Has anyone tried to make Wedge keys for barrels?

[hawkenhunter50]

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.

Thanks for that picture. I like this idea better than the pinning in the barrel channel.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Some people do make their lives Difficult..
A piece of Mild Steel about 5/8"x 3/8 three times as long or more than the key"..Mill it or File it
to the thicknes you wont leaveing enough to form the head. Saw slot the required depth aaaand
weld up the end where you don't need the slot.. File the head .. Job Done.. SIMPLEMPELS.. In the Words of the Old Ferret.. ( MEERCATS ENCLODED)

 

[sturmkatze]

$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!!!

Considering it would take me a good two hours if my time, no. $20 is way cheaper.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I enjoy tinkering in my shop, I spent two days filing this sight out of piece of angle iron, I never considered the time spent as lost wages. I like the old adage that states "time that you enjoy wasting is not wasted time".

 

[Forrest Smith]

Larry (Omaha) I have the vise, ball peen hammer and the Material. I feel like I a dumber than a post at times, but put the steel in the vise and with the ball peen hammer side, whack the end of the steel down and then shape with a file?

 

[Forrest Smith]

I enjoy tinkering in my shop, I spent two days filing this sight out of piece of angle iron, I never considered the time spent as lost wages. I like the old adage that states "time that you enjoy wasting is not wasted time".

View attachment 351210

Nice Job on the sight, Eric!

 

[Forrest Smith]

I have the steel cut and I will give it a try at hammering it down on Sunday. Got a rifle match on Saturday to go to!

 

[ZUG]

I make all my rifle wedges out of cheap big box weldable steel and cut it to size with a hacksaw and file. I then clamp it into a vise that has protective jaws with one end extended above the jaws about 1/2". I then take a small ball pein hammer and start to tap on the end of the steel to form the head. This will take some care so as not to form cracks - only heavy enough hammer blows to shape the head - no heat necessary - then file to shape. Saw in the pin slot and do as others have said and place the pin under the escutcheon plate. This should take you about 20 minutes of work. Good luck -.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Most of the Old Originals I Have collected around the Old B'ham Gun trade were all Steel Castings and so well cast they need very little file work.. The Old Boys were very good at casting small parts
usng the Lost Wax process, used by the Ancient Egyptions..
Even the Escuchens were Cast.. O.D.

 

[Tumbledown]

$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!!!

But it won't look like a piece of steel heated with a torch and beaten with a hammer. Plus there's the factor of the value of the time involved.

 

[longcruise]

My time has absolutely zero dollar value.

 

[LonestarShootR]

I am missing one on my 1977 CVA mountain rifle and I think I'll go out to the shop and make one instead of spending $15-$20 for one and waiting a week to get it.

Edited to show what I came up with

 

[Eric Krewson]

I can understand placing a dollar value on your time if you are making a gun to sell. For a rank amateur like myself, just walking into my shop brightens my day, making things there is an extra uplifting bonus. There is a gun build in the vise in this picture.