Patchbox lid thickness

[okawbow]

I have an original Later percussion Bedford county rifle with the”Q” style patch box. The lid is missing. The finial brass thickness is .038”. This has the hinge made on the underneath side, so the topside feels flat and smooth.

What was the norm on original patch boxes like this one? .038 seems too thin for a lid.

[JTR]

From what I've seen, the lids were made from the same material as the rest of the box.
By the time you get a get a slight arch in the lid to match the finale shape, it'll be pretty stout.

Of course, if you want to make it a bit thicker, I don't think anyone will notice.... unless it noticeably sticks up above the side plates.

John

[okawbow]

Thanks, John

I measured the depth along the side plates, and came up with .065. I have some old brass sheet which fits flush. I’ll try that first.

[okawbow]

A few hours work and a good start. Now I need someone to match the engraving style that is on the rest of the rifle.

[JTR]

Nice job!
A little engraving and some black powder smoke will make it look right at home!

One thing, and maybe it's just the angle of the picture, but the door looks like it's just a smidge too long? Say like a sixteenth?

John

[okawbow]

Thanks, yes, the door has not been filed even with the butt plate yet.
One thing that is unusual on this patch box, the latch has no push button catch release. It simply snaps into place with a spring that has a rounded bump that snaps into a round notch on the lid pin. Opens by thumb nail at a indent filed in the butt plate. Holds and works well.

I would appreciate if someone could point me to an engraver that would be willing to match the style and workmanship of the existing engraving.

Chuck

[JTR]

Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?

[Gaeckle]

Here's a simple, easy to cut and a somewhat typical pattern. I am planning on using this on an upcoming rifle

[okawbow]

Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?

I was thinking of something that compliments the side plate pattern.

Or maybe something like this, based on another George Fay rifle. Please excuse my poor art skil.

[Gaeckle]

Is there anything on the toeplate?

[okawbow]

This.

[JTR]

Maybe take the side plate design, and stretch it out. Make the center part into a more slender oval with the cross hatching, and stretch out the arms on either end to fill about 3/4 of the length of the door. A couple wavy border lines along the edges of the door would finish it off.
Whatever, as you said, it needs to be kept simple to exist with the original work. 
John

[Gaeckle]

Chuck, Do you have an engraving design in mind for the cover?

I was thinking of something that compliments the side plate pattern.

Or maybe something like this, based on another George Fay rifle. Please excuse my poor art skil.

Got a picture of this?

[okawbow]

That drawing I made was only similar to the George Fay rifle picture. Here is the picture I had in my files.

[Gaeckle]

The rifle you are working on is by George Fay also? Halfstock, full stock, percussion, flint?

[okawbow]

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=73371.0

Here is the post on the rifle I am working on.