Bending brass butt plate

[Centurion]

Good morning. I hope this is the right for this post, which perhaps could be titled “A Fool’s Errand”...

I have an old flintlock with identical lines to all other Jukars and CVA’s. I’m intending on changing the drop from 3 1/2” to around 4 1/4” (ish), a la old Tennessee poor boy. This will involve removing wood from the top of the butt and adding a corresponding strip to the bottom. The existing angle of the butt plate to the return is right about 90 degrees - i’ll need to open this to around 100, give or take. I know i can just buy a new plate with the correct angl but i’d like to use the original parts.

So, how would one make this happen without cracking it?

Thanks for your all’s thoughts!

don

 

[saaman]

To bend brass it has to be annealed by heating to a red or pink glow and immediately quench in water. When you bend the brass it will work harden, so you may have to repeat the process if you need to bend it a lot.

 

[Pete G]

So, how would one make this happen without cracking it?

You probably can't. Think about fitting the wood to the BP instead.

 

[Centurion]

Thought about that too, but if i let the return dictate, that will push the lower tip of the butt plate too far forward.

My best option may yet be to cut off the return and just reinstall the bp where it needs to be. Not sure how funny that might look, with no return.

Another option is to cut off the return, grind it off to the new angle and braze it back onto the backside of the butt plate.

 

[poker]

If not too much bother, make a duplicate of your new stock profile. Roughly cut but proper where it counts at the bend. Then anneal your plate and press the duplicate into the brass with a shop press. You may need a clamp on outside to keep the return from bending away. You should be able to avoid the work hardening this way.