bending barrel tang

[Len Graves]

How do you boys bend the barrel tang when building a gun? Do you do it hot? cold? Bend it over a form? Any thoughts or tricks? Thanks Len

 

[Roy]

Len,
I have it in the barrel and bend it cold. I use the barrel for leverage while the tang is in the vice. :v

 

[grey8833]

Bend cold. Clamp the barrel in a vice > vertical, use the circle end of a adjustable wrench to bend (slip it over the tang and pick a pivot point). Use some sort of indicator of your bend progress (a 1:1 profile of the bend desired - to be held up behind the tang as you bend - is a big help).

Mike

 

[RJR]

Hey Len,

How are things at Linden? I have a Hardy that I made for my anvil that works real well for shaping the tang. Easy to work it around to the curve of the wrist or bring it back if you went too far. See you at the Columbiaville Turkey Shoot.

Rick

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Len,
I have it in the barrel and bend it cold. I use the barrel for leverage while the tang is in the vice. :v

I have followed this same procedure and it works perfectly.

 

[Old40Rod]

I have it in the barrel and bend it cold. I use the barrel for leverage while the tang is in the vice.

This method works like a champ for me.

 

[Vaino]

Replacing the large radius at the juncture of the tang and thread bolster w/ a 1/32" radius helps w/ a smoother bend. I also bend cold w/ the tang held in a vise and use the bbl as a lever. Start the bend at the bolster and move to the tang end in approx. 3 steps. Having an accurate template of the wood shape at the tang, having the template go up the bbl for 2" and marking the bbl end on the template facilitate the bending.....Fred

 

[Stophel]

Saw off about half the thickness of the tang. It's WAY too thick anyway. This makes it easier to bend also. :wink:

 

[Len Graves]

Thanks gentlemen. I was headed the way you all recommended but, there is always a better way to skin a cat. This tang doesn't look too thick. The last one I did I cut about half the thickness off (colraine) I have a 46" Rice "B" weight .50 cal. I will now bend with the confidence of all you good smiths out there. Len

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Len,
I have it in the barrel and bend it cold. I use the barrel for leverage while the tang is in the vice. :v

I have followed this same procedure and it works perfectly.

Yup

 

[flintriflesmith]

Saw off about half the thickness of the tang. It's WAY too thick anyway. This makes it easier to bend also. :wink:

I agree 100%! Most modern builders leave the tangs way too thick which not only causes trouble in inletting but also increases the chance or the wood at the rear of the tang chipping out.

Wallace Gusler will being doing a Muzzle Blasts article soon where shows a bunch of original tangs out of the stock.

Gary

 

[Stophel]

What few old guns I have or have been able to see have tangs only about an eighth of an inch thick at best. Don't inlet any more than you have to!

 

[chuck-ia]

What would be wrong with leaving the tang fairley straight, inletting, and filing off the top of the tang to meet the stock? I think I am going to try this appproach on the rifle I am working on. I have in the past bent the tang as you all describe. flinch

 

[flintriflesmith]

That would work but so would you!

Rules to live by if you wish to learn to make guns "in a workmanlike manner." Never file off material that can be sawn off. In filing you have to covert all the stock removed to filings. By sawing you only remove the width of the saw cut.

Part two this rule to live by is never saw what you can forge or hot cut. But that only applies to those with a quick hot fire handy. Course thats why they were called gunSMITHS.

Gary