Attaching a Trigger Guard

[PathfinderNC]

Putting on the rigger guard is my least favorite thing to do.
I was having an uneasy time getting this German Silver trigger guard to bend nicely to fit the pistol grip and was worried about it breaking. I thought that, instead of tapping it into shape against the pistol stock and risk cracking the wood, I would make a shaping form.
I simply cut two blocks of wood to the inside shape of the pistol handle. Then I clamped the front trigger guard tang tightly between the blocks. Next I also clamped the flat down securely. (I had already gut out an area for where the rear tang would go.) Then I tapped the rear extension of the guard against the wood form and it went nicely into shape. I sometimes using a clamp to draw it in also, and I got it close enough that I could lightly tweak it by hand.
It worked pretty well for me.
Is this process commonly used and I just re-invented the wheel?

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I don't know about re-inventing the wheel but I like the idea!

 

[TDM]

Very nicely done. If your technique isn’t in common use it probably will be in the future. Great idea.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

There’s no corners on that wheel ! Great idea !

 

[Eric Krewson]

I have a TN bear pistol next in line, thanks for the tip.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I have a TN bear pistol next in line, thanks for the tip.

You're very welcome, Eric. Will love to see how you pistol comes along

 

[simonbeans]

Definitely kudos to two builders on this forum. 1st to PathfinderNC for the idea of a trigger guard placement jig. With his description I made up one to help fit a guard on a pistol I am making. I laminated 3 pieces of wood, one which was about 1/8” thick and placed in the middle and gapped such that the tabs on the guard would slide in. That eliminated having to inlet the front tab. Like Pathfinder, the guard was clamped to the gig and pressed against the patterned shape. The location of the two tabs were now marked and these marks will be transferred to the stock.
2nd idea is thanks to Dave_Person. By increasing the length of the front tab, the holding pin will be within the lock mortise and under the side plate.
Great ideas here on this forum.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I am ready glad this little trigger guard former was a help to you! Such a simple idea and easy to make and use, but it sure does the trick.
*** One thing to note with I used the jig- mark on the jig exactly where the trigger placement is, so that the bow will be in the proper location when you form it into shape.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Great idea PathfinderNC

 

[VAN]

I'm working on a Flintlock Pistol build now. I found that a deep socket in various sizes can help shape a trigger guard when set in a vise and used as a mandrel to make smooth curved bends. Here is a picture of how it worked for me. The guard was not bent at all at the rear when I received it.

 

[TDM]

Great idea!

 

[PathfinderNC]

Ooops. I didn’t show the finished pistol, durr