H&A Underhammer Ramrod Pipe

[Richard Kemp]

Refurbishing an H&A underhammer ("The Offhand" in .45 Cal). Want to strip and brown the barrel. Would like to remove the ramrod pipe before I proceed. Does anyone know how these were attached? They appear to have two expanding rivets. How would I re-attach? (I'd like to stay away from soldering on the newly browned barrel).

 

[M. De Land]

Are you sure they are not small allen head screws? I had and early H & A buggy rifle and the one brass pipe was soldered on mine to a underrib if I remember correctly. MD

 

[Richard Kemp]

I checked with a lens and good light. The two small fasteners are definitely not allen screws. They are solid and have rounded tops(like rivit heads). Any suggestions short of drilling them out and latter soldering the pipe back on?

 

[MercerLake]

:v Well if they are rivits, then what's to stop you from riviting them back on when you are done? Copper or silver wire is an easy way to make rivits. Have fun! :v

 

[M. De Land]

Can we get some pictures? MD

 

[andles]

I checked mine (mid 60's Heritage Model) and it appears to be a brass hollow rivet that was set with a "v" type set using the bottom hole in the thimble.

Not sure how the rivet is attached to the barrel but you could solder a brass rivet to the bottom of the barrel after removing the current one and re-rivet it when you are done. After 50 years mine is still tightly attached.

Just a thought.

 

[Richard Kemp]

Can we get some pictures? MD

Only if I can figure out how to post pictures to this forum.

 

[Richard Kemp]

Thanks for the reply.I'm sure now that my pipe is rivited on. I'll remove it and figure a way to rerivit later.

 

[Richard Kemp]

Let's see if this will work.

 

[Richard Kemp]

MD,
It's obvious I haven't figuered out how to post photos yet. I'll keep working on it. I'm new to this magic!

 

[Richard Kemp]

Finally! Here's my project gun.The plan is to take an out-of-production production gun and make it look like it was built in 1830-1840 New England.And to gain some knowledge along the way without screwing it up too badly. I've already replaced the plastic buttstock with brass,browned the action, added a toe plate and grip rail and reshaped the stock.Yet to do is brown the barrel, add local-club-approved sights and some inlays. Wish me luck.

 

[MSW]

nice looking gun!

(always had an interest in underhammers ... might yet build one if i cam cobble up the time)

 

[Richard Kemp]

I drilled the heads off the rivits, removed the pipe and browned the barrel.The rivits appear to be hard steel. I've already busted two 1/16" bits trying to drill them out with my drill press. Might have to get some professional help.

 

[gard72977]

try using a center drill. The small drills will wonder off and break.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Is that a brass trigger guard/mainspring?

 

[Richard Kemp]

Negative. The triggerguard(which is the mainspring) is blued steel. What I did was cut the front piece off a sandcast brass triggerguard from TOW and attached the back as a brass grip rail.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Negative. The triggerguard(which is the mainspring) is blued steel. What I did was cut the front piece off a sandcast brass triggerguard from TOW and attached the back as a brass grip rail.

Hokay. Now I see it. Pic was confusing. I wuz gonna ask how ye made brass springy. :wink:

 

[FL-Flinter]

Spring temper brass.