J.K. Hawken Rifle Kit — Notes on Fitting Parts to Stock

Inlets have been designed so that parts will either fit with little to no work or be just slightly tight, allowing for variations in cast part size. When fitting parts that are slightly tight, wood can be trimmed with a very sharp chisel, knife, or gouge. Small amounts of metal can also be removed from the part edges.

Using a transfer color to indicate tight spots is advisable. This can be soot from a candle, soot mixed with a small amount of oil and brushed on the part, Prussian blue, or similar. Use only a very small amount of transfer color when fitting.

Tip: Whenever a later step tells you to “adjust the fit,” return to these notes. The same transfer-color-and-trim process applies to every metal part.