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Michael G
7th Mar 2015, 06:36 PM
One of the fitters at work is a keen shooter. He knows that I have a mill with dividing head (which he doesn't) and asked whether I could make up a bolt handle for him. He's going to come back with a sketch and was talking about spiral milling...
These are just some trial pieces based on some 'net pictures. They would need to be deburred/ blasted and painted if they were to be used but you get the idea (dimensions are around 40mm high and 25mm diameter). Apparently the real trick is putting a thread on the bolt. He can sort that bit.

341741

Making these (where the cuts have to intersect in a regular fashion) has shown me that I have slight TIR and backlash issues on my dividing head. More things to fix!

Michael

KBs PensNmore
7th Mar 2015, 11:52 PM
Nice work Michael.

.RC.
9th Mar 2015, 09:55 PM
Nice, but I think you should make one like this... :D



http://www.riflemax.com/images/bolt_knob_4_panel_w_boarder_2.jpg

Michael G
30th Jul 2015, 10:46 PM
354388

Michael

PDW
4th Aug 2015, 05:31 PM
354388

Michael

Nice machining, but as an ex-shooter myself, I never had much time for people who did things like that to their firearms. Sort of like bolting bling onto a car......

PDW

Vernonv
11th Aug 2015, 10:59 AM
Nice machining, but as an ex-shooter myself, I never had much time for people who did things like that to their firearms. Sort of like bolting bling onto a car......
I also prefer function over form, but I think that statement is a little harsh and quite generalistic.

While I agree that changing a bolt handle is sometimes done for purely aesthetic reasons, it is also often done for ergonomic/functional reasons i.e. changing the shape to make the bolt more comfortable to use, accessible, or to help position it better in a different stock, or to keep it from hitting the scope when cycling a round. Hardly like bolt on bling.

So if you are going to/need to change it, why not go for something that looks nice.

Marc
7th Sep 2015, 11:16 PM
I like it!

aametalmaster
10th Sep 2015, 12:23 PM
Apparently the real trick is putting a thread on the bolt. He can sort that bit.



I do bolt threading with my lathe. I made a fixture that mounts in place of my lathes compound. I can swivel it a tad if the customer wants the knob angled back or kept straight. First I cut off the ball with a boring head that is mounted in my lathes spindle. Turned down it is now threaded with a hand die that is aligned with a fat live center in my lathe tailstock. I made some 1" dia brass knobs that everyone seems to like...Bob

aametalmaster
10th Sep 2015, 12:36 PM
Found my pics online. I just got a new computer and all of my pics are on my old one...Bob

Retromilling
27th Jul 2017, 10:08 PM
Tactical bolt knobs have drawbacks. The increased length may make them easier to grab especially with gloves but it also causes extra sideways bolt binding . If the action to bolt fit is a bit sloppy and already prone to binding the longer knob makes it worse not better . You have to develop a pull straight back kind of bolt use not push across the centre line of the bolt . On a nice smooth Sako it works ok on a sloppy Mauser 98 not so good but you can develop the right pull back . If you watch some Military snipers using them they tend to hook a finger on the handle closer to the centre of the bolt after raising the bolt handle fully to pull back , this negates binding .