Brass under hammer build

Here it is being bored for the breach. This gives a smooth shoulder for the breach plug to seal against.

John, did you make that cutter or did you buy it?

 

[John Taylor]

That little boring bar is out of a boring head for the mill, a set of 9 carbide tipped with 1/2" shank for around $20. I do make a lot of my own tools and the tool holder that fits several size bars was one I made.
Look here

 

Thanks john :thumbsup:

 

[John Taylor]

Moving right along, here is the spring before heat treat along with a H&A spring

Dovetail cutting for the front sight. I may use a lolly pop rear sight.

Reaming for taper pin.

Then I found that I didn't have a taper pin the right size and had to make one.

 

[John Taylor]

Next was figuring out where the nipple should go. A neat little trick is to make a center punch the same length as a nipple and use it to mark the barrel.

H&A hammers hit at an angle so the nipple will be slanted to meet at the same angle. This one came out at 4 degrees.

 

[PitchyPine]

Looks like she`s starting to take shape. :thumbsup:

 

[rkeltner]

I am getting ready to build my own underhammer and am greatly enjoying all the attention you are putting into your build!!!!!!

 

[John Taylor]

Setting up to make a taper pin, couldn't wait for one in the mail.

turning the pin

Got a chunk of wood from gun parts corp, cheap. pictured along side another UH project

 

[John Taylor]

finally got around to drilling for the nipple. First the set up to get the proper angle.

The tapping using the drill chuck to keep the tap strait to the hole.

Then making a flat for the nipple to seat.

 

[John Taylor]

Now to make some wood shavings, it's starting to come together.

Thought I would see how the trigger pull was after honing it a bit. Got it down to 2.5 pounds. I will crank it up a bit to around 4.

 

[jeepwj992002]

I've enjoyed watching your build. That rifle is comin g together great! :bow: :bow:

 

[PitchyPine]

Yep looking great :bow: i have to get me a good table vice like that for my drill press. :thumbsup:

 

[Bubba45]

Looking good John :thumbsup:

 

[John Taylor]

I don't own a drill press anymore, that my vertical mill that gets used as a drill press sometimes.
This has been a fun project so far. Thinking of what I want to do for sights. They will need to be custom made, trying to make everything from scratch if possible. I think the barrel came from Orion many years back but it is something I could make in the shop if it were a larger caliber. So far the only store bought item is the nipple, I think the barrel was a trade thing.

 

[PitchyPine]

I should pick up an old mill someday, i have a shaper but they`er pretty slow.

 

[rkeltner]

Hey John, I jusy had a bit of curiosity pop up.....how"d you go about bending your brass reciever???

 

[John Taylor]

I have one of those cheep Harbor freight 12 ton presses. To bend the frame I used the same proses as I used on the steel frame. I took 2 pieces of 2" round stock and bored a hole the same size of the rod that I was bending about 1.5" deep. I put one on each end and set it in the press and pushed in the middle. I knew from experience that trying to bend a piece that was 4.5" long in the press was more than the press would handle so this gave a little more leverage. The brass frame had to go back in after checking it with the stock, couldn't get my eye low enough to line up on the barrel. It ended up with a 20 degree bend. Had to go back and clean up the cut for the hammer/trigger and the screw holes. Now it feels good.

 

[John Taylor]

Thought I better go back to the beginning and show where it started. The brass is from a pump shaft an is a little tougher than most brass I have used.
Start by boring a hole most of the way through and reaming

Then turn the part around and bore and tap for the stock bolt. This one is 1/2"

After this it goes in the press. there is a stud screwed in the threaded end and a polished pin in the other to keep the hole from collapsing.

After coming out of the press. I found that 20 degrees is about right with the stock I made. I think the H&A frame I did was around 15 degrees.

 

[Tinker2]

John

I've really enjoyed watching all your builds.
You are a man of exceptional talent.
keep the pictures coming.

Tinker2

 

[MRW]

John looks good here is a pic of the one I did several years back out of brass