Lock Area Shaping Question

[Dwshotwell]

Howdy folks,

I'm building my first rifle from a pre-carved stock. My question is about the lock area. The lock on my rifle was pre-inlet, quite deep. The beveled edge of the lock plate is below the surface of the lock panel by 1/16"or so. I can lower the face of the lock panel, but that won't leave much, particularly in the front, of an elevation for the panel itself.

I'm looking for guidance. Should I just let it be? Take wood off the lock panel face to the level of the lock plate? I've actually already done quite a bit. I have room on the back end to then take wood off of the wrist etc. and still have the lock panel be raised, but not much in front.

Thank you.

Dave Shotwell

[Dennis Glazener]

The wood around the lock should come up to the bevel. If you don't have enough lock panel left you need to take wood off at the wrist and the forearm. I feel sure you have plenty to work with.
Dennis

[smallpatch]

Ditto!

[Mark Elliott]

Also, the lock panels are too wide.   You are going to have to take wood off the front, back, top and bottom.   I wouldn't leave more than 1/2" at the front and rear (between the front and rear of the lock and the front and rear of the lock panel) and as skinny as 1/8" at the top and bottom.   The mortice around the lock should be pretty skinny.  You don't want a lot of flat areas left on a rifle.  Take a look at the lock panels on some of the originals in the Library.   

As to the forearm.   The side walls (between the barrel and the outside of the forearm) should be no more than 1/8".   As Dennis said,  I am sure you have enough wood to remove.   I still leave too much wood there sometimes.    Also, the forearms should be well rounded,  kinda egg shaped.   It looks a little flat the way it is.   Wood can be removed above and below the centerline of the lower forearm.    You round the sidewalls up to a fine edge at the barrel.    You really need to put your hands on a good rifle to get a feel for what the wrist and forearm should be like.   It is hard to tell the shape from photos.   

[rich pierce]

Agree 100% with all above and will add that a precarve stock usually deliberately has a lot of excess wood to allow the builder room for customization.  It's easy to get sucked in thinking get precarve is pared down to size everywhere. It isn't.

Rule #1 is don't leave your lock down in a wood hole!

[Dwshotwell]

Excellent. Thank you all. I'll get to work taking off more wood.

[Mike Brooks]

Is your lock bolster fully resting against the side of the barrel?

If you have a skinny barrel, you're going to have a skinny gun. Do as the guys above have suggested. Take a look at my building tutorial, it shows you how to take that wood down to the correct level.

[Dwshotwell]

Is your lock bolster fully resting against the side of the barrel?

If you have a skinny barrel, you're going to have a skinny gun. Do as the guys above have suggested. Take a look at my building tutorial, it shows you how to take that wood down to the correct level.

Yes, the bolster is against the barrel. Your building tutorial is actually what originally made me sit up and notice that the lock was way too deep for the panel face. I didn't realize until Mark Elliot pointed out above how much longer my lock panel was compared to examples.

So back to work I go. This is the fun part.