How much do I leave

[StarnesRowan]

When sawing wood off the sides of a barrel channel how much wood to I leave on the stock

 

[mushka]

Look at some completed guns and you will see.

 

[Pete G]

When sawing wood off the sides of a barrel channel how much wood to I leave on the stock

I would leave at least 1/4”

 

[rich pierce]

At the lock panels it must be the thickness of the lock bolster plus a little. Forward of the planned lock molding go for 1/8” if you’re convinced everything is square and you can saw very accurately. Otherwise shoot for 3/16” and get the rest with your tools of choice later: plane, spokeshave, rasps

 

[EC121]

Depends on how chunky you want the rifle to look. Leave 1/4" and file it down to 1/8" or so finished size. In addition a too-deep ramrod channel will make it look slab sided. I like about 2/3 or more of the rod exposed. That allows you to roll the wood from the barrel to the rod channel, but leave it a little thicker at its widest. A shallow rod channel also helps hide a too thick web. I also like the wood edge to be below the center line of the barrel's side flat. I use a sheet metal gauge held against the side flat to set the thickness and follow the swamp.

 

[bptactical]

It all depends on the school, style and architecture of the rifle.
There is no absolute,

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

When cutting the sides of the forestock my teacher taught me to mark it by holding an 1/8" drill bit and pencil against the barrel marking the line. Then cut it on a bandsaw leaving a "generous eighth inch" of wood.

This applies to flintlocks early through golden age.

 

[Vaino]

When the forestock is sawed, I leave 1/8" per side and this is later reduced to 1/16". for a finished thickness.....Fred

 

[billraby]

I am with Vaino. Cut to 1/8 inch and finish to about 1/16 inch.