Another thought (to me) for making a patchbox hinge

[Larry (Omaha)]

Doing a Kentucky rifle build now, and contimplating my upcoming need for the patchbox. All my scratch build patchboxes have been with the hinge parallel to the butt plate. I have never made a PB with the hinge perpendicular to the butt plate but would like to. I always struggle with making the knuckles on a hinge, especially if the hinge has an arc in it's length. As anyone knows that makes patchboxes, the bottom of the knuckle will be a shorter dimension than it's top. Now, here is my thought, but have to make it work.

At this point in time I do not anticipate needing any arc in the hinge, another reason to go this route.
Brass tubing cut in sections will be slotted and then soldered alternating on both leafs that will be opposite each other. The wire will of course be in the center of the tubing.
Hacksaw cut the slot in the tubing and the .040 brass needs just a touch of taper with a file.
Curious if anyone out there has done a patchbox this way? Don't tell me it is not HC cuz I don't care. I just want it to end up lookin HC
Thanks for watchin
Larry

 

[longcruise]

So, it's a single hinge or ???

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Two leafs, one continuous hinge. One leaf for the lid and a vertical leaf that goes down into the cavity.
Larry

 

[Phil Coffins]

Like this?

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

That would be it, except my lid will have a different shape on the muzzle end.
Larry

 

[oldwood]

Dixie catalog has pre made standard patch box hinges , ready to solder onto the lid , and body of patch boxes. Two of the hinges may be able to be soldered on for a long side box. Have used these for brass and steel boxes.

 

[longcruise]

@oldwood I found that hinge on Dixie but no picture.

 

[oldwood]

I used the last hinge I had last spring. I 've not had a chance to do any m/l rifle work , since April due to a sick wife. Those hinges work fine , just cut out the patcbox lid , and the body of the box , solder the hinge to both parts , and inlet. Lotsa fun. Ya can get psycho and work up your own ideas for the parts. I like that.. lotsa luck. ...........oldwood

 

[longcruise]

@oldwood Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to order one today and give it a try. Making the hinge has been my area of doubt but Thanks to you and @Larry (Omaha) it looks like several options that are workable within my skill set and tooling.

 

[James Kibler]

That's an interesting method. I've not seen it on any original work, but still pretty neat.

 

[Pete G]

Making a hinge is easy. Making a GOOD hinge, not so much.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Making a hinge is easy. Making a GOOD hinge, not so much.

Right on! I will say all my hinges work, just that the knuckles lack the grace of a good metalsmith.
Larry