Spanish Gun Question 18th & early 19th Cen.

[fernando]

Let's see if Fernando K comes in with an explanation

[Marcus den toom]

If i where to take a guess, it would be a hole drilled from the butstock where the butplate covers the wood (and also the hole).
Also, the tang could be attached by a normal screw instead of a bolt that is going completly trough the wrist of the stock (and the trigger plate idem dito).

I never owned such a piece so.. hard to tell from fact from my point

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

... Also, the tang could be attached by a normal screw instead of a bolt that is going completly trough the wrist of the stock ...

Ah, i wouldn't think so; too risky.

[fernando]

I have contacted someone in Spain well connected to Spanish weaponry.

Here is his comment:

Ocasionalmente he encontrado escopetas como las que me describe, de media caña con el baquetero taladrado hasta introducirse en la culata, pero siempre ha sido para baquetas de hierro, con alguna flexibilidad, no recuerdo ninguna de madera, como la de la fotografía... lo que esta fuera de discusión, es que si la baqueta tiene la longitud apropiada para empujar la carga hasta la recámara, y en una escopeta de media caña no sobresale del baquetero, es que el baquetero atraviesa la garganta del arma y se prolonga por la culata, sin que ello interfiera en el funcionamiento de la llave...
diría yo...


Meaning that ...
Exmples of half stocked guns with the ramrod penetrating all the way through the stock butt are those offten seen with the rod made of an iron, so that its flexibility easily bypasses the lock function and tang bolt. Although the ramrod in the example shown here is made of wood, it is out of discussion that it has to be long enough to push the load down to the chamber, so the principle of its introduction into the stock should be the same.

[SuperCracker]

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

If i where to take a guess, it would be a hole drilled from the butstock where the butplate covers the wood (and also the hole).
Also, the tang could be attached by a normal screw instead of a bolt that is going completly trough the wrist of the stock (and the trigger plate idem dito).

I never owned such a piece so.. hard to tell from fact from my point

I thought about it maybe being a wood screw rather than a through bolt, but I've only ever seen that done on the very lowest end American longrifles. And even on those it doesn't hold up. I can't imagine it being used on any quality weapon like the one shown.

I think the RR hole would have to be drilled as two holes that connect. I have printed out profile pics of some of these guns and it appears as though if the hole were drilled straight from the forend it would come out of the wrist. My first thought is that the first portion of the hole would be drilled from the entry pipe location to just past the breech. Then a second hole, angled down somewhat, is drilled behind the breech into the butt intersecting the first hole.

While difficult, that is doable, but still doesn't address the tang bolt.

This is giving me a headache. lol