Ketland side plate

[chuck]

I have a pistol with a pretty typical Ketland openwork side plate which is missing. What clever ways do guys know of to replicate the pattern?
Thanks Chuck

[G-Man]

I'd start by checking with Reeves Goehring first, then maybe the Rifle Shoppe and Blackleys.  

Reeves used to have quite a few patterns and you might get lucky.  On English guns, if I understand correctly, some of the hardware appears to have been supplied by whitesmiths and sold to various makers, so that is why you often see the same sideplates cropping up on a lot of guns form different makers, and Reeves has several of the more common open work sideplates.  Not sure if they would fit, but worth a try.

Guy

[chuck]

Thanks Guy, I will try the sources you suggest. What I really would  like to know is of any methods such as "rubbing " which would make a pattern to make the missing part .

[JTR]

Chuck,
I'm not sure if you're looking for the design that was on the side plate, or a way to replicate the side plate to fit the inlet in the wood?
If it's to replicate the side plate to fit into the inlet;
Take a picture of that side of the pistol with your digital camera. 
Then with your computer and printer, crop and re-size the picture so the side plate image is the exact size of the inlet.
Print out the picture, then cut out the side plate inlet image.

If you can't do the cropping and re-sizing on your computer, measure the exact length and width of the side plate inlet, download the picture to a memory stick or disc, and take it to Kinko's or your local printing business and let them do the re-sizing and printing for you.

Glue, or draw the outline of the cut out side plate image on a suitable piece of brass, silver, and cut/file it out.

John 

[chuck]

Thanks John great idea.

[Dave B]

I have done replacement parts for originals that were missing inlays. I use a brass shim stock .005 cut to over lay the area and do a rubbing with a burnisher that catches every detail of the inlet so you can cut out the brass as a pattern to be used to trace out the pattern on your final sheet stock. You can trim the brass shim stock to fit exatly the pattern of the inlet making sure it lays in properly before making the final transfer. Make sure to tape it securely so it wont move around while your working. For side plates I puch holes where the lock bolts go through first then let the lock bolts hold the plate in place while rubbing out the pattern with the burnisher. you can buy smallsections of this thin stuff from the local hobby shoppe or from your local auto parts store.