Whether you use wedges or pins, you should slot the tenons. It is difficult to beat physics. Wood and steel expand and contract at different rates. No slots and the wood stock as it expands and contracts will be pushing or pulling on the barrel if there is not clearance (aka a slot) in the tenon, allowing the pin or wedge to move freely with the stock as the stock expands and contracts over time.
Interesting research. How much does the wood stock length change in the same environment?
Just how dehumidified is your safe?Interesting research. How much does the wood stock length change in the same environment?
I have one more question for you. Below is a photograph of an unfired, CVA factory made Kentucky Rifle with a two piece stock stored 40 plus years in a humidity controlled environment (Heat/AC plus dehumidifier in the safe). I had assumed that the stock length shrunk over time, but your research says that isn’t possible. If I remove the pins from the assembly the two piece stock ieasily slides back together (I did provide clearance between the stock and the nose cap which has screws holding it to the barrel), but with the pins in place it’s impossible to close the gap, as the gun was when new. The question for you is, how do I tighten or close up the gap between the two pieces of the stock without slotting the holes in the tenons the pins pass through? My solution was going to be slotting the holes in the tenons so the stock would free to move over time without opening up a gap between the two pieces. But your research says this is not necessary, so what solution do you suggest?
If the gap is consistent. I would find a piece of sheet brass and make another spacer. You already have a templet.Interesting research. How much does the wood stock length change in the same environment?
I have one more question for you. Below is a photograph of an unfired, CVA factory made Kentucky Rifle with a two piece stock stored 40 plus years in a humidity controlled environment (Heat/AC plus dehumidifier in the safe). I had assumed that the stock length shrunk over time, but your research says that isn’t possible. If I remove the pins from the assembly the two piece stock ieasily slides back together (I did provide clearance between the stock and the nose cap which has screws holding it to the barrel), but with the pins in place it’s impossible to close the gap, as the gun was when new. The question for you is, how do I tighten or close up the gap between the two pieces of the stock without slotting the holes in the tenons the pins pass through? My solution was going to be slotting the holes in the tenons so the stock would free to move over time without opening up a gap between the two pieces. But your research says this is not necessary, so what solution do you suggest?
Safe is inside the house with heating and A/C. Safe has a Golden Rod Dehumidifier, which really just keeps the inside of the safe and it contents warmer than the outside air to avoid condensation from forming.
So again I’ll ask, what is your solution if ‘needing to slot the pin holes is a fallacy’? I doubt the stock wood was green when CVA made the stock, as the finish on the wood is just fine, and the gap has slowly grown over the past 40 plus years.
The gap has continued to grow over the years. The reason for the slots in the tenons is to allow the stock to shrink and swell without putting stress on the barrel. The two piece stock just shows the amount of movement that the slots would have to allow for in a single piece full length stock.
