I am in the middle of pulling together all the parts I need to build my first African rifle. It will be a 375 H&H. I have all the parts needed except the Blackburn bottom metal, and trigger. Let me list what I am using so that you can get a feel for what the rifle will be.

Action - immaculate 1909 Argentine

Barrel - Lilja 375 with quarter rib and NECG express sights (front and rear)

Bottom metal - planning on Blackburn drop belly

Trigger - undecided as of yet

Bases - NECG / EAW w/30mm rings

Stock blank - AAA (maybe exhibition) claro. It has nice red and black contrasting color with heavy fiddleback throughout the entire blank.

I will post pics of the blank and barrel after I get back home this evening.

Receiver, bolt handle, swivels, rings/bases, bolt shroud, grip cap, and bottom metal will be color cased. The barrel will be blued.

What I would like to know is about the stock. I want it to have a classic safari rifle look. Since this will be a once in a lifetime rifle for me. I know I want it to have an open grip, round fore-end with a shadow line cheekpiece. Leaning towards an ebony fore end cap with a steel grip cap. 1" Decelorator. What should I look for in the stock pattern? What patterns do you suggest? Are there features that will lend it to better feel and balance I should look for? What stock makers do you reccomend?

If you can post pics of your rifles and point out features that you like and dislike it would really help.

:-)

I know that Chic Worthing, who not only is a great craftsman but very nice and easy to get along with individual, has some classic patterns on hand (at least I thought he did from something I read here once). As far as pictures of real classics, I have found the best source to be Alf, he sent me some great ones of classic mausers.

If you could find one of these guys that has a pattern that you like then what you could do (if you are doing the stock yourself) is have your blank sent off with their pattern and have it copied to yours but leaving some wood in the inletting to make sure you have no gaps. The other thing is pick the guy you want to have build it and see what his patterns are. Look at the pics of Chics work here, very impressive, and I have seen it up close.

Who are you having do the color case hardening? I know that Turnbull did most of the guns that were case hardened at the ACGG show in January, and it is really the best I have seen. It is colorful, mello, well distributed (some color case hardening has colors swirling in one spot and not others) simply the richest looking I could find.

I have posted pictures here of both Chics work and Turnbull's, if you can't find the threads let me know and I will get you the pics.

Red

I am hoping to find out who has good stock patterns from members here. I really want to do this one right. I have done stocks in the past but since this will be a dream rifle for me I want to have a pro do it.

I am hoping to get Turnbull to do the color case work. I have heard that he isnt taking any bolt guns right now though.

Jim Brockmon, 208-934-5050 has all the English classic stock patterns, including the H&H and my drop box pattern..Bill Dowtin has the best wood at the best price I have seen in many a year...I would opt for a European walnut for a big bore...

There are a lot of good stockmakers out there. The biggest problem is usually getting the metalwork right, and, indeed, the metalwork is the heart of the rifle.

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Tanker, drop DPhillips a PM and ask him about some Wiebe stuff in a DGR. Will bring a tear to your glass eye. He posts here regularly.

Dungbeetle

I've seen some of Chic's stock work. All I can say is beautiful. You won't go wrong using him for the stock work

If you're going to have Chic build the stock, his standard American Classic style pattern should be excellent.

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