To screw or not to screw that is the question

[Dobson]

Well now that i have your attention. Should i screw on the underbarrel rib or should i solder it onto the new hawken 58 i am currently building. The last one i screwed and its ok i just feel solder would be a more permanent job and also reduce the likelyhood of water / rust between the rib and barrel. On the other hand could the heating of the barrel warp it? Its a green mountain if that makes any odds.
Your thoughts please gentlemen.
Regards
Dobson

 

[Only Round]

Most original rifles had soldered ribs, that's what I've always done myself. There really isn't much chance of warping the barrel as you don't really heat it up enough, especially if you're using a low-temp silver solder. Just a propane torch is enough to get the barrel hot enough to melt the solder, I'd say solder away!

 

[Jim-Iowa]

I'm no expert by any means but retain nearly everything I read(Yep I got a trivial mind).
TOW reccomends screws.
Many solder and Don Stith who is something of an expert on Hawken type rifles(and offers some of the best Hawken Kits by that I mean historically correct) insists that most originals were rivited on.
If your confident in your ability to drill and tap holes, screws or rivits should work fine.
As I understand the riviting process, studs are threaded into the blind holes, the rib is put over the studs and then riveted on.

 

[Jim-Iowa]

I see in your thread below, your having Don do the Rib. No Sweat he will do it right.