Fore end

Making a splinter type forend

This series of photos show a splinter type forend for an old express rifle. The forend attaches with a lever. The splinter type forend, or some times just called splinter, is called so because it is very small and hence could be made from a splinter (left over) from the stock blank.

Making a forend is usually an under estimated job. People are inclined to think that because there is not a lot of wood involved, making a forend is easy. One should realize there is quite a lot of work involved in those seemingly simple jobs.

The forend is from a Joseph Lang express rifle calibre .500 3" BPE. The rifle dates from about 1882-1884. The action closes by means of a Jones rotary underlever which provides a very strong lockup. The forend detaches by means of a lever as well. This particular rifle has no ejectors.

The old forend had been absorbing gun oil for at least

120 years. The wood has turned black and about 30 percent of it was literally rotten. The forend was rattling against the barrels.

Time to restock it!

After selecting a suitable piece of walnut and cutting it to the appropriate size, the bar is inletted.

Next comes the inletting of the fastener. In this case a lever.

With the lever inletted and working, it is time to let the barrels into the wood. This is a time consuming process using lampblack from a petroleum lamp as spotting colour. Barrels are put onto the wood. The black spots reveal where wood needs to be removed. The high spots are scraped down and then the barrels are put onto the wood again. This proces is repated many times. And finally, after many hours, the barrels will have been inletted deep enough into the wood.

The barrels and forend finally fit together.

The forend tip inletted.

The forend taking shape.

After sanding, polishing and oiling.

After checkering (chequering). 20 lines to the inch, English flat top checkering. The whole of the forend covered with checkering. Just like the original.

It all adds up to this!

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