how to machine the pocket radius in a top break revolver.

Winterfalke said:

It was the original die sinking process, you make a "cherry" that is shaped to match the pocket with file-like teeth on it. The cherry oscillated in a motion that drags the teeth in a cutting motion, then lifts up and advances forward again, similar to a shaper. The machine I saw just had an eccentric, the art was in making the cherry shaped so it cut just the right shape pocket with that motion.

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Whatever they used, it was likely a far simpler process than guys seem to think, given that they did a LOT of them.

Like as not, it was done on a purpose built machine, as was pretty common practice, it seems.

I wonder how many machinists these days have ever seen a shaper. We had a Whipp. Nothing in the shop more efficient at peeling the scale off hot rolled tool steel.

I watched my dad making a scaled down 'Kurt' vise, shaping the jaw relief cut around the bore for the screw. And that was trivial compared to what I'd heard of my grandfather making with it. Wish I could remember, or better yet, hold it in my hands.

wesg said:

I wonder how many machinists these days have ever seen a shaper. We had a Whipp. Nothing in the shop more efficient at peeling the scale off hot rolled tool steel.

I watched my dad making a scaled down 'Kurt' vise, shaping the jaw relief cut around the bore for the screw. And that was trivial compared to what I'd heard of my grandfather making with it. Wish I could remember, or better yet, hold it in my hands.

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LOL! @ the Shaper comment!

I was in a shop in Edmonton, some years back. Clean, white painted floors, well lit, CNC machining centers all the way around the walls. And a great hulk of a 24 or so inch stroke shaper, sitting square in the middle of the room!

When I asked about it, they said it made them lots of money, doing mostly key ways in oilfield equipment, almost always a 'panic' job. So it remained on the floor!

I have a little toy sized Aamco/Delta unit. They, and Planers, are just...soothing to watch operate!

trevj said:

I have a little toy sized Aamco/Delta unit. They, and Planers, are just...soothing to watch operate!

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Yeah, just don't get too close and have one of those big blue chips weld itself to your skin.

The process is still being done ,and if you are sufficiently swarthy ,have a long beard and a turban,you can see the operation in action as copies of Webley Mk VI's s are still being made.

trevj said:

A post from 2015!

Either the problem has been long since solved, or the guy moved on to more practical things!

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Whew. 2015! I am stupid, where is my sign. I have had "Top Break Fever" for months and have laid in 15 or so stripped frames just to study up on them. Thanks to you others for commenting, I don't feel so bad now. Can somebody post a photo of this automated die sinker apparatus? I know what a die sinker file looks like, and I know how they work, but I never saw a filing machine that did anything but oscillate up and down. My neighbor gave me the cutest little shaper you ever saw, complete, and about the size of a tall coffee table. I am a retired machinist, but I entered the game long after the shaper days.