Lolly pop tang

[jimmy82]

Ok, I plan on building a southern mountain gun. Just so I'm positive, these used the "lolly pop" tang right? My next question is do you use two screws on the lolly pop tang? For example, do use one as the tang bolt that screws into the trigger plate, and the other just keeps the rest of the tang flush to the stock?

Pics would be appreciated. I've tried to find some on the forum and on the internet but all i can find are plug blanks with no holes.

 

[Jim-Iowa]

The lilipop Tang is an option on a southern and I have seen them with 2 & 3 screws.
I used a lolipop on my first rifle and now know better? That's a really hard one to get inletted well, mines only so-so( I'll write if off as a beginers mistake). The more screws you use the more you multiply the chance of making an inletting error. If I had it to do over I would use a standard tang and thunbnail the end.
The rifle is going to be nice, but my mistakes scream at me? :grin:

 

[reddogge]

I did two mountain rifles with lollypop tangs and both had two screws. I also ruined a tang after I had it indexed in shaping it. I didn't enjoy throwing it away.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

All the lolly pop tangs I've seen on pics of originals used two screws.
Scott

 

[Zonie]

The Tennessee I built has a very long barrel tang although it isn't a lollypop style.

I located the front screw in the typical place with it passing down thru the stock into the forward area of the trigger plate.
The trigger plate I used was very long by the way so, the rear screw thru the barrel tang passes thru the wrist and is threaded into the rear of the trigger plate (somewhat like the Hawken Rifles).
Needless to say, the wrist is hell for stout even though the wrist is quite narrow.

 

[Packdog]

Jimmy82,
The Lollipop tang or variations of a Lollipop were very common for Southern Mt. rifles as is the straight long straight strap tang. You see more of the lollipops from the area around Southwestern NC and upper E. TN.
Most I have seen have 2 screws. Sometimes as Zonie mentioned both screws pass thru the wrist into the trigger plate but you will also see some that are just screwed in. I think the most common have the front screw passing thru to the trigger plate and the rear is as you said a screw holding the tang down.
They are a pain to inlet like has already been mentioned. You need to draft the edges like shown in my drawing. That will keep you from having a gap in front of the screw boss. It also helps if you thin the thickness of the tail some around the screw boss.

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Here a couple of sites with pictures of original Southen Mt. rifles.

This site has an pictures of originals with lollipop, a dolls head and a 2 screw straight strap tang.
Lollipop Tang


This site has an original with a 3 screw straight tang.
3 screw straight tang

 

[jimmy82]

Cool, thank you much for the links :hatsoff: I have been going over it in my head. You definitely have to be away of how everything is fitting together. I hate to create suspense but it will be a while before we see how this project will turn out. I'm sure more questions will come though :grin: