Question on inletting long tang buttplates.

[Artificer]

Gents, when you inlet a buttplate with a long early style tang, do you bend up the tang at first and inlet most of the rear of the buttplate and then bend down the tang to inlet it?

I very much appreciate any information.
Gus

[Dave B]

When You say early you are talking a bout English tangs?  I find that you don't need to do this with the straight tangs on English but you will if you are doing a french or German tang that has the ornaments not allowing for the forward progression inlet you can use with an English tang.

[Artificer]

Dave,

Yes, I'm sorry, I did mean English tangs.  As to the forward progression of intletting, can this be done with a stud under the front of the tang without bending up that portion of the tang?  Or is it best to cut off the stud and then silver solder it or a catch for a hidden hook after inletting the front of the tang?
Gus

[Lucky R A]

    There is no need to remove the pinning tab on the forward extension.  Remember that you will only be moving the whole butt plate forward an 1/8 of an inch of so to tighten up gaps.  Blacken the bottom of the pinning tab, sit the butt plate on the stock as near to the final position as possible and smack the top of the extension with a soft mallet.  You now have you location for the initial tab inlet,  You may have to move the inlet for the tab slightly forward as you proceed, but this will be covered by the top extension.  Believe me they are much easier than some of the French butt plates.   

[Artificer]

Thank you very much.  I really appreciate it.
Gus

[northmn]

The one I am working on now is tapered so that you can keep moving it forward as you inlet the butt.  The best thing is to make a very good tmeplate of the bend of the main butt plate so that you can saw it out very close so that you can kind of inlet downward.  The last couple I have done can want to get off of center line.

DP

[B.Habermehl]

As far as the pinning / hooking lug goes. It really doesen't matter if you have a bit of extra slot hidden under the brass.  Making a saw template from a piece of junk 2 by 8  really is handy.  This makes sawing the but much more accurate, and really helps to eliminate gaps over 1/16 of  a inch if your good with a band saw.  Once you have the heel profile nice and close then start the inletting

[Artificer]

Thank you for the additional information, gents.
Gus