Gee, none of you are telling me what you think or asking any questions, I feel alone out here! Well so be it. This rifle is to have a picture puzzle forend tip as we call it and this is how it is done, but first I will try to show you a picture of what I am trying to accomplish.

The ebony forend tip is inletted into the walnut like a piece of a picture puzzle. To do this, (or any inlay for that matter) first I make a paper pattern and cut it out. I glue one half of the pattern to the stock blank and the other half to the inlay/ forend tip. The theory is that when inletting the forend tip if you never cut into either pattern it will be a perfect fit. Well you know how it goes with theories!!! It is best if you undercut the inlay at a slight angle or draft. This allows you to keep the fit tight as you do not want the glue joint to show. These tips I usually inlet a quarter to a half inch deep but I have done them so they go on into the barrel channel but this is a lot of work and of no purpose. This picture shows me laying out the forend tip onto the stock blank, the ebony tip with the paper pattern glued on is sitting on the vice.

In the next picture you will see me tapping on the forend tip to mark out the high spots where I need to cut more. You can use inletting black or what ever you want to shop the high/ tight spots just make sure you wash both the inlsy and the stock with somthing like lacquer thinner before you try to glue things up. One point of intrest, Rose wood has an oil in it and if working with it you always want to wash it with thinner or best asitone to get the best glue joint.