Gunblogging
Haven’t done a lot lately, but it’s because I’ve been up to my ass in alligators. I have been doing a lot of stuff, just haven’t had time to post anything.
What’s going on at present, is I’ve got about five project guns.
1: Enfield 17, I’m debating between rebarreling it to big game, or taking it all back to stock. It’s been (badly) sporterized, but the iron is all there, and good, and it shoots like blazes.
2: LeFever Nitro Special in 20 gauge. I love this fine old double shotgun, though it’s stock is rugged. Was dad’s rabbit gun, and a damned good one. I’m trying to find someone to hook me up with a decent stock blank so I can duplicate the stock.
3: Hopkins & allen falling block. This came to me by accident, and was originally chambered for 32 WCF, though the block was missing. I’m trying to put my hands on a new block, but I may have to settle for welding up and redrilling the old one. I already have a nice octagonal barrel.
4: 93 (spanish) mauser, for which I have just ordered a new Shilen barrel in 7.62X39. THe 93 action won’t tolerate anything more powerful, but the 7.62 is gentle enough not to blow apart the relatively weak 93 action. I’d have gone for the 257 roberts,but the 7.62 is the world’s commonest round.
5: MArtini schuetzen rifle. This is a wreck with a bad barrel, but an ornately engraved receiver, and I want to take the ornate octagonal barrel and rebore it from it’s original 22 hornet to 25-20 wcf. I think it’ll be well worth the effort. I’m going to start working on the replacement stock soon, mocking it up in Bondo before duplicating in european walnut.
As i do more, I’ll post pictures.
14 comments Og | Uncategorized
The M1917 is becoming more and more difficult to find in issue condition. Boyd’s has well done replacement wood fairly priced. All the metal furniture is available. Restoring a military rifle to issue configuration is not a profit making venture, but is usually much less expensive than an all out sporter remodel. I’ve got an 1892 dated Krag rifle in the same boat, badly done “sporterization” and a sweet shooting, unmarred barrel. It needs a new stock and handguard plus some bands and swivels to be in issue dress, but with a bit of patience, and less than $150.00 I’ll have it back.
You could also bore out the barrel on that Martini and put a liner in.I guess Brownell sells the liners and the drills,use epoxy to glue it in.I guess it is something you can due at home, Shotgun news has a how to article on doing this. Last couple of issues or so! arden
The chamber on the martini has been damaged,some moron used a tap to extract a stuck cartridge. A liner won’t replace enough metal to fix that.
The enfield, yeah, I could take it back to original. I probably should, it’s a great old rifle. Damn fools for messing it up anyway.
I have a chance to maybe swap out the enfield for a Browning a-5 in sweet sixteen, and that’s what I’d prefer to do. Or find someone who wants to take the enfield and use the money to buy the Browning.
Damn, damn damn. My only current project guns are a S&W model 38 that was left in a leather holster so long it rusted and a Colt Junior that needs some TLC and new grips.
Looking forward to pictures.
The only project I’m looking at in the near future is picking up a kit to make a left handed Queen Anne black powder pistol.
Aw gee, I thought that as a .30-06 the P-17 Enfield WAS a big game rifle.
I do however deeply sympathize. I mean if my 03 Springfield was not in original condition, how could I have fantasies about being a Doughboy going “Over the top”?
Oh yes, and I have three P-14 Enfields that were demilled by just pludding the barrel. Am contemplating restoring one of them.
Just curious, who made your M1917? Mine’s an Eddystone and has a Johnson Automatics 2 groove replacement barrel. Shoots like a dream. I got dead lucky with mine, it plunks cast bullet plinking loads into an 8″ bull all day at 100 yards. 10 grains of Unique under a wheelweight metal Lyman 311299 unsized and tumble lubed with Lee Liquid Alox. Fun to load and feels like shooting a .22. I have no idea of the velocity, but it shoots POA at 100 yds. with the battle sight and those plinking loads.
Mines a remington, with a remington 2 groover. yeah, a blast to shot. Little felt recoil because of the weight of the rifle.
You will post pictures NOW Mister!!!
Og, you gotta spruce this place up. Some good gun porn would do nicely, the only other art you have up is that self portrait (and only your old lady likes that, HAR HAR HAR!)
Geez, they all sound like simple projects too. Be careful Og, the simple ones are always the ones that turn into money pits.
if I rebarrel the enfield it would be to 416 rigby. The action can take it, and the 416 is a great big game round.
Gun blogging rules.
Sounds like some cool projects.
Can’t wait for the pictures, Og!!
I may have the breach block for youe hopkins allen. Would you be willing to sell it? Do you have a picture
Most of the liners I am familiar with are at least 5/16″ OD and many are 3/8″ OD. Either should be more than enough to remove the damaged chamber area. Unless of course the 25-20 is the goal. I have a 40-72 because of that reasoning. I also have a Matini schuetzen I had relined, heavy as all get out but accurate
Good luck with the projects
Kevin