Shortening Butt Plate Comb

[strask]

Hi Guys I have a question for you. Do any of you ever shorten the top of your butt plates?? I am building a southern rifle in .40 from a Pectonica kit. I am getting ready to inlet the butt plate for a 13 and 3/4 LOP and when I sketch everything on to the stock to get an idea of what it will look like, it seems the comb length on the butt plate will be a little long by 1/2 an inch or so. Just curious as to what you all think.

Thanks

 

[Packdog]

Hi Digger. Why do you say the comb of your buttplate is going to be long? Southern rifles are know for their long comb plates. You may need to adjust the cheekpiece some.
Are you building using thier "Southern Mt." Pattern?

 

[strask]

Hi Pack Dog,

I am using their classic tenesse pattern. In looking over some plans and pics I think you are probably right that i need to adjust the cheek piece. Right now it is about 4.5" inches and from what I can tell it should be closer to 3.5" long what do you think??

 

[Packdog]

Digger,
You'll find with a Sothern rifles there are very few right or wrongs. A good rule of thumb will be for the checkpiece to have about a 45 degree slant ending right about or to the buttplate side of where the comb plate terminates. Pecatonica has their "as delivered" pattern set for several different lengths of pull. So you can imagine the checkpiece for a 14 1/2 would be longer than a 13 1/2 causing you to need to shorten it up some.
Sounds like your on the right track.
Packdog

 

[strask]

Thanks Packdog,

What started this whole question was trying to get that 45 degree angle with a slight curve up to the to the bottom front corner of the butt plate. I hope my description makes sense. Thanks again!! :hatsoff:

 

[CrackStock]

I built one of the same rifle; kept the longer tang on the buttplate and blended the area with the curved cabinet scraper. It worked well, although I stayed with a 14 inch pull.

Here is a set of the scrapers:
[url] http://www.mikestools.com/520-5510-Two-Cherries-Cabinet-Scaper-Set-Of-3.aspx[/url]

Here is how to sharpen them:
[url] http://www.inthewoodshop.org/methods/wwc07.shtml http://www.charlottewoodworkers.org/Articles/scrapers.html[/url]

CS