Has anyone tried to make Wedge keys for barrels?

Forrest Smith · Sep 24, 2024

I acquired a Lyman Great Plains rifle that did not have it's original Wedge keys for the barrel. I have bought some softer steel and though I could heat up the end of it to hammer a round end on it. As anyone done that, or have a better idea, then to beat the heck on the end to make a "stop" so the key would not go in further into the stock?

Bearkiller · Sep 24, 2024

You can try this link and buy new wedges https://muzzle-loaders.com/products...Gemmer Hawken Barrel Wedge or Barrel Key also

Phil Coffins · Sep 24, 2024

Or just what you needed.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/964/3/key-lyman-gpr-r

Phil Coffins · Sep 24, 2024

Forrest Smith said:
I acquired a Lyman Great Plains rifle that did not have its original Wedge keys for the barrel. I have bought some softer steel and thought I could heat up the end of it to hammer a round end on it. As anyone done that, or have a better idea, then to beat the heck on the end to make a "stop" so the key would not go in further into the stock?

And yes, forge a key like you asked can work.

Forrest Smith · Sep 24, 2024

BearKiller, You are going to take all the "fun" out of pounding that hammer on steel and grinning it down! lol Thank you!

ChuckJonesWagon · Sep 24, 2024

$12 for the wedge key, then another $8 for shipping. Now you have $20 wrapped up in a chunk of brass or steel that's smaller than your pinky!!!

hawkenhunter50 · Sep 24, 2024

It should be able to be done. I've forged triggers using mild steel by clamping in a vise and start peening the edge with a ball peen hammer. Use the vise jaws to get the flat edge. I've done triggers both cold forging and heating the metal and both worked fine. Then use a file to do your clean up.

nkbj · Sep 24, 2024

Forrest Smith said:
I acquired a Lyman Great Plains rifle that did not have it's original Wedge keys for the barrel. I have bought some softer steel and though I could heat up the end of it to hammer a round end on it. As anyone done that, or have a better idea, then to beat the heck on the end to make a "stop" so the key would not go in further into the stock?

Once you have something that will fall into the slot then the next step is to bend it to make it push the right way, to hold the barrel down as you want. If done just right then the wedge will kinda snap into place and hold there rather than wanting to come back out.
I used a WW2 era rail road spike to put that kink in the right spot, so it goes over the hump and then resists falling out on the ground in the middle of nowhere.

ChuckJonesWagon · Sep 25, 2024

I took this image (second pic) from TOTW. If you make one, or even acquire one, you may wish to consider drilling\filing this type of retention slot.

Then, inside of your stocks barrel channel, drill a vertical hole and insert a pin through the wedge key's slot. Make the pin flush or just below flush of the barrel channel, and be careful not to drill all the way through the stock.

You can now pull the key out far enough to take off the barrel, but the key will never fall off the gun stock. The first pic shows my recent build where I installed two wedge keys

Grenadier1758 · Sep 25, 2024

I put the pin just under the wedge escutcheon just in case I want to remove the wedge completely. I have also done the pin in the stock.

Daveboone · Sep 25, 2024

I have had to make a couple for my GPR. Easy peasy. I just outlined the profile of the other key on a piece of angle iron and hack sawed it out, making it a bit long. then file/grind it down to round the edges to your preference. clamp it in the vice good, and you can cold hammer the mild steel ends out, again filing to taste. I lost the one the day before a shoot...dang....and made two while I was at it. Works just as well as any store bought, about 1/2 hr invested.

hawkenhunter50 · Sep 25, 2024

Grenadier1758 said:
I put the pin just under the wedge escutcheon just in case I want to remove the wedge completely. I have also done the pin in the stock.

Do you happen to have a picture of this setup? Sounds interesting.

Phil Coffins · Sep 25, 2024

I started out doing the drilled pin but now use the pin under the escutcheons way. Much easier and removable.

IMG_0529 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

hawkenhunter50 · Sep 25, 2024

Phil Coffins said:
I started out doing the drilled pin but now use the pin under the escutcheons way. Much easier and removable.
IMG_0529 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

Thanks for that picture Phil, that's slick.

longcruise · Sep 25, 2024

This is subversive thinking, but the keys don't have to have a head.

Phil Coffins · Sep 25, 2024

longcruise said:
This is subversive thinking, but the keys don't have to have a head.

Then how would people know that they were put in wrong?

fubar22 · Sep 25, 2024

Well, if you have a forge, an anvil, tongs, a good vice, a decent ball peen hammer, a set of files and spare time on you hands, it's no big deal to make a wedge. Buying a ready-made replacement is going to be a lot less expensive than acquiring all those tools.

ChuckJonesWagon · Sep 25, 2024

Phil Coffins said:
I started out doing the drilled pin but now use the pin under the escutcheons way. Much easier and removable.
IMG_0529 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

SHOWOFF!! Where was this post when I was installing my wedge keys? :ghostly:

Larry (Omaha) · Sep 25, 2024

Forrest Smith said:
I acquired a Lyman Great Plains rifle that did not have it's original Wedge keys for the barrel. I have bought some softer steel and though I could heat up the end of it to hammer a round end on it. As anyone done that, or have a better idea, then to beat the heck on the end to make a "stop" so the key would not go in further into the stock?

Making a barrel key is simple. All it takes is material, ball peen hammer, hack saw, vice, and a file.
Larry

This key head is not finished off.

SDSmlf · Sep 25, 2024

hawkenhunter50 said:
Do you happen to have a picture of this setup? Sounds interesting.

Probably something like this. The ‘capture’ pin is placed under or behind the slotted inlay, and goes through the slot in the wedge key. You can just make out the pin in the wedge slot in this photograph.

Has anyone tried to make Wedge keys for barrels?

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