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Who are the Paul Jaeger’s and Al Biesen's of today? The guys who did very well (though I’m sure there were butchers as well) after the war converting 98 actions in to well-fitted, reliable and accurate hunting rifles. I have an FN pre-war action that will begin its journey once I find the right craftsman. A search of “classic hunting rifle builders” yields nothing but carbon fiber and stainless, and another group who only work on 700 actions. Where can one go for a properly built, classic hunter in the style of the old Oberndorf, European or African light rifle? I don’t need or want a Griffin & Howe; just a properly trained guy who takes pride in doing great work and his wait list bares this out. He prefers Mauser 98 pattern actions and is not insulted when asked for references. He is a proper, full service shop (metal, wood, finish,...) He does not need to be in Pa, just in the US. Looking for input (good and bad) from folks who have been down this road. Thanks guys, Ed | ||
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Ed, I recommend you consult the members' listing on the American Custom Gun Guild website, www.acgg.org. There are many members who can provide the services you seek at a high level of quality. Members are listed by specialty such as stock maker, metal smith, etc., and each member's page has photos of his work along with complete contact information. I've been a professional member for 22 years and am certain you can find what you need. Roger | |||
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i can't imagine you could do better than Reto Buehler at customsportingarms.com for the type and quality rifle you describe. There are also many others-just browse through this section of the forum. | |||
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From personal experience, I can highly recommend Jim Kobe. First rate work and you have your first reference. Randy Selby is also very good. Larry "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson | |||
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I second the Jim Kobe recommendation. He has made many custom rifles for me, and is in process of making another. NRA Patron member | |||
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Aaron Little (of AM Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC) might be just the guy you described. Aaron is young, but he's a talent far beyond his years. He's taken an old Victor Sarasqueta sidelock 28 bore and converted it into a stylish .30-30 double rifle for me. He has also taken an abhorrent '80s vintage Brno in .223 and transformed it into exactly what I asked for: a "walking varminter" in the form of a classic African light rifle. Pics below:      DRSS "I always take care to fire into the nearest hillside and, lacking that, into darkness." - the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson | |||
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Good names have been mentioned. I hold Duane Wiebe in high esteem. Does it all and it's top tier work. Roger Kehr Kehr Engraving Company (360)456-0831 | |||
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Roger is being humble. He is a Guild member and quite capable of turning out an heirloom quality rifle you will cherish. | |||
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What is your maximum budget?
Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by custombolt: What is your maximum budget? [QUOTE]Originally For the following scope of work I would not think $2K is unreasonable...I don't have a ceiling. It is going to come down to what I believe, as a craftsman myself, I am getting for my money. I may go up (+ new stock, reshape/replace bolt to clear a scope, D&T) or down (do nothing) depending. Rebarrel, add open sights, lap lugs and assure reliable feeding. Strip stock, refinish and recut checkering. Add recoil pad. Epoxy bed. Polish and reblue. | |||
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I'll 3rd Jim Kobe....fast, talented sand reasonable. | |||
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A few pictures may help AR's readers determine how much work the current stock would need. Welcome to AR. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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Duane Wiebe… without a second thought. | |||
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Here is the base gun. You can see the stock design is classic so if salvageable, no need to replace. Just an overhaul to a different cartridge. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/921094224 | |||
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My personal thought is to leave the gun as is...don't muck it up with any "upgrades" You would only diminish it's value. A VERY thoughtful restoration? perhaps. | |||
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Nice purchase. Now that I know the caliber, that the barrel is clean inside and that is a FN actioned Husqvarna, I would not change a thing other than a stock refresh and a quality re-blue. PM coming soon. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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That’s where I’m leaning. It depends on the condition of the stock (oil soaked, split, lop too short…) and whether I want to struggle forever getting/forming brass. But you’re right. If everything is salvageable, strip, refinish, epoxy bed, reblue, hunt. Thanks everyone. I’ve now got a healthy list of candidates to talk to about this project. Headed out today to pick the rifle up. | |||
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As the above posts state, please don't use the Husky for a build. Leave it alone and find a milsurp for a build. There are plenty of Bubba'd M98s that you could resurrect. | |||
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Looking over this rifle, I see no indications of much use; a few heavy dings which will impact my decision to put money in to a refinish vs a new stock. I have a question for the guys who have seen their share of these FN actioned Husky's. Is the polishing of the feed ramp a factory original operation? Out at the far edges where bullet noses wouldn't touch, I can see the tooling marks which this polishing effectively removed. I'm just wondering if I still have an all original rifle. Thanks. I happened to just get a follow up from the seller. He is also an importer and said this rifle was in his most recent shipment of seventeen 46's and 146's and they all had polished ramps FWIW. ramp 2 feed ramp[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/168988918@N08/51958348358/in/dateposted/%5B/IMG] | |||
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He declined the work. | |||
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Duane declined the work. | |||
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What is the reason for declining the work? Just too busy or...? | |||
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Axel..."Accommodating" has always been my way of doing business. A backlog is a comfortable guarantee, but at times the obligation of a realistic delivery date has to be considered. And...Oh Yes, the stock was a semi inlet, which just isn't my game. | |||
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That stock looked to be (boring) original, not a semi-inlet as Duane mentioned. I stand corrected (Thanks DW) and change my suggestion. Sorry to be blunt and straight forward. But, to pay someone to "re-work" that stock seems to be akin to putting lipstick on a pig. There is only one option only in my view. Use that apparently "clean" un-pitted barreled action and go custom. Nice wood, M70 type safety/shroud, 2 or 3 panel checkered bolt handle, bottom metal. As for America's best, I had lots of declines for full builds a few years ago from "the best" that I called. So, strap in and start going through the ACGG list like Roger of Roger's Gunworks said. If they don't have any close-ups of their completed bolt action rifle work, then take that into consideration. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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Understood. I was just curious. | |||
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