Traditions Kentucky Rifle Help

[bang]

How do you allow for stock’s wood expanding and contraction without slotting the barrel tenons?

My stock doesn't touch except tang and end cap. The bed is waxed so it won't take in moisture in that area. Has worked good for me. I'm sure there will be plenty of opinions.

 

[SDSmlf]

My stock doesn't touch except tang and end cap. The bed is waxed so it won't take in moisture in that area. Has worked good for me. I'm sure there will be plenty of opinions.

Pretty amazing that there is no barrel to stock contact between the tang and end cap. Most guns would have multiple pins through the stock and barrel tenons, bring them in contact with each other, and the nose cap is typically attached to stock, not the barrel.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Ah, but it does. Two screws through the nose cap (under the ram rod) and stock into the barrel.

Oh, I know that there is a screw through the nose cap into the barrel on your rifle. Using the nose cap to hold the forestock to the barrel isn't necessary. My nose caps are riveted to the forestock. If you have pinned underlugs, you can modify the nose cap so it is not threaded into the barrel. Traditions often screwed the nose cap to the barrel in their pistols. That way they only needed a tang bolt and the nose cap to secure the stock to the barrel. Its a simple manufacturing process but not a best practice. They could then tighten down the nose cap to fit the cap to the barrel rather than fitting the nose cap to the stock and to the barrel.

 

[BuffaloCarton]

Thanks y’all! I was able to close the gap. I cleaned up the lock mechanism and lighten the trigger to 3.5lbs. Now to go shooting

 

[SDSmlf]

Thanks y’all! I was able to close the gap. I cleaned up the lock mechanism and lighten the trigger to 3.5lbs. Now to go shooting
View attachment 35331

Good job, looks good. The couple I have owned were very accurate, and likely not a fluke, as that is a common report on these guns. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[bang]

Ah, but it does. Two screws through the nose cap (under the ram rod) and stock into the barrel.

No sense in explaining to them. They know more than the world, ITOM.

 

[BuffaloCarton]

Great idea! Might use this in the future. @2 shots

 

[Billy Boy]

Slotting the barrel lugs is needed for another reason than wood moisture changes. The barrel is anchored solid at the breach end. If you shoot enough to heat the barrel up it will expand - forward, it will move. Slot those little rascals and solve a bunch ho problems.

 

[87TT]

Not near as big deal with a two piece stock. The barrel lugs and tang are on separate pieces of wood that are not joined together.