Fabricating Chiappia Spencer Replacement Parts - Old School

[PvtGreg]

Hi All,

I've been doing a new living history impression - Armory NCO.  I've been collecting tools and equipment over the last year.  Heres an example of some of my tools:


I found a new egg beater drill that works very well even on metal, I made a bow saw to hold a hacksaw blade (if it isn't accurate it at least looks accurate!).  I got a nice pair of period calipers, found a bunch really good small wooden handled files for detail work and some nice larger files for taking off a lot of metal.  I've made a small portable workbench and got a small clamp on vise to use on it.

Below is my bench with its shaving pony attacked and the bow-hacksaw pictured with it.  The bench is designed to be staked to the ground:


As part of the impression I've been fabricating replacement parts for my 56-50.  In particular my 56-50 magazine base catch (Taylor's #770.009) has worn out to the point that my mag tube doesn't secure properly.  I decided as part of my most recent impression (Ft. Defiance, Clarksville TN on June 11th) to fabricate this part.

Below is the original part mounted in the butt plate:

To the left of the but plate is the replacement blank with screw hole drilled.

I cut a blank from a piece of bar stock I had that was close in thickness to the original.  I then used the egg beater drill to drill out the mounting screw hole out with a 3/16th drill bit (see above).  It took about an hour to cut the blank and about 20 min to drill the hole.  I had a set of good punches to set the pilot hole.   The next picture is the blank cut to approximate size and upper part filed to thickness.



I next used my set of small files to file the profile in the piece and fit it for use in the butt plate (below):


This last picture is the new piece in place in the butt plate:


The new piece secures the mag tube firmly and fits much better and is much easier to insert and remove.

Its been a lot of fun to do the impression.  I've gotten a lot of interest in it, particularly from kids who think you need power tools to do this type of work.  Its fun to see kids use the egg-beater to drill a hole or shape a piece of metal with a file or cut metal with a hacksaw mounted in a bow saw.

I know that my kit isn't 100% authentic, but it does give everyone a chance to see how they might have done this type of work.

My next part is going to be the cartridge cam for a September 11th event at Fort Negely in Nashville.  I fabricated one 8 weeks ago for my 56-50 and now Veteran Arms blanks and my live rounds now feed perfectly and I can feed cartridges with OALs between 1.55 to 1.68.

Thanks - PvtGreg

[Coal Creek Griff]

That's excellent! Nicely done. Thanks for the report.

CC Griff

[El Supremo]

Super example of sharing our heritage:

Moms seem to appreciate living history and how it fits family values.  You will touch the spirits of many youngsters and make a difference.  Sharing and smiles - so simple, yet powerful.  Try to get the kids in "hands on" situations. They remember much more of what they do than what they hear or read.

One easy example would be to carburize the finished part with a hand torch and Casenite.  Have seen this final step bring ooh's. 

Please share more reports.  

El Supremo / Kevin Tinny

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Greg -

Well Done! 

I can see that you'll fit right in here, you are as insane crazy demented inspired as the rest of us :-)

yhs
prof (i'm not crazy - i was tested ) marvel