Good Day. I have had difficulties in shaping the metal tang of a shotgun guard to fit the curve of the pistol grip.Getting the curve just right so that it fits snugly is proving beyond me. Should I heat up the tang so that shaping is easier ? What do the pros do?
Thanks

If you heat the tang you will have less spring back to deal with. you also need to make small buttons to completely fill the screw holes in the tang so that it doesn't kink where the screw holes are. then heat it and bend it around a form that is made to the shape you want. if you don't heat it to cherry red your form will have to be made to calculate the amount of spring back in the steel

hope that helps

Joe Seeley
Gunmaker & engraver
www.gunmaker.biz

I'll watch this thread for ideas....I just stumble through it...finding a pipe, lamp base or anything close to the curve to "wrap" it around is where I start

Duane; you can make the reverse form die from a piece of scrap walnut. When you get it red hot you won't have to pound very hard with the mallet. It will burn the wood but it also will form the guard the way you want it quickly. Make the form smooth and not just cut on the bandsaw. I learned that the hard way.

Thank you for your replies.I get your drift. I will attempt to make some kind of pine form and apply some heat.That seems to be the safest way for me as Ive slightly kinked the tang already once on the screw hole.I have some small metal clamps which I think I can judiciously apply to hold it in position.Its a lovely little thing with some delicate engraving so I dont want to lose it.My word... some good advice here. Thanks again.

You might want to use a harder and less-flammable wood than pine....oak, walnut, hickory, rock maple, etc.
Regards, Joe

Someone need to take some pics of this.
Don

quote:

rock maple,

Best of the lot for this purpose!