Neanderpundit

An Arisaka 99 which has been sporterized.

No, not sporterized in the usual “bubba” way, sporterized by a professional. The stock is a Herters, (I originally thought it was a Fajen, but I found the Herter’s stamp on the buttplate) and it’s actually very lovely, it’s shape reminiscent of the early Rigby style stocks.

It has had a couple of issues since I first acquired it; it first had a broken bolt. I took it to Harry mcGowan and had him remedy that, he did (or, I should say, his sons) a remarkable job. The bolt is as smooth as silk and the handle is wonderful

I shot it a few times and let it sit in the cabinet, the front sight ramp loosened easily under firing, and the rear sight, a cheapass Lyman type, was cheezy and nasty looking.

Tonight I cleaned up the barrel where the front sight ramp sits, and the ramp itself, tinned them, and silver soldered them together. It’s a workmanlike job, and looks fine. next, I’m gonna put a three-leaf folding ‘Express” sight on it, from Jeff’s Outfitters.

Speaking of which, while you’re over at Jeffs , have a look around. The kind of stuff they have makes me drool involuntarily, and I’m looking hard at one of the nice canvas/leather cases for the Sabatti. They have a bucketload of very nice stuff.

Anyway, when this “Project” is done, i’ll have a fine, nice looking 30-06 bolt action that is durable and unlike most Mausers requires no tools to be broken down- the bolt can be disassembled with your hands, the magazine floorplate can be opened with your finger. I will never sell this rifle, it came halfway around the world with it’s chrysanthemum intact. I will not hand it off to someone who will drill a scope hole through it.

yes, 30-06. The US chambered a bunch of these for 30-06 to arm Korean troops. This may have been one of those; I know the rifling is perfect, and if I load it for 303-06, it shoots like blazes. You can’t resize the cases easily for 30-06, but I just neck resize them and they work fine.