doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opinions on Skeleton Buttplates on SXS custom

As is customary for me, I'm late to the party. I went to church, so there!

The skeleton damascus plate on Glenn's rifle was done with a false insert to cover large holes bored in the buttstock. These holes were bored for recoil reducers which added weight and helped reduce recoil over a long day of shooting.

I've done skeleton butt plates using the false insert and inletting them to the native wood. Both are very time consuming but the native version is the most difficult because you only get ONE chance to do it right.

I'm kind'a hoping that Glenn gets busy and makes some more plates real soon because I need at least one more for current projects. Glenn thats your clue the world is waiting.

I believe that I posted this picture before, but for those that have not seen it here it is. This is the skeleton butt plate from a "C" grade Nichols & Lefever that I own. The wood has shrunk over the last 120 or so years but this is true insanity.

Mr. Mann:

Whilst I would normally be delighted to attend to your needs and create more butt plates, I just had a very pleasant conversation with a couple of very large men that came to the door and introduced themselves as Vinny and Guido. They allowed as how it would be a really good idea that I spent some quality time with Mr. Le Fusil's Reilly hammer gun. I must say, their argument was quite convincing...

Glenn

I knew that my friend Glenn was making those great skeleton buttplates, but I didn't know whether he was promoting business at this time, so I didn't mention his name. Now he will be answering the phone for the next two weeks and not getting any work done. The Damascus heel and toe plates sound like just what I need.

Just beautiful. I am curious, is that real Damascus or just the look?

Glenn,

The Damascus Skeleton Butt is really top shelf. I thought the same thing about the screw being Damascus though. You might consider a different Damascus pattern. I have a knife made by Charles Sauer and the pins that he used are a Damascus that he makes from cable. It is a great contrast and might be something that would work well for the screws in your butt plates. I don't feel it would be good to try to make them blend is as much as compliment each other.

Bill G.

Don't mind Vinny and Guido, Glenn. They're old friends from up Providence way, they were in the area and I thought it would be nice for them to check in on you. They were up in Tygh Valley Oregon not too long ago checkin on our friend Dennis E. Smith...funny, I had the Reilly sitting at my doorstep less than a week after they checked in on him. Goodfellas those kids from up Providence way.

Dustin

Mr. eightbore:

Thank you for your consideration. I gathered that was your thinking from your first post in the thread.

Fact of the matter, I really seldom answer the phone when I am working. Between the sales pitches from the window salesmen and solicitations from the Save the Chipmonks Foundation I would never get anything done. (Not to mention the calls from Vinny and Guido.) If y'all need to talk to me just leave a message when you call and I will return the call. Email works good too.

BTW, you would look good in a set of damascus H&T plates. If I make it down to the Southern again I will bring a set along for your viewing pleasure.

Jim:

Yes, it is real live damascus. Knifemaker stock. Makes a good knife but is not the ideal material to run through a sheet metal forming die. Nasty stuff. It was a bit of a learning curve but we have it figured out now.


Bill G.:

Nice looking knife. I agree that if you cannot do a perfect match you are better off going for contrast.


Best to all,

Glenn

Glenn, it just struck me that; if you're CNC'ing the buttplates out, you have the cutter path to have some blanks of walnut cut for the false insert. Since there's draft on everything as well, the part should fit like a glove. You could go nuts on any pattern you want and have a ready fitted false insert. Don't tell Doug though.

The old buttplate almost looks like a face if you squint.

[quote=Chuck H

Glenn, it just struck me that; if you're CNC'ing the buttplates out, you have the cutter path to have some blanks of walnut cut for the false insert. Since there's draft on everything as well, the part should fit like a glove. You could go nuts on any pattern you want and have a ready fitted false insert. Don't tell Doug though.

The old buttplate almost looks like a face if you squint. [/quote]

Chuck Glenn did indeed make a couple of wood inserts for me to use and they cut the installation time considerably. However, wood being the organic material that it is, I still spent time scraping the sides to fit. Funny stuff that wood.

Here is my Fox. I love the skeleton. The photos don't do it justice.
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc20...3D550/ry%3D400/[/img]
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc20...3D550/ry%3D400/[/img]