Leather workers, I need a hand - penultimate update?

[awp101]

I need a cheek pad for my Swede Mauser similar to what the m41b used.


A Garand or similar pad won't work because they offset the head more than raising it up. Rather than buying a repop, I have enough materials in my stash to do this so I can't beat the price.

I found some pics of a home made version but there's a couple of things I can't figure out.

Can anyone tell me what the stitching on the ends are for and how they sewed the sealed ends?

m41Bcheek2.jpg

m41Bcheek3.jpg

m41Bcheek1.jpg

I'm guessing the stitching on the ends either helps hold the bottom of the "triangle" in place but I can't figure out how they got that last end sealed from the outside. I can see sewing it together inside out to keep the seams inside but that plan falls apart when it comes to the final piece.

Also, what is a cheek pad normally filled with? I have access to packing foam but I don't know how well it will retain it's shape over time.

[Pete44ru]

I sew mine with the pouch turned inside-out, except for the last inch or so in a very inconpicuous place, like under the finished pad/pouch.

When the leather is wetted, it becomes very supple, and can be worked through the small hole to get it right-side-out, let dry, and filled.

I used old women's nylon stockings for filler, packed as tight as I could, before I sewed up the last bit of hole - but some make a flap ILO sewing it shut, so the filling can easily be renewed.

.

[awp101]

Now I know why you make the big bucks!

I never thought about doing it that way, very slick and I think I know what I'm going to do now. Thanks!

Stockings. Boy is that going to get a few questions asked at home...

[bdhold]

I kick myself for not buying one of these rifles a dozen years ago when you could find them for $80 at a gun show.

[AJMD429]

I used old women's nylon stockings for filler, packed as tight as I could, before I sewed up the last bit of hole - but some make a flap ILO sewing it shut, so the filling can easily be renewed.

Why not use young women's stockings...?

[Gobblerforge]

I used old women's nylon stockings for filler, packed as tight as I could, before I sewed up the last bit of hole - but some make a flap ILO sewing it shut, so the filling can easily be renewed.

Why not use young women's stockings...?

Maybe he can't get them off? I don't know.
Gobbler

[awp101]

I used old women's nylon stockings for filler, packed as tight as I could, before I sewed up the last bit of hole - but some make a flap ILO sewing it shut, so the filling can easily be renewed.

Why not use young women's stockings...?

Maybe he can't get them off? I don't know.
Gobbler

When I was a young, single guy I ran into the same problem...

[pokey]

here's how you really do it.

http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/articl ... tching.pdf

even better,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c8_8wD_mnc

and old timers used horsehair to stuff such things,
my bucking rolls are stuffed with sheeps wool.

[awp101]

Got the urge to get something done today so I tackled this. I believe this may take the definition of Bubba to a new level...






I thought I had more scrap to choose from as well as some latigo type lace. Yet another reason I don't trust my memory. The front is a touch high but that's fine since pushing my cheek down a bit really ensures a good cheek weld. The "filler" is foam padding and the lacing is that thin leather-ish type lace out of a Tandy billfold kit.

As long as I can get it to hold up for a few shots (preferably more) at the range I figure it will work as a pattern for the real effort later. OTOH, if it all holds up well I may just go get some heavier lace from Tandy and do it up that way.

[awp101]

Well, I got tired of farting around with this so I broke out the power tools...

Cut a 6" block off an undetermined type of wood and went to town with the table saw, half round rasp, Dremel with sanding drum and belt sander. This is what was hiding in that block:





It's still between 1/8" and 1/4" higher than I really think it should be but now I'm in the ball park.

That blue painters tape is a handy thing to have for this. It works well enough for mock ups and leaves little to no residue.

Next week a trip down the road to Tandy for more leather, eyelets and lacing should give me an idea of what final tweaking I need to do.

[awp101]

I had it at the range today and have two things to change. It certainly needs to come down at least a 1/4" across the top and I think either need to radius the cheek side more or make the angle more shallow.

[bsaride]

Taper slightly to the front, will help prevent recoil in the cheek.

[awp101]

That's part of the plan bsa. The recoil isn't an issue but the sharp-ish edge on the top is uncomfortable even through the leather when trying to get my cheek on there solidly.

That leather would be good saddle leather IMO. Thick and tough. I'm going to find some thinner, more flexible scrap for the final product.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Your prototype looks like you are getting there for sure.
I love those old weaver scopes. I have one in 1X ( no magnification) that works fine on my turkey shotgun.

[awp101]

Well, spent about 5 hours off and on today making version 3.0. Still needs tweaking, but here's what I've got so far:


The blue tape is my forward reference point. Any further forward and there's not enough room to remove the bolt...

[awp101]

OK, I think I've found the final version, short of some minor tweaking and attaching the bottom piece of leather to the riser: