The thread on hunting with custom rifles raised the issue of wear, what mjines poetically called "character" about his own Duane Wiebe 404 Jeffery.

So, I took some photos so the faint of heart can see what happened to my own 404 Jeffery with exactly nine hunting days in Tanzania, which did include a whole lot of carrying the rifle for miles of walking, both slinged on my shoulder and held by the barrel resting on the shoulder, African carry style. Here's the damage assessment:

First, the sling mount, Oh! the horror:



The leading edges of the bottom metal suffer the most, since the blueing gets worn off pretty quickly. The area around the front screw is worn somewhat on one side, probably the way my hand wraps around that spot:



Blueing on the engraved crossbolts, as well as on the grip tang screw, doesn't last long if there is constant friction from carry:





In this shot you can kind of see the difference between the front crossbolt and the rear crossbolt, which has much less wear:



The blueing on the right side of the outer edge of the grip cap was another victim:



I just placed my rifle in the rack on the truck like any other rifle, and a little rack wear is showing on the top of the barrel:



I have used a macro lens to give the most unflattering shots possible (although the kudu backskin looks nice); defects I don't even see show up in this type of photography.

So, do I regret taking this rifle into the African bush? No way. It's starting to look like a rifle used to hunt buffalo.

Nice Wink, thanks for posting, you're getting that "character" for sure, something I dont mind at all in a rifle. Any idea how colour casing would hold up under the same use?

quote:

Originally posted by Matabele:
Nice Wink, thanks for posting, you're getting that "character" for sure, something I dont mind at all in a rifle. Any idea how colour casing would hold up under the same use?

Afraid not. Only weapons I have with colour casing are single action revolvers.

quote:

Effects of hunting on a custom

dead animals

My wife is damn beautiful...and I don't hesitate to use her. It's not worth having if you only look at it, and I'm at that point yet.

quote:

Originally posted by sc gunman:
My wife is damn beautiful...and I don't hesitate to use her. It's not worth having if you only look at it, and I'm at that point yet.

+1

Those marks just add charm and nostalgia

M

This is really interesting thanks for posting the thread. This is a little off topic but there have been many debates as to the durability of Slow Rust Bluing compared to Hot Salt Bluing. From what I have read Rust Blue is supposed to be more durable. I am assuming that your rifle was slow rust Blued. Given that the blue wore off in 9 days, Do you think that Hot Blue would have worn as much during the same time?

I am not implying that you should have hot blued or that there is anything wrong with your rifle. I think that it added character and it looks like it has been on a safari now. Just curious.

I'm pretty sure there are bluing processes, perhaps even numbers of layers done in the process, which can increase the durability of the finish. Unfortunately I know little about the subject. Doing the same stalks with me, and with a rifle in the same rack in the same truck, was a hunter with Remington 700 in 375 H&H, and that rifle had already done 5 safaris in the Selous. Hardly a mark on it with almost no worn away areas.

If I ever decide to have my rifle reblued I might look into it. The bluing on the 9.3 X 62 I just got is a lot darker than on my 404J, maybe it is also more resistant.

Stop bitching. All signs of honest use. As an Australian friend of mine once said, "Toughen up, Princess!"

Sorry, but you just asked for it. Had a good hunt? Used the rife in the process?

Use the right words please !

Patina and signs of loving usage !

NOT DAMAGE !

Dont think Wink was bitching at all, tongue in cheek comes to mind. As he says in his last sentence, "So, do I regret taking this rifle into the African bush? No way. It's starting to look like a rifle used to hunt buffalo."

If your afraid of using it, get rid of it or just hang it on the wall.
I'm in a unique situation as where I get to shoot many very fine and expenve rifles.
It's the normal wear on these that gives them their character. A new pristine looking rifle shows me nothing. A $40,000 custom that has seen lot's of use in Africa after some dangerous game, with scars from the battles has soul!
The wear I see here says it's barely been used at all.
Take it out and hunt hell out of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Brad Hinn:
This is a little off topic but there have been many debates as to the durability of Slow Rust Bluing compared to Hot Salt Bluing. From what I have read Rust Blue is supposed to be more durable.

D'arcy Echols has done extensive tests and found that the best hot bluing is more durable than slow rust bluing.

All bluing will wear, but I am surprised that Wink's rifle shows as much wear as it does after only 9 days in the bush. It is interesting that the screw on the lower extended tang is bare while the bluing on the adjcent areas is still pristine. I wonder if the difference is due to a different bluing process of a difference in the metal itself.

These pictures are from my .404 Jeffery. I carried the rifle all day, every day for 18 days in the field. The barrel wear is from the traditional Africa carry holding the barrel. I do not use a sling. I would not want to venture a guess regarding the number of kilometers walked over 18 days with the rifle on my shoulder.

A little too much wear on Mikes floorplate and around Winks grip cap,especially on the floorplate.

I get a kick out of the comments. It is not too much wear, too little wear, it is what it is. All depends on how the rifle is carried, how much it is carried, how hot it was while it was being carried, how much each person's hands sweat and about two dozen other similar factors.

Character for sure. I like it.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I get a kick out of the comments. It is not too much wear, too little wear, it is what it is. All depends on how the rifle is carried, how much it is carried, how hot it was while it was being carried, how much each person's hands sweat and about two dozen other similar factors.

Did the bluing on your other rifles wear out near as much on past hunts? I bet they didn't.

Let me borrow your Lott and we can do a test to see if the bluing wears similarly under similar conditions.

Anyways,carrying your own rifle for 19 days of hunting in the hot temperatures is hard work and great exercise.It makes the hunt that much better in the end.

I've never minded my guns showing a little wear from use (not abuse!). I have a couple of revolvers with the bluing worn on their cylinders from riding in holsters for many years. My Savage 99 has most of the bluing worn off of the bottom of the receiver.

The first gun I ever owned, an H&R topper in 20 ga, has very little finish left on the wood or the metal. I've had it since I was 12, and carried it for untold miles chasing rabbits with my beagles. I don't think I'll ever refinish that one. There are too many memories wrapped up in all that wear and tear.

This thread was really in response to another thread asking if people actually hunted with custom rifles (some do), the question being premised on how could anyone hunt with such a rifle when it will get worn and banged up.

The obvious answer is they do show wear, and some of us have shown photos on what kind of wear you can expect. If nice bluing is the issue, then get it reblued when you come back if that's what you want your rifle to look like. If not, don't. It's still a free world as far as this is concerned, with the many AR experts' opinion on the subject of little concern to me.

It would be a real pity to have a nice custom rifle that shoots well only to leave it in the safe for fear of it getting bumped or bruised. Use it and enjoy it, the bumps and bruises all just become fond memories of the hunt.

That`s for sure and even if it doesn`t shoot well you can rebarrel.

Owning a beautiful custom rifle and not hunting with it would be like..... being married to a beautiful woman and never sleeping with her....

NOW they're starting to look like hunting rifles!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Balule:
Owning a beautiful custom rifle and not hunting with it would be like..... being married to a beautiful woman and never sleeping with her....

More like having a hot girlfriend and not bedding her in fear of "stretching her" so that she loses her tightness.

While the sentiment can be understood the pleasure comes from using it, and there is no way around it - not using it simply isnt an alternative! Are you a hunter or a collector?

Some people like to flash their guns others like to flash other things some don`t like to flash anything.It`s your life do what pleases you and have no regrets.I respect people who hunt with a factory rifle as much as those who hunt with custom rifles.A custom rifle is certainly more attractive and interesting than a factory rifle.It is something to look at and enjoy passing the time wherever you are-like a work of art.I don`t know about a custom rifle being like a beautiful woman but it may be a reflection of yourself or at least how you feel at that time.I feel that it may also be regarded as a symbol of celebration.

My custom rifles are for hunting first, looking second. I have no safe queens. This last trip to Zimbabwe on the Bubye Conservancy resulted in some handling wear on both my double rifle and on my custom Winchester Model 70 .375 H&H, similar to that of MJines pictured above. It is what it is and is simply part of hunting.

I would show closeups on my 250-3000 mentioned on the other thread, but I was afraid I would be criticized about taking care of a nice rifle. Wood is dinged and scratched and a part of the rust bluing has a scratch near the muzzle.
Most important to me was the bullets hit where I was aiming and took the animal.
As I cleaned it I saw each scratch and ding on the wood. I remembered how each got there. I will always remember that.

Oh yes the memories, recently while hunting in the mountains here I was crossing a snow chute, kicking steps. As I progressed into a shaded area the snow suddenly was of a different texture (ice flowers) and I started to slide.

The only reason I'm here to write this is because I used the barrel of my Mauser Kurz as a belay, twice in fact as I slipped again standing up. If you're wandering about thinking "custom stock, action and krieger barrel etc" and pause before stabbing the barrel with all your effort into the ice, then some sort of Dawinian selection is going to take place and worrying about "hunting with a custom" won't be your only problem !!

Cheers

PS - My memory is of a rifle that has honestly saved my life

The thing that really jumps out at me about these photos is how well Duane's work stands up to the macro lens- that's no small feat.

The wear & tear is part of hunting, it's what those rifles were built for. So long as they continue to function and their appearance pleases the owners' eyes, all is well.

You guys need to stop carrying those beautiful rifles afield!

Some people just can`t own a rifle without hunting and shooting with it,and I am one.

That aint damage, it's "Patina Development".

quote:

Originally posted by Tentman:
My memory is of a rifle that has honestly saved my life

I've caused that much wear on a rifle just getting it in the case to go to Africa. She ain't even broken in yet and a little wear don't hurt the the running of it nun a-tal.

It would be somewhat of a shame to build a custom rifle that's fits you like a glove, shoots exactly how you want, just be be relegated to the back of the safe. Having seen Mjines 404J on our recent safari, I cannot wait for my custom 404J to be finished, as it will accompany me on a future safari.

Nice rifles Wink and Mike. I don't understand the guys comments from the standpoint of not getting the point of the post! Point being that wear from field use adds character and beauty to an already beautiful rifle. It's one of the things that separates a custom rifle from a painting or other work of art. Its ability to be used and not just looked at.

I really enjoyed the pics of both rifles guys. The macro lens presentation is great. Thanks for sharing.

Man, I can only dream of wearing my rifles out with heavy use...
But I'm gonna try!

Running Boar with custom 458.