I'd like to learn how to fit a skeletonized buttplate and grip cap to a stock, but also want to skeletonize the hardware too. Any suggestions on cheap buttplates and/or caps to practice with? I don't want to tear up something nice/spendy just getting started.

I appreciate any suggestions- thanks!

If you had some photos that would tell you about all you need. You can scribe the outside shape from the wood .The scribe the inside by using a two point scribe set for 3/16" to 1/4". Make a simple shape to form an extension to the screw hole .

1st learn how to fit a neidner butplate once you can do that it is more or less leaving the middle portion out and checkering it

Track of the Wolf English Buttplate

This one will be about as good as it gets for building a skeleton plate.

Like Butch said, if you can inlet a Neidner style plate, you can inlet a skeleton one.

dave

I wouldn't use a checkered buttplate to make a skeleton plate.

I've often thought of the same thing, and would like to try it on a 1903 Springfield buttplate. These can be had on ebay for $10-20 or so. They are a bit wide, but could easily be shaped to a more streamlined profile.

First thing I would do is to heat and bend the reverse bent toe into a more traditional crescent shape to disguise the military origins.

I'm also intrigued with what might be done with the tang at the heel... lots of material there for a cloverleaf, fluer de leis, or an arrowhead shape.

Or just get a chunk of steel and create one from scratch.

Let us know what you decide, and post photos!

Evan,CSMC has a solid buttplate casting for $30. Lots of metal to play with and thick enough to machine into a skeleton buttplate. Suggestion....make a holding fixture the buttplate attaches to for machining.

I appreciate the replies- thanks all.

quote:

Originally posted by Dennis Earl Smith:
Evan,CSMC has a solid buttplate casting for $30. Lots of metal to play with and thick enough to machine into a skeleton buttplate. Suggestion....make a holding fixture the buttplate attaches to for machining.

Dennis I found that buttplate and it looks ideal. I thought about cutting into an checkered steel buttplate but would rather use a plain one. Thanks for the suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by ssdave:
Track of the Wolf English Buttplate

This one will be about as good as it gets for building a skeleton plate.

Like Butch said, if you can inlet a Neidner style plate, you can inlet a skeleton one.

dave

Dave even if I don't cut it up, I do like the looks of that buttplate- thanks for the link.

I've inletted a few Winchester 70-style buttplates and am working on a Neidner now and am getting more comfortable with them. I've kept Dave Wesbrook's book out and it has been very helpful. I plan on using his instructions for skeletonizing the buttplate too.

I did this to a solid McFarland plate http://www.brownells.com/rifle...plate-prod24689.aspx

Take a look at these which I made away back. I use a block of steel forms like the inside of a butt plate and rough in the 1/8 in. cold roll steel with a heat and forge to shape. After these are filed to shape I would use a carbide round hack saw blade to rough out the inside. There are only a couple of the rifles out there somewhere as they were a request from a customer in 1972. The two piece toe and heal pieces are easer to make and look good on a classic rifle.

If you are going to skeletonize it anyway, grind the checkering off. The Track of the Wolf plates are plenty thick for that.

I would suggest you inlet a skeleton grip cap onto a block of walnut. Repeat until you can do it without a gap. Then, move on to a skeleton buttplate.
A Dakota skeleton grip cap (Brownell's) is pretty cheap. Dakota also makes a 2 screw solid grip cap that would work well for skeletonizing.

Von Gruff and Les, wow those look great! The rifles they're attached to aren't bad either, thanks for sharing. I appreciate the additional info Les, and in-progress photos.

Thanks for the cap suggestions Tommyhawk. The Dakota hardware does look good, I like their swivel studs too.