doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Montana Custom Gunmaking Seminar 2012

Interesting photo of bending the tang. I would have though that the rear hole would be filled with a fitted bolt in the rear screw position, and that you would mould it by clamping between blocks in a vice instead of just "tailing" it like it was a salmon.

Pretty interesting photos for sure.

Maybe you should think about taking the class... or teaching it?
Most folks tend to over-complicate processes they haven't attempted.
I like that "tailing a salmon" phrase...

The tang came out great and was completely inlet with tang bolt and wood screw installed. Nick also managed to get the buttplate inlet and installed.
There will be more pictures of the process on the website in a few days.

Just curious was all. Sorry to upset the airwaves.

BrentD,
I would guess you would "tail" it if you were only going to do one, and make a bending fixture if you intended to do several.
I didn't sense any upset in the airwaves,it just seemed like a normal question that got a normal answer.
Mike

I've heard urban legends of folks who had fabbed such tang-bending fixtures but have never seen any of them or talked to anyone who claimed to own, have used or have ever even seen such an animal. Over the years I've bent several, as well as re-bending some of Bubba's efforts, and always found that 'tailing' it while using a hand-held template like Steve's was the best approach, at least for me it has been. The open access to both the top and bottom of the tang allows localized heating by the OA torch without the aggravation of having the clamping fixture suck the heat away from the area to be bent.

I did, however, fab a useful little wall lever-bending jig, allowing easy removal of most of the over-center lost motion in the wall's linkage design. Frank de Haas details making & using this fixture in several of his single shot articles.
Regards, Joe

The low wall I have was bent in purpose-built fixture. And, I've bought inexpensive actions that were cracked or broken through that last screw hole, and seen one or two with a rather distorted looking hole.

Hence, my question. I'll not bother again.

There are a few tricks and cautions, but I offer the class because the methods can be conveyed directly without the misunderstandings associated with the internet.
I thought a picture would speak a thousand words...

Why don't you show us the "purpose built fixture"?

Because I don't have it. I didn't do it. I simply own the end product.

Also a special set-up for drilling the tang bolt and reaming the screw taper that locks the stock to the action, but these photos are not enough to fully understand.
...and a drill jig for aligning the wood screw, and...

Brent
Have you seen the fixture, if yes maybe you can describe it?

Steve is the "driller" in the pic, without his index finger on his left hand, my compliments...your pic goes far to debunk the perception that if you want to do it right you need a CNC whatcamacallit. Makes me think of all those fine fine rifles and shotguns made with that most modern of milling machines called the "file" in the centuries gone by.