Rivits for nosecaps

[rmatt]

Hi
New here. Been watching for awhile and trying to learn . I have read where copper rivets are used to hold the nose cap on. I have looked in what catalogs I have and find no mention of them. Where would a guy look for them or is there something else that can be used? I don't want to use screws.
Thanks so much
Bob

 

[LRB]

I have always used the copper harness rivets. The kind that come with a copper washer. They have to be trimmed to fit. I'm sure there are other ways to go, I just happen to always have these on hand.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I just strip a piece of electrical wire and cut it to what ever length I need.

 

[Birddog6]

I always make them out of 12 or 10 ga copper wire.

Make a 2 piece forming jig like this out of 2 pieces of 5/16" or 3/8" keystock. Drill thru both keystock pieces with the tap size drill, then drill thru on piece with a clearance drill. Tap the one side & put the screws in it.
Drill the holes down between the two just a few thousands larger than the wire dia., then use a countersink & touch it in to make the head of the rivet..
Insert wire & leave about 3/16" standing, lay the jig on the vice & carefully peen it down, loosen screws & push the rivet out.

I have made the jig out of a one piece barstock as well, but this is easier to get the forged rivet out of the jig.

This jig was made out of just plain ol keystock. If I ever make another one it will be hardened material, however, probably have made over 50 rivets with this one, & one need 1 per rifle.... :idunno: Had another one & it filtered off into workbench never-neverland......

Keith Lisle

 

[Vaino]

I too use electrical copper wire. Insert the wire in a 1/8" steel plate that has a size hole and ctsk, clamp the wire lightly in the vise, leaving sufficient length for peening and lightly peen the head. The unfiled head should hit the bbl so the ctsk in the wood shouldn't be too deep and the MC end of the wire is peened into its ctsk. Both ends are then filed smooth. Birddog's fixture is better than my simple plate...just never got around to making one like his.....Fred

 

[mikemeteor]

or if you want to match a brass nosecap with a brass rivet:

Brass rivet

use the male and heat anneal before peening.

 

[fitter]

I used a copper roofing nail recently, worked well. Got a handfull from in-law roofer. Wire and all of the above will work.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I don't use any fancy jigs to form a rivit, I just cut a piece of wire to length, clamp it in my vise and peen the end till it makes a head. Presto changeo you got a rivit. :thumbsup:

 

[crockett]

There's another site with a pretty good collection of photos on American Longrifles. Some of the rivets are copper and some look like white metal, I'm assuming iron. For soft iron you can use wire sold in ACE Hardware stores for concrete work, etc. I think #14 or #16 should work.

 

[rmatt]

Thanks for all the replies. It's what I like about this forum. I would have never thought about the copper wire (which I have plenty of). I do like the fixture if building a lot. This is my first try at a longrifle.
Thanks again
Bob