Suddenly curious about wedges.

Beagle333 · March 31, 2012, 11:55 AM

I'm looking over the auctions today (because it's pouring rain here

) and have just noticed that the wedges on the rifles are inserted apparently randomly from both sides. Does that matter? Being new to sidelock ownership, I hadn't thought about it. Both of mine are from the left, but that's just because that's the way they came to me. But I see them both ways on GB.

mykeal · March 31, 2012, 12:06 PM

It matters on some rifles but not on others.

My GPRs both require them to be inserted from the right side, but my CVA and other guns don't seem to care. The GPRs also care which one is in front.

I pinned the wedges on my GPR's so they would always be in place and on the correct place since I couldn't ever remember.

zullo74 · March 31, 2012, 12:15 PM

I believe that traditionally they are inserted from the lock (right) side.

Pahoo · March 31, 2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

I pinned the wedges on my GPR's so they would always be in place and on the correct place since I couldn't ever remember.

Do you mean "peened" as opposed to "pinned"? I have done the same, using a small center punch and even denote top and bottom orientation. I also feel that being right handed, I'd rather have the head on the left side, as opposed to the right. ....

Be Safe !!!

Beagle333 · March 31, 2012, 12:26 PM

I have a small Ziplock snack bag in my cleaning kit marked for each rifle, and the nipples and wedges are put in there while cleaning, since I usually clean more than one at a time. Same with pistols, even when they are both Piettas, they get the original nipples and screws back in the respective pistols.

mykeal · March 31, 2012, 03:51 PM

No, I mean pinned.

Cut a slot lengthwise through the wedge. Remove the escutcheon from the side where the wedge is inserted. Scrape a small groove in the escutcheon inlet, top to bottom across the wedge opening; the groove should be the depth and thickness of about a 20 ga wire. Run the wedge through the escutcheon, then a piece of wire the length of the groove through the slot in the wedge. Insert the wedge into the slot, making sure the wire lays in the groove and screw the escutcheon into place.

The wire 'pins' the wedge in place so that it's captured in the wedge hole; it can be pushed out of the barrel tenon but cannot be removed from the slot.

I got some pictures around here someplace; I'll post them if I can find them.

zullo74 · March 31, 2012, 04:25 PM

Here's an online source of slotted wedge pins as Mykeal explained....

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...964/1/KEY-36-I

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...4/1/KEY-36-CSX

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/964/1

Beagle333 · March 31, 2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

slotted wedge pins

Ahhh.... I was really close with my mental picture of that!

Hawg · March 31, 2012, 05:25 PM

"Most" but certainly not all original guns were pinned from the left side. I've seen pics of original Hawken rifles done both ways but traditionally they go in from the left. This is mine.

mykeal · March 31, 2012, 05:32 PM

Yep, that's them. Except I cut my own.

I don't use those TotW pins, however.

zullo74 · March 31, 2012, 05:56 PM

Interesting Hawg. I always assumed they went in from the lock side. I guess it was really up to the maker then.

Hawg · March 31, 2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Yep, that's them. Except I cut my own.

I don't use those TotW pins, however.

Mine were hand made with the buttons hand hammered.

March 31, 2012, 11:55 AM	#1
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Suddenly curious about wedges. I'm looking over the auctions today (because it's pouring rain here ) and have just noticed that the wedges on the rifles are inserted apparently randomly from both sides. Does that matter? Being new to sidelock ownership, I hadn't thought about it. Both of mine are from the left, but that's just because that's the way they came to me. But I see them both ways on GB.

March 31, 2012, 05:25 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	"Most" but certainly not all original guns were pinned from the left side. I've seen pics of original Hawken rifles done both ways but traditionally they go in from the left. This is mine. Last edited by Hawg; March 31, 2012 at 05:29 PM. Reason: pics added

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March 31, 2012, 12:06 PM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	It matters on some rifles but not on others. My GPRs both require them to be inserted from the right side, but my CVA and other guns don't seem to care. The GPRs also care which one is in front. I pinned the wedges on my GPR's so they would always be in place and on the correct place since I couldn't ever remember.

March 31, 2012, 12:15 PM	#3
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	I believe that traditionally they are inserted from the lock (right) side.

March 31, 2012, 12:26 PM	#5
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	I have a small Ziplock snack bag in my cleaning kit marked for each rifle, and the nipples and wedges are put in there while cleaning, since I usually clean more than one at a time. Same with pistols, even when they are both Piettas, they get the original nipples and screws back in the respective pistols.

March 31, 2012, 03:51 PM	#6
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	No, I mean pinned. Cut a slot lengthwise through the wedge. Remove the escutcheon from the side where the wedge is inserted. Scrape a small groove in the escutcheon inlet, top to bottom across the wedge opening; the groove should be the depth and thickness of about a 20 ga wire. Run the wedge through the escutcheon, then a piece of wire the length of the groove through the slot in the wedge. Insert the wedge into the slot, making sure the wire lays in the groove and screw the escutcheon into place. The wire 'pins' the wedge in place so that it's captured in the wedge hole; it can be pushed out of the barrel tenon but cannot be removed from the slot. I got some pictures around here someplace; I'll post them if I can find them.

March 31, 2012, 04:25 PM	#7
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	Here's an online source of slotted wedge pins as Mykeal explained.... http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...964/1/KEY-36-I http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...4/1/KEY-36-CSX http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/964/1

March 31, 2012, 05:32 PM	#10
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Yep, that's them. Except I cut my own. I don't use those TotW pins, however.

March 31, 2012, 05:56 PM	#11
zullo74 Junior member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 374	Interesting Hawg. I always assumed they went in from the lock side. I guess it was really up to the maker then.