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Custom Husqvarna 1640 finished. (picture heavy)
18 September 2008, 05:23
TC1Custom Husqvarna 1640 finished. (picture heavy)
First off let me say thank you to all the good people on this board who helped me with this project. It's a testament to the talent that hangs out here. James Anderson. Mike McCabe and Bill Soverns are amazing gunsmiths. I was the only weak link in the chain and I'm still happy with the results.
The rifle is pretty simple and I think that's part of it's appeal. It's deceptively light for what it is at only 7 1/2 lbs scoped but it balances beautifully. It's finally finished and will be my "go to" rifle this year.
It's a Husqvarna 1640 action with some pretty neat upgrades. I got a really good deal on a Husky rifle in a .270 Win. The seller was very honest and told me the barrel was shot out and I was only getting and action and stock in the purchase,,,PERFECT! I sent it off to Mike McCabe with a Pac-Nor featherweight barrel in .270 Win, Halfmoon rifle shop bolt handle, a set of sights out of the parts draw, a banded swivel stud, Timney trigger and a Dakota 3-position safety. Mike went to work and along the way came up with some excellent suggestions that made the barreled action even better.
After Mike finished with it I dropped (grafted) the barreled action into an old BRNO 21H stock I had in the closet. I love the looks of those old stocks and they fit me to the "T". I sent the pattern and a stick of Turkish walnut off to James Anderson for a duplication. This is one of those instances were dealing with people that care pay's off big time! I get a call from James about a week later. He said my pattern needed some attention, basically an overhaul. Instead of him sending the pattern back I sent the barreled action to him and he fixed a few things I had messed up. James saved my bacon on this one and I will remember that! A few weeks later the turned stock shows up and needed very little work to get the barreled action seated and start final shaping and sanding. One of the best duplications I've ever gotten.
After I finished smearing on the finish, the barreled action went back to Mike McCabe for a rust blue and the stock went to Bill Soverns for a checkering job. As the pictures below show, the work is amazing. Bill came up with that neat pattern.
I could on and on about it, but look at the pictures. This rifle is going to be worn out and dinged up so I figured I better take a few pictures of it when it was new.
Terry
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Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
18 September 2008, 05:33
new_guyNICE!
I hope you left that pattern with James... I gotta have one of those!
Well done!
18 September 2008, 05:48
.366torqueFantastic!!
18 September 2008, 06:03
craigsterReally nice!
18 September 2008, 06:08
Mike_DettorreSweeet!!!!!
Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi?[/]
[i] Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
18 September 2008, 06:12
maxbearVery nice, Make sure you send a photo of this rifle to the fella you bought it from. He's gonna want to buy it back for sure.
As for the gunmaker's involved, well give yourselves a pat on the back.
18 September 2008, 06:30
30 Caliber Mag FanTerry-
Another beauty!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!
P.S. Nice Scope Rings,
May the wind be in your face and the sun at your back.
P. Mark Stark
18 September 2008, 06:33
D HumbargerWell done. I like that browning rear sight too.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
18 September 2008, 06:45
srtraxAnother BRAVO!, you know what you want and like/ and I like your taste in theses rifles your doing...NICE.
ENJOY
_____________________
Steve Traxson
18 September 2008, 07:08
butchlambertHey Terry,
You are on a roll! Will you finish my next stock after James gets done with the duplicating?
Butch
18 September 2008, 07:41
TraxA nice svelt rig there TC1!
...what does she weigh as we see it?
18 September 2008, 08:20
cummins cowboythose husky actions are awesome, They are some of the nicest mausers made, it looks like you did the hidden bolt release method, very nice gun
in times when one needs a rifle, he tends to need it very badly.....PHC
18 September 2008, 08:26
KabluewyVery nice.
Ihave a question. What did you do with the ejector assembly / bolt stop? From one or more of the pictures, it looks like the action has been modified to eliminate the traditional assembly. What did you do in it's place? Am I looking at the picture correctly?
KB
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18 September 2008, 08:30
vapodogProbably the greatest advantage of logging on to AR is seeing the talent posted here on gunsmithing. And of course this one is certainly no exception....another really good gun!
Congrats to everyone that worked on it.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
18 September 2008, 15:04
TC1Butch, I still don't trust myself with my own stuff!
Kabluewy, On these Husky's you can simply cut that bolt release lever off and let the wood cover the hole in the action. To get the bolt out you just stick your fingure in the action and push down on the ejector and the bolt slops right out.
Trax, it weighs 7 1/2lbs scoped.
Terry
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Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
18 September 2008, 18:06
SnellstromVery nice Terry!
If I wanted to have a .270 one just like that would be just fine.
Mike as you know is a great guy and does beautiful work, very nice rifle.
Your duplicator, James Anderson, where is he located?
18 September 2008, 18:16
TC1quote:
Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Very nice Terry!
If I wanted to have a .270 one just like that would be just fine.
Mike as you know is a great guy and does beautiful work, very nice rifle.
Your duplicator, James Anderson, where is he located?
He posts here all the time. It's gunmaker.
James Anderson ACGG Metalsmith & Stockmaker Terry
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Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
18 September 2008, 18:33
trouthunterdjTerry,
Beautiful gun!!
ddj
The best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back - Robert Ruark
18 September 2008, 19:30
PeglegMan- That's a beauty!
The only easy day is yesterday!
18 September 2008, 20:15
gunmakerTerry
You did a nice job finishing the semi! Great looking rifle
18 September 2008, 21:19
DKimHi Terry,
Very nice! Can you tell me about the sights - make and model? I think they look great.
Thanks,
David
18 September 2008, 23:04
TC1quote:
Originally posted by gunmaker:
Terry
You did a nice job finishing the semi! Great looking rifle
Thanks James, It would have never happened without your help.
DKim, the front sight is a simple Williams streamline. The back back sight is an old Browning. The guy I bought it off of said it came off an Olympian.
Terry
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Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
19 September 2008, 05:47
z1rThis really did turn out nice. Great job finishing it terry.
It was a pleasure to work on. And, as usual, Jim's work is super.
Aut vincere aut mori
19 September 2008, 07:34
GSP7Mike-z1r, Thats some very nice work you do! Like the Knob job.
Another nice one Terry.
I know James does good duplicating and Bills checkering...
19 September 2008, 08:23
tin canYou've got some of the neatest s*** I've ever seen
May I ask:
what is the bottom metal?
That bolt knob could sell an Edsel.
19 September 2008, 09:50
N E 450 No2Nice looking rifle.
There is just something about a rifle that fits you good and uses minimal wood.
DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
19 September 2008, 14:54
Iron BuckConrats on another beautiful mauser
I have a similar rifle in the works right now. All of your rifles have given me ideas.Thank you
What barrel length did you go with on this one ?
19 September 2008, 18:25
TC1It's 22". When I ordered the barrel the plan was to go 24". I told Pac-nor I wanted the 2 extra inches out on the muzzle after the contour went nominal but in their infinate wisdon they decided I needed 2" extra at the shank. Mike just cut the extra off.
Terry
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Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
20 September 2008, 10:04
djpepperTin Can,
I can answer for Terry...the bottom metal is standard Husqvarna steel bottom metal. All the early 1600's had that type. Later on they had an alloy or aluminum bottom metal. It's only redeeming feature (other than lighter weight) was the inside the bow floor-plate release.
20 September 2008, 18:00
PhilVery nice Terry.
You have a great eye for classic rifles and stocks. You have got to be running out of gunsafe space!!!!
Phil
20 September 2008, 19:45
tin canquote:
Tin Can,
I can answer for Terry...the bottom metal is standard Husqvarna steel bottom metal. All the early 1600's had that type. Later on they had an alloy or aluminum bottom metal. It's only redeeming feature (other than lighter weight) was the inside the bow floor-plate release.
Thanks-
I only knew of the factory aluminum types. Hey, it's good to know I stand a shot at one of these one day with steel bottom metal
Once again, appreciated.
21 September 2008, 05:22
yetiI see a lot of superbly crafted rifles here, but visually this one is my favorite. It's beautiful.
21 September 2008, 05:30
bwanamrmWell done, sir, well done!!!
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
21 September 2008, 06:52
Aaron RustWOW! I had an old Swedish uncle that got me into Husqvarna... Its my main brand of gun i hunt with. I bought a rough rifle a couple years ago for $215 with the same action and bottom metal. I wanted to do the same thing you did but i got to looking at the wood and decided to fix the cracks and restore it... I did and sold it for $500. More work than the profit I made but enjoyed it and used the $500 to buy a fiddle back crown grade with steel bottom too. Great rifles!