muzzle loader wedges

[james8232]

hello i am pretty new to muzzle loaders and no one in my family really likes to shoot them because they say its to much work. i for one love them and are currently building a flintlock pistol and a rifle. my question is what is a point of a wedge like in this picture? this may seem dumb and i fell dumb for asking but can someone please tell me? http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b255/ginoe/guns/escutcheonwedge-1.jpg

thanks
james fenton

 

[rodwha]

The wedge holds the barrel to the stock.

 

[Black Jack]

Simply put, the wedge is a metal piece that passes thru both sides of the stock as well as a tenion affixed to the underside of the barrel that serves to secure the barrel to the stock. Go to Trackofthewolf.com to see many examples of both. They are easily obtainable.

 

[rodwha]

Are both the rifle and pistol you are building flintlocks?
What are they and what caliber are they?
What drew you to flintlocks as your first BP firearms?

 

[MacRob46]

hello i am pretty new to muzzle loaders and no one in my family really likes to shoot them because they say its to much work. i for one love them and are currently building a flintlock pistol and a rifle. my question is what is a point of a wedge like in this picture? this may seem dumb and i fell dumb for asking but can someone please tell me? http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b255/ginoe/guns/escutcheonwedge-1.jpg

thanks
james fenton

James...
I am not sure I understand the question but if it is simply why is there a wedge (or key) in that location, it is to hold the barrel in the stock. If you are referring to why a key rather than a pin then it is a matter of style, ease of removal with or without tools and possibly historical accuracy. Most early muzzle loaders were equipped with pins. Some time in the early 19th c. there was a gradual move toward keys by some gun builders and when Hawken and similar rifles came into vouge keys were the preferred means to fasten barrels into stocks, at least in civilian guns. Barrel bands took over as far as military guns although they were around for a long time before the mid-19th century. I hope that answers your question.

 

[necchi]

I think MacRob got to your question well.
The Key is in that type of rifle because the tang is installed as the perminate fixture for the button up of the tang/trigger,
The tang and breech configuration in those type is such that the barrel is affixed to the tang by means of a "hooked" breech and is removable from the tang.

Press the key out and the barrel will lift out of the stock and tang.

Earlier styles had the tang as a full part of the breeched/barrel and pins where used to hold the wood to the front half of the barrel.
That Help?

You have found a fantastic forum, spend some time reading the back pages for more information about Traditional guns and their history than can be found in any of several volumes together,, :wink:

 

[nmdd]

mebbe a picture of parts would explain a little better...the wedge goes thru the stock and then the barrel lug #47. Scroll down to the part blow up of the rifle on this link.

http://www.investarm.it/media/pdf/130.pdf

:hatsoff:

 

[james8232]

wow thanks for all the help.i thought it might have been used to secure the barrel to the stock but was not sure since i saw ones without and they had brass bands holding the barrel to stock, i just wanted to make sure before i bought anything since there is no black powder/muzzle loader shops around here.

 

[Zonie]

Muzzleloading rifles and pistols usually use either a wedge (barrel key) or small pins that pass thru the wooden stock and metal underlugs attached to the bottom of the barrel to hold the barrel in the stock.

The Military muskets and pistols often use metal bands (barrel bands) around the barrel and stock wood to retain the barrel.
This makes disassembling and assembling the guns for cleaning easier.
The barrel band on a musket also is often used to attach a swivel for a sling.

 

[james8232]

yea both of them are going to be flintlock. i haven't got anything for the rifle yet but for the pistol its a 50 cal 7/8" octagon pistol barrel(still in back order) and is about 11" long and i also have a breech plug for it. i think i am going to make the stock out of cherry and use a flintlock by John Bailes, but i am open to suggestions. to answer your other question i just like flintlocks, the look very nice and i like them better the percussion. also might be because when i was a kid a old family friend use to let me shoot his flintlock shotgun/round ball.

 

[nmdd]

You have probably already invested in some gun building books, but I have these three. My first flintlock still came out a fence post, but I built it and there ain't no other like it... :haha:

"The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle"
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/BOOK-ABPL

"The Gunsmith of Greenville County"
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/1/BOOK-GGC

"Recreating the American Longrifle"
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/303/2/BOOK-RAL

Also there is lots of help to be had in the Gun Building Forum, these guys are awesome...

:thumbsup:

 

[Billnpatti]

It holds the barrel in the stock. To remove the barrel for cleaning, place the hammer on half cock, remove the ramrod and use a screwdriver and a small hammer to carefully tap out the wedge. When the wedge comes out, you can lift up on the barrel and unhook it from the rear of the stock and lift it out. It is now ready to be cleaned. To replace the barrel, hold the muzzle up and hook the breach into the rear of the stock. Lower the muzzle and return the barrel into the barrel channel. Place the wedge back into the slot and carefully tap it back into place. Return the ramrod to its place and lower the hammer back to the fired position and you are done. Of course, there are other parts that also need to be cleaned but your question was limited to the purpose of the wedge.

 

[Ohio_Rich]

I have a 36 caliber single bullet mold that has a square barrel key on the end of one of the plier handles. Suggest using it like a hammer to push out a barrel wedge (key) ???