Old Dovetail Repair

As we age we have to move that rear sight further toward the front sight and we leave an ugly dovetail waiting to be filled. Knowing we have some really gifted craftsmen reading these threads, what kinds of material/metals have you used to fill these areas? I did some searching on this site but did not come up with much on the subject I think because of my lack of skill in using the search techniques.

Bunky

 

[Roy]

I use a piece of mild steel and shape it to fit the old dove tail.

 

[Roy]

heres a pic.

 

I use silver and engrave the date on it. :winking:

 

[Swampman]

Some old/original barrels will have 5 or 6 of these repairs, and this one looks typical of them.

 

[Sully]

Nice repair job.Looks really good.

 

[lanedh]

Roy:

What are th four dots in the photo, two on either side of the inlet piece? BTW, one of the neatest inletting jobs I've seen. You got the greatest hand to eye coordination.

PS: I like Lonesome Bob's idea about using a piece of contrasting metal, and dating it. Can dress up a gun nicely.

 

[John Taylor]

I end up doing quite a few of these in my work. Most of the time customers don't want to see that there ever was a dovetail there. I use a TIG torch and try to match the type of steel used. Had a H&A shotgun in a while back that someone had cut a dovetail through the pat. date. Filled it in and sent it to the engravor who also touched up the blue. This guy is good, check him out at gunfancy

 

[Roy]

Thanks :v

Thanks also to Bluejacket :thumbsup: . The four dots is where I peened the metal to hold the dovetail in place.

I have seen this done on originals where this has been done.

"I end up doing quite a few of these in my work. Most of the time customers don't want to see that there ever was a dovetail there."

I did this once where there was a very faint line and after it was browned you could'nt see it. The customer complained, said it was too neat... go figure :grin: :v

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

I did this once where there was a very faint line and after it was browned you could'nt see it. The customer complained, said it was too neat... go figure :grin: :v

:shocked2: Can't please everyone, but I'm sure he meant it as a compliment? ... I hope?

 

[bioprof]

Why not just file off the old sight blade and leave the sight base in place? You would then have to buy a new sight, but they aren't very expensive. This way, you would already have a spacer fitted in place. This would seem to me to be an easy fix, even for an amateur.

 

[Roy]

For one I make most of my sights :v

 

[gmww]

Any thoughts on the dovetail blanks sold by Numrich?

Dovetail blank

 

[Roy]

I guess if I used a standard sight base and had a milled slot for the sights it would come in handy. except for the blued part.

 

[gmww]

I was thinking it would be worth a try on my 3/8" dovetail grooves. Especially since I've been browning the barrels I think it might blend in well.

 

[John Taylor]

You got your rifle finished yet so I can try it out?

 

[John Taylor]

Roy
That looks very good, thanks for the picture.

 

[gmww]

The .62 if finished. Just don't have rb's or wads. I'd be happy to bring it on down for some shooting if you got the rb's and wads.

Still waiting for the parts on the other underhammer action.

 

[reddogge]

I did one in a Thompsen Center I converted into a faily nice copy of a real Hawken rifle for my ex brother in law and did it like Roy. Worked great. Then I cut another dovetail in for the fixed sight.

 

[bob1961]

I did one in a Thompsen Center I converted into a faily nice copy of a real Hawken rifle for my ex brother in law and did it like Roy. Worked great. Then I cut another dovetail in for the fixed sight.

hope ya know that ya voided yer lifetime warranty on yer barrel from T/C :v ...........bob