Ivory Bead

[J. A. EARLY]

Originally Posted by TobyBoudreau

I am also open to trying to make custom sizes to your specifications. If you are interested or want to chat about them, please shoot me a message with your number and I will call you.

Toby,

What are the chances you could cut threads in the shank for the Parkers so they do not have to be fitted by trial and error and then glued in? Or at the least cut the shanks so they are barely oversized to replace a Parker original brass front sight?

[TobyBoudreau]

Good question. I do mill the shafts to the same diameter as 4-64 thread, which is 0.120. This is the same size as the shafts on beads sold by NECG and Midway. What are the standard parker threads, I made the assumption the ones formerly available worked. Please educate me. I am small gunsmithing operation and I started making beads because I wanted to help out folks breathing life back into old sxs shotguns. If you can give me a fitted shaft diameter or a thread size I can try to make that happen. Let me know what you need. I was told be a couple restorers that they fit each bead and their installation always involves a dab of glue. But that's a small sample size. I'll try it. Toby

[J. A. EARLY]

Toby,

Yes the shaft has to be turned down to fit a Parker. I do it with a Dremel tool, and then a dab of Super glue. I try to get it close so it somewhat screws in, but I have lost them when using the guns due to glue letting go, making the shaft too small, or hitting them. I know it is a common thread size but I will let someone else give you that dimension. That would make them a simple screw in installation. Thanks.

[TobyBoudreau]

Jerry, Thanks. I hope a member chimes in, but in the meantime time I'll do some more checking with other smiths doing restoration. When I find out, I'll post it and let you know also. Cheers

[Elvin Ehrhardt]

Guys

For those of you struggling to find a more secure way to attach the ivory beads, here is my alternative. I take standard size brass replacement bead and hot glue the threaded end to a wooden dowel. Then I use my disc sander and dremel tool to hone the bead down to a small shift about the size of a small brad. Then hone your ivory bead to the size you want and drill a whole in the bottom just slightly bigger than the brass shaft you made. Fill the hole with super glue and attach. One helpful factor is to use Super Glue gel rather than the liquid. The gel won’t run out and it tends to make a more complete attachment that will be more difficult to break.

[B. Dudley]

Original parker nickel silver beads are a very small number 2 thread.

I would find it hard to believe that the ivory could be turned down and threaded that small.

[J. A. EARLY]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Original parker nickel silver beads are a very small number 2 thread.

I would find it hard to believe that the ivory could be turned down and threaded that small.

If that is the case then we will just have to cut the shaft down to install them as we had been doing.

[Louis Rotelli]

Parkers have either 2-56 or 3-56 threads for front beads. I've made many ivory beads and threading them takes a delicate touch.