New breech plug and rethreading a muzzle loader that was junk.

[aametalmaster]

A guy brought in this old muzzle loader that he has had for over 30 years. The threads in the barrel were messed up and he couldn't get the breech plug to screw in properly. It was a 5/8 4 start thread. So he kept cutting the threads off the breech plug until it started right and the flats would line up. Which now there are now threads left to work safely. So i needed to drill the old threads out and retap. No problem except the barrel wouldn't fit thru my SB10K's lathe spindle. So i rigged up a 1/2" rod in the bore and put the other end in my steady rest. Figured i could bolt the barrel to my tee slot cross slide and then let the end slide thru the steady with some oil on the barrel. Worked great. Got it drilled and tapped. Then made a new breech plug to fit the new threads properly. Then used my metal shaper to cut the flats of the octagon barrel. Just needed the flash powder hole drilled and tapped and she was ready to pick up. The owner will touch the bluing up as i didn't want to mess with it...Bob

 

[ScrapMetal]

Nice use of the shaper!

Well done,

-Ron

 

[Terrywerm]

Nicely done!

 

[firebricker]

Nice job very cool ! Is that a left handed model? I've never seen one with the hammer on the left but have heard of the photo negatives making them look that way. FB

 

[aametalmaster]

Nice job very cool ! Is that a left handed model? I've never seen one with the hammer on the left but have heard of the photo negatives making them look that way. FB

Yes it is a leftie. I almost drilled the hole on the right side but i got to thinking about it and looked again...Bob