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Thimbles Installed:

I measured the thickness of the tab for the thimble and use the appropriate drill bit to drill out the channel to set the thimble into place.  Then I place the thimble into the slot. 

Once this is done, I mark the forward end of the thimble, so I always put the thimble back into the stock in the same position.

 At this point I use a sharp pencil and trace around the thimble on the stock. This will be the wood that needs to be removed so the thimble can be seated. 

Once the thimble is inletted so the lower edge of the thimble opening is flush with the ramrod channel, I remove the thimble and use my depth gauge.  The gauge shows the depth of the barrel channel at the thimble and also use it to accurately measure the thickness of the web. These marks are them traced on the side of the stock so I can drill the hole for the 1/16" pin.  

NOTE: When drilling for the pins in the stock, the stock is held square against a solid piece of wood or metal that is perpendicular to the drill bit. This allows the bit to pass thru the stock 90 degrees to the stock. 

This process was followed for the remaining thimbles. 

To correctly identify which thimble goes where and the proper orientation of the thimble, I cut a slot into the tail of the thimble.  One cut =1st thimble from the muzzle and the two cuts=2nd thimble.

To cut the height of the tab to be flush with the barrel channel, I use my knife to scratch across the top of the thimble tab and then cut across this line. 

Here is the rear thimble inletted.