I also like the position of the barrel band swivel more than the origional pattern WR. Very nicely done.

A stunner for sure. Love it.

I appreciate what you are trying to replicate, but it is the little things that really make the difference. Thank goodness Duane has improved upon those little things. Man that looks fantastic. Well done.

I am confident that when Duane is done this rifle will far outshine the WR. He is quite an artisan . . . and patient to boot.

Will not be long before the metal will be off to Roger Kehr for engraving. Roger will be doing a variety of things (i) stippling the quarter rib, the front sight ramp and the top of the barrel band, (ii) scroll engraving in the four corners of the floor plate along with putting the caliber designation on the floor plate, (iii) the maker's name on the barrel and sight inserts, (iv) light scroll engraving and the serial number of the rifle on the trigger bow, and (v) light scroll engraving on the grip cap. He has promised to send along some progress pictures as well.

Building a front sight blade, warthog ivory white bead.

Nice detail!

You don't see that every day.

Just so that we can all know, how many 404s has Duane built for AR members? Should we start a club? Are we already a club? It's time for a showdown.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I am not a huge engraving fan . . . I tell myself that I do not appreciate the aesthetics but in reality it is probably me just being a cheapskate. I do intend to have an initial plate engraved to install on the butt of the stock.

I hope the front sight turns out okay. To replicate the WR front sight is not an economic endeavor for the faint of heart or light of scratch. We are still going to do a flip up front sight, but a simpler version, something akin to this:

Almost certainly Ryan Breeding

Here Kitty

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!

WOW!

Very nice!!

Swanky!!

Thank you for sharing the progress of this stunning Rifle. I always find it fascinating to see how the masters do their work.

Can you explain what appears to be curved lines in this picture. Are the checkering lines curved or is it an optical illusion? Any chance you could show a picture of the same view now that the checkering is complete?

Well.... If you look at a globe (of the earth) Latitude appears as a straight up and down line at only one point from space. the latitude lines appear to curve in an increasing arc the further you look E and W.

Of course, spin the globe and those seemingly curved lines will look straight, then start to look curved the other way as the globe continues to spin.

So...yes, they look curved, and the fact is they probably are not as perfectly straight from that magic point in space as I'd like to suggest they are.

See there? ask me what time it is and I'll tell you how to build a watch!

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Well.... If you look at a globe (of the earth) Latitude appears as a straight up and down line at only one point from space. the latitude lines appear to curve in an increasing arc the further you look E and W.

Of course, spin the globe and those seemingly curved lines will look straight, then start to look curved the other way as the globe continues to spin.

So...yes, they look curved, and the fact is they probably are not as perfectly straight from that magic point in space as I'd like to suggest they are.

See there? ask me what time it is and I'll tell you how to build a watch!

I believe that Latitude lines run east west (parallel to the equator) so I would have to turn my head 90 degrees for them to go up down..... (this is accuratereloading.com so I have to argue with you)

All joking aside, I get your point and appreciate you taking the time to explain it and to contribute to this forum. Every time someone takes the time to post a picture of a custom rifle build I learn something and am grateful for the contributions.

Thanks

quote:

Every time someone takes the time to post a picture of a custom rifle build I learn something and am grateful for the contributions.

+1

Brad...you can go to the head o;f the class (I had to look it up to make sure you were right)...HAR! Wish there was some catchy phrase...like for daylight savings time.."Spring back, Fall forward"...er....???

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Brad...you can go to the head o;f the class (I had to look it up to make sure you were right)...HAR! Wish there was some catchy phrase...like for daylight savings time.."Spring back, Fall forward"...er....???

When I was a kid I had to memorize it for school and came up with my own way of remembering.

Latitude = Like Rungs of a Ladder, run E to W (Latitude – Ladder)
Longitude = Are Long so cant be the rungs.....

Now back to gun talk before this tread gets completely hijacked.

Roger is getting started on the engraving. The lettering is complete. The scroll is what is called the scroll backbones, the outlines for the detailed scrolling. Very nice.

That is gonna be one gorgeous rifle. If you can't bring yourself to shoot it, I volunteer to take care of that for you.

WOW!!!

Very nice,Mike.Looks like a beauty.Is that 4 cartridges in the magazine or 3 in the mag and one in the chamber?

I should let Duane respond, but I am pretty sure it is four in the mag and one up the spout.

Keith

Magazine capacity, as per the Brits.

The finished floorplate. That is pretty. Thanks Roger.

Beautiful, Mike.

The entire project has me salivating.

My philosophy of a "simple life" is being questioned, for sure.

Just a word about the magazine capacity.. Yes,,four down, with plenty of "freeboard" to depress the top round and single load.

A "standard" floorplate will give JUST enough room. but we make this particular floorplatge .070 thicker with corresponding cavity.

The overall depth of the box is the same as say... 1909 bottom metal. The box is wider to get proper stack and we make a proper follower to fit.

This model (4MJ) is very popular. retails at $460.00, follower is $49.00

Nice work Duane. You must be stoked Mike.

I always regret passing on a Hal Hartley rifle; it was beautiful and a steal at 3K. But that was years ago when 3k was more like 30K.

Hal Hartley, Duane Wiebe, Dale Goens, David Miller, Bob Emmons, those names and others roll off your tongue like poetry when you think about finely crafted rifles.

That is really great looking scroll,congratulations.

Question for Roger, have you ever mis spelled anything youve engraved. Your work is fantastic. not bad for a NorthWesterner

BB,

I wouldn't say that I have, and I wouldn't say that I haven't. That way I won't be a liar. Cough, cough.

This one has me drooling, from the choice of action, calibre, wood, front sight (really like the hood), barrel length, smith, etc. Let us see the finished product.

Didn't mean to leave out the chequering or engraving. They add tremendously to the whole package.

Getting close to the finished product. Duane and Roger are finishing up a little work on the rear sight. Looking pretty damn awesome.

Mike, That rifle is the Cats Pajamas!!! The amount and placement of the engraving is the perfect accent for a beautiful DGR. I talked to a few engravers at DSC, but I can see that Mr. Kehr needs to be consulted! I got a call from Mr. Elrod yesterday advising my .375 should finish up within two weeks, so hopefully, I will take it to South Africa in June.
With your permission, I would like to talk to Roger about essentially duplicating that pattern on my rifle, Just Gorgeous! Especially like the floorplate, I have the Wiebe drop mag and wanted the caliber and capacity engraved like that, thanks for posting the pictures! Lee.

Wow Duane! Very nice photos. I think you put a damn fine looking rifle together. Damn fine.

quote:

Looking pretty damn awesome.

That's a fact....