Selecting and Using Wood Screws

Un-plated oval headed wood screws are used to emulate those found in original rifles. Un-plated means you can easily brown, blue or harden without a common modern day plating that protects the screw from rusting.

If you use hot brown to finish brown your screws quickly, multiple treatments will produce a darker and thicker finish. Oil thoroughly. I apply beeswax to a heated screw!    

Use a group of screws for your construction process that you replace with a fresh set as your final assembly. This gives the gun a better appearance.         

File a slight “release” angle to the slot in the screw prior to assembly. This will help your screwdriver to “release” the screw head. Remember that very fine slots were the rule and most modern manufacturers of wood screws today refuse to cut slots fine enough to represent those found on original longrifles. If you want that extra touch of the professional maker, align your screw slots horizontally with the length of the gun, not crosswise!

Heat treat the screw heads for longer lasting durability. Remember to make all your filings prior to the treatment since a file won’t cut a treated surface.
File a deep slot in a tang screw to use during the construction process which can then be draw-filed at the same time as the breech and wrist. The slot remains! Replace with a fresh tang screw upon final assembly.