Installing sling swivels on an Ultra-Hi Brown Bess

[Boatncamp]

I just received an old Ultra-Hi Brown Bess musket which has never had any sling swivels installed on it. From pictures I have seen, it appears that they all came that way in the 1970's. I believe this to be a fairly early reproduction, the serial number is in the 6000 range and the trigger guard is some what flattened. (I recently read a thread that said that the original was damaged in transit to Japan and so they thought that was the way they were suppose to be)
I want to install sling swivels on this. I have ordered up a set that say they are made for a Brown Bess. I will drill the appropriate hole in the front of the trigger guard without any problems. The question that I have is in regard to the forward swivel. It appears that it should replace the barrel pin just forward of the second (from the muzzle) ramrod pipe. Is this accurate? Thanks for any assistance people can provide.

Woody

 

[Artificer]

Hi Woody,

Great information from Dave Person not only on installing the front sling swivel on a Brown Bess, but much, much more as well.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/new-reworking-a-pedersoli-brown-bess.107405/

Gus

 

[Artificer]

I tried to "start a conversation” with Zonie due in part to this thread, but the forum won’t allow me to do that. Since Zonie reads all threads, I hope he will see this and consider my request.

Hi Jim,

We just had another question on adding sling swivels to and working on Brown Bess Muskets.

Each time these questions come up, I refer them to the following excellent thread by Dave Person. ​

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/new-reworking-a-pedersoli-brown-bess.107405/

However as time goes by, it gets more difficult to find the thread and many new members don't know of it, because it is so far back in the Gunsmithing Forum Archives.

May I respectfully request the thread be added to the "How to- Articles, etc. " forum, so it is more available and easy to find?

Thank you,​

Gus

 

[Artificer]

Woody,

Something very important about the location of the robust barrel lug for the sling swivel screw, is that it needs to be soldered onto the barrel so the hole in the center of the barrel lug for the sling swivel screw, causes the bow of the sling swivel to rest more or less on the center of the second rammer pipe from the muzzle. What that does is keep the sling tension on the second rammer pipe instead of the Steel Rammer.


Here is a pic of the front sling swivel in the correct position and without the sling in place:

http://c0728562.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/MI25383_HR.jpg


Here is a pic with the sling in place, showing the sling resting on the Second Rammer Pipe:

https://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2616191412/7641870/69d4d8ca27542f4a4d934c5423262c23.jpg


Though the pic showing the sling swivel in this link is forward (no sling) on this original Bess, it also shows the position of the front sling swivel.

http://www.horsesoldier.com/products/firearms/longarms/14030


I tried to find a barrel lug that is robust like the one Dave Person used for the front sling swivel lug and could not find one. Fortunately, almost any type of scrap steel you can find to make one, will work fine and it does not have to be hardened/annealed.


One thing I may add to the EXCELLENT tutorial Dave Person shows for making/installing the sling swivel lug is that I would wrap a piece of 120 – 150 grit Emory Cloth on the barrel with the grit side facing away from the barrel. With one hand holding the two ends tight and with the other hand, rub the top of the swivel lug along the length of the barrel to sand it and somewhat closely match the barrel contour. Though this will not sand the top of the barrel lug to perfectly match the barrel shape, it will come close enough that it will make it easier to use a thinner solder joint between the lug and barrel. This is a trick I learned when I had to solder front sights onto round barrels.


Gus

 

[PluggedNickel]

You guys never fail to amaze me!