Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Relieving Upper Tang

Question for you guys.
I have been looking at one of my 99's and noticed that the wood at the upper tang shows the slightest bit of compression where wood and metal come together. After reading "Misc good info" I am considering relieving the tang a bit. Anyone do this and what tools would work the best? I have very basic wood working tools and skills. I am thinking that a rat tail file might work.

Any thoughts?

A dremel tool with a (1/2") sanding drum is very controllable and unlikely to slip off and damage anything.

I've used a deep well socket wrapped in fine sand paper. You find one bout a smidgen smaller than the tang wood openind, just undersized enough to get a wrap or two around the socket. Does a nice even radius. Don't take much effort to remove the desired 0.005-0.010" for adequate clearance.
Jerry

I wouldn't take any fast moving tool to it. Walnut is soft, use sandpaper around a dowel or socket and just keep pressure toward the rear as you spin it by hand. You're much less likely to have it get away from you moving slower.

Thanks, guys, this is very helpful.

I agree great info. I have to remove a smig from a 1920 tang & was hesitant to use a Dremel. Great info.

my dremel is variable speed, no need to go fast.

I have made a fair bit of beer money in my life fixing goof-ups done by guys armed with Dremel tools. I love the fact they still sell them!

Small carving gouges are what I use. Select one with the same radius as the end of the tang, make it razor sharp, and drive it down in one motion. Done. If it were a cherished gun and I didn't have the gouge with the proper radius, I would go on line and find one. They're made in an infinite array of diameters, and aren't expensive.

Gnaohh,

LOVE your tag lin. Truer words wee never spoken

My Dad used a piece of 1/2 copper sharpened really well on one side at an angle. The soft copper would not split the wood but cut it cleanly. powdr