Half stock rifles and slings

[Dale Halterman]

I am building a half stock rifle that I will want to put a sling on. The rear attachment is easy, but i am trying to figure out the best way to attach the front mount. Strength is of primary importance, but it should also look good, if possible.

What suggestions do you guys have?

Dale H

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Dale, I only have one half stock with a sling swivel and I didn't build it.  It's a smoothbore 20 gauge by A. Hunkeler left to me by my late friend Peter Nicholson.  The front swivel passes through the solid rib which has been soldered to the barrel.  It's a very stout system.
Whenever I build half stock rifles, I use this system.  I do not like the attachment on the thimble itself.

[Dphariss]

Silver solder the swivel to the rod pipe. A surprisingly small contact patch will hold if it hard silver solder.
Helps if the rod pipe is silver soldered to the rib too. Use the second pipe not the upper one.
This is traditional size but rattles with a modern quick detach swivels.
I pin them as well as solder to help keep them in place while heating.
This was accidentally "antiqued" with some idiotic use of nitric that was just a little too strong:
But it fit the rib good so I will live with it.

Dan

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Yours looks good Dan.  i agree that hard silver soldering is as strong as the steel itself.  I use the solder that is used to attach carbide teeth to head and band saws in the manufacture of lumber from logs.  Keep the joint molecular and you'll never have it come away.

[David Rase]

Taylor,  That is a good looking practical mount for a sling swivel.  What I like on your mount over the one Dan posted is that the sling swivel rests on the thimble eliminating the need to lift up the swivel evertime you put the ramrod back into the gun.
DMR

[Dphariss]

Taylor,  That is a good looking practical mount for a sling swivel.  What I like on your mount over the one Dan posted is that the sling swivel rests on the thimble eliminating the need to lift up the swivel evertime you put the ramrod back into the gun.
DMR

Neither does this design, if it did I would change it.

Dan

[David Rase]

Neither does this design, if it did I would change it.

Dan
[/quote]
Dan,  Thanks for the additional photo. I apologize for my accusation.  The thimble looked pretty short in the original photo so I just figured that it would not catch the sling swivel.  Nice job.
DMR