Things have been busy with work and home but I took some time to work on making new side plates today. The side plates are what holds the forearm in place and they take a good bit of wear and tear I used some O-1 tool steel I had on hand which I can harden and polish up before blueing. They are dovetailed into the frame and held in place with two small screws. The old ones were soft, worn, bent, and loose in the frame. As such, it was only the screws that held them in place. The new ones are a snug slip fit with no play. I used a file to shape them and cut the 25 degree bevels on the sides and round end. I still need to shape the rough end and thin them down a bit to match the frame, then I need to harden them and a couple of screws, but it’s progress.
Once I get these done, the gun is pretty much ready to go out for color case and blue. I am going to make a new brass shell follower and an ivory bead but That can be done while things are out for finishing.