Questions re: a crack in the stock of smoothbore

[David Cole]

Please see the crack in the stock of a smoothbore. The rest of the stock/gun is in good shape. For those of you who have knowledge of repairing older firearms:

1. To deal with the crack would the entire stock need to be replaced?
2. Or would it be possible to take it apart and use a high quality wood glue to join the stock together along the crack?

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

[Keith Williams]

Hey Dave, can you take off the trigger guard, side plate, and lock to submit pictures of those areas? Using pins and glue/epoxy works nicely...but, the question is...are you going to use it for competition or keep it as an original investment? It looks like it was fixed at one point, does the stock still separate at the crack lines or does it feel kinda solid?

Send additional pictures.

Keith A. Williams
15th. Reg VA Vol Cav

[BLakatos]

If it were mine... and I repeat, mine. I'd remove the lock and trigger guard. Get some acetone and remove the oil and grease from inside the crack. Mixe up some BLACK accuraglass, spread the crack apart, fill it with the accuraglass, then use surgical tubing to secure the stock back in place. Place painters tape along side the crack so the accuraglass doesn't stick to the stock
Let it cure for 24 hours, then in the lock mortise, dig down and secure the two pieces with a dog bone. (4-40 screw with a nut) have the head on one side of the crack and the nut on the other side.
If the crack is under the trigger guard, do the same there. Maybe remove the side plate and CAREFULLY drill a hole and gluing a pin there too
Then keep a close eye on it when you shoot it! Lol
Brian

[David Cole]

Hey Dave, can you take off the trigger guard, side plate, and lock to submit pictures of those areas? Using pins and glue/epoxy works nicely...but, the question is...are you going to use it for competition or keep it as an original investment? It looks like it was fixed at one point, does the stock still separate at the crack lines or does it feel kinda solid?

Send additional pictures.

Keith A. Williams
15th. Reg VA Vol Cav

Hey Keith. It's a gun I'm thinking about purchasing (of course for the right price, considering the crack) and unfortunately unable to inspect it in person. The intention would be to use it in competition.

[Maillemaker]

Compressed air is handy for blasting glue/epoxy down into cracks.

[Keith Williams]

Roger Dave, you have several options if you purchase it. The original fix may still be good. You could pick-out the old glue-use solvent-use air to blow out like Steve said. You could pin (drill small holes, insert wire or nails) and epoxy, shave out gluing sections or drill retaining holes hidden under trigger guard, side plate, and lock. Glass all problem areas like Brian mentioned. Cut and splice wood pieces in like Steve did in a Musket Matters video. Lastly, you might find a new old stock...I guess it really depends upon your labor skills, tools, and time involvement on the direction you want to pursue.

Good luck...add pictures if you can get them!

Keith A. Williams
NWT Cavalry Guys

[John Bly]

It is certainly repairable. A cross grain crack like that is difficult to get a good fix. Steel pins, rods, nails, etc are the worst way to attempt a repair. The repair must involve a lengthwise lap joint of some sort. It can be milled out under the trigger guard and a new piece of wood epoxied in place for starters. Other repairs can be made inside the breech area so they will not show. I've fixed quite a few that were previously done with pins and rods that did not hold up long term. If repaired properly it will be as good or better than new and be a good skirmish gun.

[Carolina Reb]

Last year I did an 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle with that exact break. I used unidirectional carbon fiber and epoxy laminating resin in the bottom of the lock mortise to splint across the crack and laminating resin with cotton flox (dyed to match the stock) to fill the crack. The stock is sound and the rifle shoots great. I can send you a brief video of the fix.

Anvil Gunsmithing has a video posted of doing this repair on a reproduction Ferguson breechloader. Mark used threaded rod to pin the break invisibly.

Don't try to do this repair with carpenters glue. It won't hold, and then when you have to go back in the old glue will have to be cleaned out of the crack, which is a major operation.

[Muley Gil]

Duct tape! Grey for a Confederate gun, blue for a Yankee gun!