Wooden rib on a half stock

[Leatherbark]

A friend is building him a half stock using an ash stock along with a L&R Mule ear lock and a Rice 50 caliber barrel. He is interested in installing a wooden rib this time.

 Our first question is should it be epoxied along with being screwed to the barrel?  Seems like gluing it along with using screws would make it more stable.  I found a straight grained oak 3/8ths inch square dowel that looks like a good candidate.  No sure about the oak though.
My second question is should he use a "pin on" ramrod pipe like used with a full stock and pin it to the wooden rib?

Thanks............Bob

[wapiti22]

I think this belongs in the "Gun Building" forum!!

[T*O*F]

My second question is should he use a "pin on" ramrod pipe

To answer both your questions......both the rib and pipes should be pinned.  Install underlugs on the barrel.

[r.a.hoyt]

i have several original new england ribs and all were pinned to lugs

[David Rase]

I cut dovetails in the barrel, installed lugs and pinned the wood rub on my Lawing copy.  The ramrod pipes are pinned as well.
David

[Ross Dillion]

What type of wood did you use for the under rib?

[Ky-Flinter]

Here's one I made.  Cherry wood rib, fixed to barrel with 5 screws, no glue, ramrod pipes pinned.



Ron

[David Rase]

What type of wood did you use for the under rib?

Ross,
I used hickory.
David

[Leatherbark]

Lord I thought I was in the Gun building session when I posted this but evidentially, I wasn't LOL.
Great suggestions and thanks for the images!..............I've have a good idea as to how they are installed now.............Bob

[Pukka Bundook]

I hav ealways being going to try a wooden rib, and never got at is.
I had an idea to make caps for both ends, undercut or slanted longer on the lower edges.
Purple heart would look good I think, or hickory /ash darkened.

[Bob Roller]

Sounds like a way to help get rid of a poorly balanced nose heavy rifle.Not bad looking either.
Bob Roller

[Burg]

I have an original Phillip H Grose rifle made in Rutherford County, NC that has a wooden under rib.  The rifle appears to have been a full stock that was repaired by removing all but about 4 inches of the forend  and replacing it with a wooden under rib using the original barrel tenons to pin it on.  In all probability additional tenons were added to the barrel to keep both ends of the under rib firmly attached.  The ramrod pipes are also pinned into slots cut in the under rib.  The under rib looks like it is made of oak or hickory. I believe the repair was a period repair and most likely made by Grose himself as the rifle was found still in Rutherford county when I acquired it years ago. I am not able to send pictures now.  Fred

[David Rase]

Stop over engineering these rifles.
David

[shortbarrel]

david sad it all, and keep the off

[shortbarrel]

david said it all. and keep the glue off. correction to the above to the above post.