up the chip out.

-Ron

[Ky-Flinter]

....... Would filing an extreme draft angle at the rear of the tang address this problem? Any momentary setback would ride up instead of breaking the wood? Crazy idea?
                             Thanks,Turtle

I don't think that will work because the tang bolt will prevent the tang from rising.

-Ron