Hi, and thanks for the votes of confidence and support.
We are on a roll now because the barrel came from Rice. It is 20 gauge, 41" long, and it 1 1/32" wide at the breech. It weighs just over 2lbs and the barrel wall thickness at the muzzle is 1/16". I believe it is made from 4140 steel. So next week we start inletting the barrel and parts. Today, Maria finished her butt plate by attaching a lug under the return for a cross pin. She did this by cutting and filing a rectangular lug from 1/8" thick steel and filed one end into a round peg. She then cut 8-32 threads into the peg. Then the butt plate is drilled and tapped for an 8-32 thread. The top of that hole is countersunk slightly.
The lug is theaded into the butt plate and adjusted so it tightens down when lined up properly.
Next she peened the excess peg down into the counter sink. We love bashing stuff.
Then the peened mound of excess metal is heated and welded to the butt plate locking it all together. We love burning and melting stuff.
Grind, file, and sand the return smooth and clean and we are done.
dave