Pewter ....for a Buttplate??

[Majorjoel]

Poured pewter has many purposes in longrifle building, but has anyone ever seen it used to make a buttplate?? Seems like it would work well into creating a fancy long tang extension. Anyone ever seen it used on original rifles?

[rich pierce]

Haven't seen it.  I think it's usually reserved for places that don't get much battering or wear.  Much easier to dent or scratch than brass or iron.

[Levy]

I've only seen it on the muzzles of rifles and as caps for the forend of halfstocks.  I have seen an original hard pewter spontoon tomahawk smoking pipe.  Obviously it's main purpose was for smoking and not as a cutting device (though it would as a bludgeon).  It was found in the Suwannee River here in Florida.
 
James Levy

[Ken G]

I can't say that I have ever seen a buttplate that was poured.  I have heard of a toeplate from poured pewter but I did not see it myself.  I'm with Rich on the wear and tear.  I don't think it would hold up.  Especially old pewter which is softer (lead) than what we use today. 
Ken

[Acer Saccharum]

You could certainly use iron for the plate and pewter for the extension. Even cutouts in the BP could be filled with pewter, like a heart design, then engraved. It all depends what style and period you are thinking about.

Acer

[Dphariss]

The buttplate has to be durable enough to withstand normal use. Pewter does not meet this criteria.
Unless cast very thick.

Dan

[t.caster]

Capt...I gots to know...are you thinking of adding a BP to that old Schimmel I built??? Or did that one have a steel piece on it? My memory don't serve me.

[Majorjoel]

Thanks for all of the reply's on my pewter questions. Tom, no, not going to change a thing about that ole schimmel. You gave her a very slick brass "strap" wrap around up on the upper butt end. That birdseye stock is as hard as iron. No buttplate needed! I have been wittleing a 2" wide  lehigh style brass b-plate down to fit an inch and 3\4 wide stock blank that is taking on the shape of a Bucks county rifle. I was a little worried about fileing off the rails on the plate as I was removing so much brass. The good thing is I ended up just right with a very nice thin easy to form fit buttplate just like the originals.