Remodeling the Model 70 tang

13 November 2017, 03:35

speerchucker30x378

As Tom says, people convert them to the cloverleaf tang. I'm a bit divided on the look. Some view it as a classic look. I find that it sort of chops up the lines a bit. I have also seen the tangs narrowed a bit, starting at about 1/16th of an inch at the top end of each side. I prefer that style better myself. One of the big arguments has always been that narrowing the tang allows you to make a slimmer grip. While it does in fact do that, the actual reduction is not a lot.

When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years!
Rod Henrickson

13 November 2017, 03:43

dpcd

Along those lines, no pun here, I like the post war tang fine; no reason to try to improve it. And it hides any gap at the rear of the tang which you might want to avoid stock splitting.

14 November 2017, 20:47

MNR

Hate to disagree gents, but I prefer the brunette over the blonde on this issue... I personally like the look of the cloverleafed tang and do it on almost every M70 build. To answer Lindy2's question, I shape it by eye to what I find appealing (adds to the custom appeal, no two I do are alike

. I cut it in the mill and mark the points on the DRO so I can mirror the other side keeping it symmetrical. Here's an example:

15 November 2017, 01:30

Labman

MNR - Very nice work.

15 November 2017, 04:51

lindy2

That is lovely.

And so is the bolt handle, ejector button, and custom scope bases.

Are all of those available piecemeal or only on a total custom job.

15 November 2017, 18:06

MNR

Thank you Labman and Lindy2. All of those are available piecemeal.

15 November 2017, 20:57

speerchucker30x378

That's not the traditional cloverleaf tang MNR. That's that thinning thingy that I was talking about earlier. I use a 1 inch carbide end mill and drive it right up to the lower flats of the bolt raceways to establish the radius. I don't round the very back of the tang as much as you do, but it's the same affect. The traditional cloverleaf tang has a reversed radius coming off the tang and it gives the tang a plump look. Like the rear portion was put on as an afterthought. I'm not fond of the traditional tang.

I stole someones picture off the net, sorry. But this is the original. It looks like someone said: "OPPS, we need to glue on a piece to put the rear tang screw into"

Blech-thooy-me-no-like !

model 70 cloverleaf tang by Rod Henrickson, on Flickr

16 November 2017, 02:39

MNR

Very true. I still call it a cloverleaf tang, but you're right it's not the pre-war tang that tom was referring to. I'll stick with calling it a cloverleaf though, just because advertising "that thinning thingy" just doesn't have the same ring to it

quote:
Originally posted by speerchucker30x378:
That's not the traditional cloverleaf tang MNR. That's that thinning thingy that I was talking about earlier. I use a 1 inch carbide end mill and drive it right up to the lower flats of the bolt raceways to establish the radius. I don't round the very back of the tang as much as you do, but it's the same affect. The traditional cloverleaf tang has a reversed radius coming off the tang and it gives the tang a plump look. Like the rear portion was put on as an afterthought. I'm not fond of the traditional tang.

I stole someones picture off the net, sorry. But this is the original. It looks like someone said: "OPPS, we need to glue on a piece to put the rear tang screw into"

Blech-thooy-me-no-like !

model 70 cloverleaf tang by Rod Henrickson, on Flickr

17 November 2017, 06:45

Bill Leeper

I like the pre-war tang just fine and when called upon to do it, I do my best to duplicate that exactly. If I'm stocking one, I may do some refinements but, in general, try to stick to the original shape.
Pretty hard to criticize the picture posted by mnr though; in any respect. Regards, Bill

17 November 2017, 21:35

speerchucker30x378

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MNR:
Very true. I still call it a cloverleaf tang, but you're right it's not the pre-war tang that tom was referring to. I'll stick with calling it a cloverleaf though, just because advertising "that thinning thingy" just doesn't have the same ring to it

Now that you mention it. "Thingy thinning" does have a bit of a negative ring to it! How about: "Reversed radius, cloverleaf tang then?"

Merchandising is a BITCH !!!!