Bigger picture
You can click this one to embiggen it. it’s a full length pic that should show off the proportions of the rifle well.
Since it’s not exactly horizontal, it’s hard to see just how much it drops at the heel- it’s a LOT. The buttplate is also at something of an unusual angle, and the combination of these measurements fits me remarkably well. And I can shoot it, which I attribute at least partially to the fact that the stock fits.
These are the issues that prevent it from being complete- though it is eminently shootable now.
1:The little notch in the wood in front of the bolt handle is where they gouged out the stock for the old williams sight. I would fill this, if I though I could match the wood, but in fact I may sand below the notch and call it good. I think I can do that and not damage the look of the stock.
The safety knob needs to be cleaned and polished, the mum on the back of that (actually just a checkering pattern that looks like the pattern of seeds on a sunflower) is sharp but dirty, and a little careful brushing and a dip in muratic acid will prep that for bluing.
The new quarter rib needs to be silver soldered on. The original sight was chiseled off, and the barrel has some nicks from that operation. So the barrel will probably be garnet blasted before bluing. If I can find a checkering file at the show tomorrow, I may groove the top of the rib.
The stock needs to be finished. I may put a recoil pad on it, if I can find someone to teach me how to stretch goatskin on one, so it’s not just a piece of ugly rubber.
The floorplate and latch are crudely finished, and I’ll clean them and polish them before I blue them. I may have someone laser the Kanji for “Iron uncle” on the bottom of the floorplate.
And I may- may, mind you, find a timney trigger to put on it. I say may, because the original two-stage is not too damned bad.
And then it will be ready for anything anyone can throw at it.
11 comments Og | Uncategorized
heh, Iron Uncle is awesome!
I thought it fitting- though I’m open to suggestions.
How the hell did you get in my house and take your photos on my bookshelves?
If I may offer a suggestion I’ve used for wood fills: I’ve taken a “sliver” from the barrel channel or under the butt plate to match, then sand and finish. I know you’ll understand what I’m getting at.
On the goatskin, wet it to extreme damp stage then stretch and sew on reverse side where it can’t be seen. Let dry and as it shrinks it’ll get tighter than a you-know what.
YeOldFurt
If I can lay my hands on some this week I’m gonna start trying to do that.
Carteach: Fact is, a lot of us probably have about the same collection of crap on our shelves!!
Timney, Dayton Traister, etc are all fairly inexpensive triggers and really improve a military rifles pull.
What material are you using for your stock finish? Here is a method that really results in a fine finish. Lotsa work but very nice.
http://www.thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=240961
Looks like a Winchester low wall there too.
Whatcha doin with that?
Yeah, I already did the Minwax Antique Oilfinish to the M1 carbine. And intend to do it to the Ari.
The rifle on the shelf below is a Harrington and Richardson falling block, originally in 32 rimfire, being reworked for 22 rimfire. I hve an octagon barrel I intend to put on it, and a piece of cocobolo for the stock.
…Getcha a real Japanese calligrapher to double-check before etching; it’s sort of easy to miss a sublty and end up on Hanzi Smatter….
Er, “subtlety.” See?
LOL! Indeed.
I have three Japanese gentlemen working in my office. I would certainly speak with them before doing anything, and the suggestion is well made and well taken.
Oh, come on; it would be hilarious if you accidentally ended up with kanji that meant “HARD ROOT” or something.
(“Root” being the literal translation of a common Japanese colloquialism meaning “penis”. Which–if you really get into the language–seems to be the case for nearly every noun that involves a cylindrical object.)