Finishing this up, metal is still in the white. Just got it back from checkering.

Looking good!

If you can stand the commentary..IMHO...
The inletting looks great and should be applauded. The stock is very nicely done. The cheekpiece and forend tip look like show-off stuff, trying to impress? These don't fit the other styling and you didn't quite get them right.
You are doing some great work but IMO doing a great job without showing off presents a better example of professional standards, mixing and matching of stylistic details detracts...

90% of the comments will tell you how wonderful it is, Mine will offer a different perspective. Take it as you will..I don't offer much comment around here.
I love the caliber and small ring action, the stock blank looks swell to me!
I'd also offer an invite to come visit my workshop this summer, Montana can't be too far?

Thanks for the feed back. No showing off at all. My rifle built for me, what I wanted to do, something a little different.

Nice crisp final work there kda55 for sure. Any particular reason you deleted the lungs/shoulders at the rear tang area?

Very nice workmanship. Terrible style.

The tip looks a bit weird to me, but I disagree that the cheekpiece is showing off.

Well ok, maybe a little, but couldn't you say the same thing about any shadowline cheekpiece? There's nothing functional about the shadowline, and I actually like this treatment - It's original, unique, artistic even. (not opening the craftsman vs artist can 'o worms again...) What about engraving, isn’t that showing off? This is a forum for custom work, and aren't we all trying to impress others, at least just a little?!

I would take it ahead of carved oak leaves any day!

Nice work for an amateur, again it makes my best work pale by comparison...

P.S. I have seen that kind of groove in tips before, it looks too purposeful (and a bit unattractive) to not be functional. Like a groove for a bungy to rest in while racked in a truck? If not for a bungy or rope, what are these for? Shooting sticks? And does this feature have a name?

I don't know what lungs/shoulders are- just slimming everthing down. The forend is Alex Henry style used by them, Fraser and others over time. As for style I'm the only one that counts since it is mine. I'm only posting for enjoyment of craftsmanship. If I was worried about style it would look like 99% of everything else out there. I agree with montea6b, thank you. Get your rifle checkered and post a picture.

quote:

Originally posted by kda55:
Get your rifle checkered and post a picture.

Well, the rifle is in Arizona and I am in Washington. But, if it comes back to me I will... (grudgingly. Bill, you reading this?!)

Anyway, I do my own checkering. Not well, but good enough for a decent working rifle. Good enough to have some pride in ownership, and to show it off in the field with friends and family even if it isn't top shelf work. And I have a new toy to play with - an air driven checkering tool I got at a gun show last month. Needing a fitting to connect to the compressor to start practicing.

kda55 Excellent inletting and detailed shaping. What finish and technique did you use on the wood ?

Daly products, seafin sealer and seafin teak oil finish with alkaneet root stain for both, sanded in with rotten stone rub ~every 3 coats, final finish rotten stone rub for dull satin finish. Good boat finish, great rifle finish and easy to work with. I think there is 8-10 coats total on this; 3 sealer, remainder oil.

Inletting looks impeccable, style is not my taste but it's not my rifle. That said if you walked up to me and said "Here it's yours" I would be proud to own it. Beautiful work for a so called amature.

I can't but help admire the skill exhibited there.

quote:

Originally posted by montea6b:
P.S. I have seen that kind of groove in tips before, it looks too purposeful (and a bit unattractive) to not be functional. Like a groove for a bungy to rest in while racked in a truck? If not for a bungy or rope, what are these for? Shooting sticks? And does this feature have a name?

I am under the impression it is called an Alexander Henry, and was used by Ruger on many of the No.1's.
Alexander Henry died long before anybody put a rifle rack in a truck, so I doubt it's that. I think it was purely decorative.

I've seen a sling attached there with a leather thong, the other end of the sling was a leather cup the butt went into.
I don't know if that was its intended purpose, though.
Does look a bit phallic, though.

Lungs are located forward of the tang seat sides . One is next to the ejector box screw point hole and one across from it.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Nice crisp final work there kda55 for sure. Any particular reason you deleted the lungs/shoulders at the rear tang area?

The action may be a Mexican 98... Swede.... they do not have the "lungs" you describe

I like the details - they make it stand out from general patterns/styles - well done!

It's a Mexican. Thanks AH, my sentiments also. I'll post pics later of the metal in the action.

Yeah. Sorry kda55. I inletted the stock for my '36 Mexican about a decade ago and totally forgot about the lack of the these.
So, gentlemen, what's the official name for those? My ACGG friend called them lungs.

Feels like a shotgun in the hand. A large percentage of my shooting while hunting is offhand, quick shots. I usually wrap my hand around the foretip to control the rifle so the shorter forend is the cats ass. Really looking forward to putting it to use. Hope some of you have enjoyed my efforts. Happy gun building.

I like it even better when I can see the whole thing in one pic!

Top job Kda and a good choice on the optics.
How much does it weigh?

I think it's beautiful and certainly much better than anything I have achieved.

As a stock only, the chiekpiece appears too small, but as a complete rifle, it looks just right.

Where did you get that barrel? I like the contour.

Impressive job on the inletting! While it may have features that are not 100% harmonious, they seem to play well together and the whole makes a very attractive, well built, unique, and likely very useful tool, which is all you can really ask, and more than you typically get, out of any custom rifle.

Well done!

John

I admire your sense of proportion and attention to detail.

I don't get the backhanded commentary on here because it's not their style or how they would do it.

Beautiful work!
It's not supposed to please everyone, that's why it's Custom.
It's the skill & workmanship that is on display

To answer a couple of questions.
Weight is 7-7 1/4# without the scope near as I can measure.
Barrel is a McGowan contoured to my specs.
As to the remainder of the comments, I wanted something different. I can build and have built classic styled rifles. I don't do this for a living so I can play in the sand box to my delight. It would be a very boring world without experimentation or stepping over the boundaries of conventional accepted norms. And lastly, it is lively in my hands, balances beautifully and it's mine.
Edited for Metal last but not least- yes, fabulous scopes. Hard to come by here, lucky to have it. And keep posting your work, lovely!

Yep yep yep.

quote:

Originally posted by kda55:
It would be a very boring world without experimentation or stepping over the boundaries of conventional accepted norms.

By the way, a picture from the top down and bottom up would be nice. So far, great fit.

For Custombolt

That is nice, crisp work.
As for whomever called the lightening cuts underneath a 98 receiver, "lungs", I just can't fathom why.
They are for nothing more than reducing one ounce of weight. If you look at a 45 dated 98, especially from Steyr, they don't bother milling those out.
Lungs? no.

I remember Duane referring to them as cheeks, and if inletted correctly will absorb recoil.
Makes sense to me.

Thanks for the new pix. Very nice inletting work there.
dpcd - I prefer the term shoulders. I believe those are actually lugs to help prevent rearward movement. The Mexicans had extra material under the rear tang for extra rearward support.

Cheeks sounds good too.

Kidneys! They're kidneys dammit! Get your terminology correct!

Frozen snot?

Touche!

Damn I like that rifle might change a thing or two if it was mine but that's what makes a custom. I think Roger Ferrell built a 6.5x55 that had some of the same features. I liked that one too...

Well done.

Beautiful rifle, and great execution of YOUR custom rifle.

I never understood the desire of people to pick apart another persons custom rifle, as if it was your job to appease everyone’s desires. Nor do I understand building something to another’s self-proclaimed standards for the sake of trying to impress said person. The rifle doesn’t break any “rules”…