doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com End caps on British boxlocks

I would really appreciate any info on this subject. I have seen some Brit boxlocks with both end caps slotted, some with just one slotted and the majority with no way to unscrew them from the outside. That's assuming, of course, those ones are threaded. Has anyone seen a tool to remove these? Maybe something to pop 'em out if they were pressed in or some kind of a spanner to unscrew them from the backside? The reason I ask is because I shy away from buying guns without an easy way to replace the hinge pin. I know, I know, just shim the hook and bob's your uncle. Unfortunately that doesn't do it for me, too many years as a machinist. So if any kind soul out there has actually removed these unslotted endcaps and then found a hinge pin that could be unscrewed or pressed out I'd love to hear about it. I'm reluctant to buy a gun just to experiment. Thanks
nial

Nial, one traditional British fix--for guns that don't have removeable pins, and sometimes even for those that do--is to build up the hook rather than do anything with the pin.

Thanks Larry. I know that and consider it a half-assed solution. Hence the question.

Thanks Larry. I know that and consider it a half-assed solution. Hence the question.

nialmac, give shimming its due. It is not elegant, but is mechanically the same as building up the hook with weld or dove-tailing in a new piece of metal. There a many metals available in shim thickness and suitable for a shim and several adhesives that are suitable. Done well, it is a pretty good solution.

The problem with all hook build-ups is that the pin may be out of round; for sure it will be slightly out of round. A new pin and fitted hook cure this ill. Otherwise, you are stuck with only part pin to hook contact. However, pins can offer some challenges.

Generally, that which is threaded in will thread out - sometimes only with great effort, though. That which is pressed in will press out; sometimes only with a serious press and blocking. That which is machined in is pretty well there to stay; see above.

One of the heavy hitters is determining just how much money/time you are willing to put into any given gun. A high value gun will merit a lot of money and/or time. A farmer grade BLNE may well be worth no more than a shim; most any gun is worth shimming, though.

You've nailed it Rocketman. The problem is I know all this already. I'm trying to find someone who has removed unslotted endcaps or seen it done. I've already made and fitted new hingepins for guns that allowed me to unscrew the endcap and then the pin. The thing is that over the years I've seen a number of Brit 2" chambered boxlocks that I really liked except for being off-face. Of course, wouldn't you know, unslotted endcaps. I suspect these guns are more prone to looseness due to their geometry, ie. wide chambers and narrow, light frames. Yeah, you could shim or build up the hook but what do you have then? A gun that's prone to looseness with a half-assed repair. Far better to fit a new pin you know is round and perhaps a replaceable insert in the hook if the gun is worth it. That's what I think would be the best solution.

well i just removed the end cap on a thomas boswell box lock the cap was threaded but was staked. i ended up using an end mill to remove it.i milled out the center and pulled the threads out. the pin unscrewed.now i have to make a new pin and endcap.i have welded the hook on a lot of guns and blacked the barrels down on face.if done right it is not half assed and less work, less chance of a major screw up.and you had better make sure the pin is removable before starting some as are cast in.you could also piece the hook.good luck mc

Would someone here please explain to us who are not machinists why anyone would build a double with a non-removable hinge pin? This makes just about as much sense to me as building and engine with a non-removable crankshaft!!
Jim

I think you might be pleasently surprised how long a stainless steel shim could last. I agree that a new pin is best, but some guns just aren't worth it. Also, using a shim can give you time to evaluate the gun and see if you care to invest time and resources.

Threads were significantly more expensive, both for the pin and the caps. Guns were made to highly competitive price points. Even a small cost saving on a lagre lot of guns was worthwhile for the maker. Remember, also, that we are using many guns way, way past any timeframe imagined by the maker. The more ordinary original quality grades of guns were just not envisioned as being kept in service for a very long time.