With a lot of help and insight from some real pro's, I finally have completed my first custom build.

The gun is a Ruger No. 1, chambered in 35 Whelen, with a 25" barrel. Topped with a 1.75-6x VX-3, she weighs in at 8.75 lbs.

Special thanks to Steve Hughes and his great stockmaking summer courses, Dennis Erhardt for his awesome metal work, Jeff Tapp for his fantastic checkering, and Gordon Alcorn for his perfect engraving.

She's a beauty.

Sweet.

Beautiful wood.

For me, personally, I'd prefer the front to be more slender, but i'ts not mine.

Congratulations, very nice looking rifle. I might have done a smaller, trimmer foreend but it is all personal preference. Love the look of the barrel.

Thanks for the kind words. Wondering if we're missing some scale because that fore end is pretty small, especially compared to the factory offerings.

Looks great! I wouldn't change a thing. Just missing a few field dings and the stories that go with them. Time to have fun making those stories!

That's really nice, especially the color of the wood.

It's a beautiful rifle and, from the look of that target, a real shooter! Well done.

Look, to be honest talking about the forearm is like talking about a mole on Kate Upton. I was not referring so much to the length of forearm as a was to the fact that I would prefer more taper toward the end of the forearm. That said, there are no fleas on that piece for sure!

No offense taken, MJines. I just used your comment as a convenient reason to post more pics . I'll try playing with more taper towards the end the next time I'm at the drawing board. Thanks for the input!

Great looking rifle!

That has to be about the nicest looking #1 I've ever seen, and in a great chambering. Good job.

Mart

The wood color is awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
The wood color is awesome.

I agree... looks so nice! Congrats!

You should be proud, very nice work.
Steve Bertram

I like it looks real nice...but I cant find the rear sight?

Enjoy!

Nice team work LRx. Your investment in schooling appears to have paid off nicely. Very, very nice for your first or tenth or 20th for that matter.

A beautiful #1 in 35 Whelen that shoots !
Beyond cool !

quote:

Originally posted by srtrax:
I like it looks real nice...but I cant find the rear sight?

Enjoy!

Good eye! Do to timing issues, I did not have enough time to file-in the rear sight prior to the latest SDH class (see the work in progress at: ( http://forums.accuratereloadin...1019521/m/7261008102 ) . Will regulate soon, but after working towards this day for the better part of 3 years, I couldn't wait any longer to go shoot it!

Thanks for the kind words, all. Can't wait to take her out after elk this fall! Stay tuned!

quote:

Originally posted by Glen71:
It's a beautiful rifle and, from the look of that target, a real shooter! Well done.

Thanks, Glen71! I should have mentioned that was a 10 shot group, fired pretty hastily with factory Core-Lokt's during a barrel break-in session. I think I can improve on it with some handloads, but even if I don't, I'm beyond satisfied!

I think that your barrel is broken in. Just saying.

Sweet rifle.

Jeremy

If that rifle is your first attempt I think you have a very bright future ahead of you! Nicely done.

NICE RIFLE!
And it's all the sweeter when you can take credit for it your self.

WELL DONE SIR!

LRx it is a beauty, you definitely have talent. Keep it up and best of luck in your endeavors.

You put the cheekpiece on the wrong side. Otherwise, beautiful.

Great gun. What kind of a trigger is that? I'm not a big fan of most factory triggers.

Thanks,

Dick Wright

Dick, thanks! The trigger is a Moyers. Definitely not a "drop-in" job, but Dennis did a nice job fitting it. Used to be able to order them from Midway, but they've since discontinued them.

All great comments. I should say that Lee was the original guy to inquire about custom gunmaking classes, he came down from Helena to meet me and see the workshop, came to the last ACGG custom show in Reno and attended the Seminars three years in a row.

Lee wasn't interested in short cuts, did all his own hand polishing and rust bluing, took the high-hard road with stock staining and most of all he Never got in a hurry at any stage of the project.

Lee took note at all the lectures and demos, did the majority of the work in his shop, calling if there was an issue or concern and had pro work done in just the right spots.

He has begun another project M-70 for his wife Trish (she is quite the Huntress!) so we will have something to look forward to in the future.

Thats a very nice rifle !
Just courious as to who made the barrel, and did you use the factory hanger for the forearm?

Super nice rifle, especially for a 1st attempt!

Pretty nice looking Krag (if it is a Krag Jorgensen) on the far left too.

Very nice !! Great work, great wood it'a a 1 shot per Elk gun .
You mention G.Alcorn teaching engraving -but no engraving on your rifle ? My Browning 1885 with it's big flat receiver begged for engraving as does yours ??

A very nice rifle! Thanks for sharing it with us.

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
You mention G.Alcorn teaching engraving -but no engraving on your rifle ? My Browning 1885 with it's big flat receiver begged for engraving as does yours ??

Gordon's work was limited by my budget, not his abilities! As it were, I had Gordon engrave the major screw heads, inlay a gold "S" in the safety well, and matte the top of the receiver, quarter rib, front sight ramp and safety. He also engraved the caliber on the quarter rib.

Photo's by Gordon Alcorn:

quote:

Originally posted by leemar28:
Thats a very nice rifle !
Just courious as to who made the barrel, and did you use the factory hanger for the forearm?

Thanks Leemar. The barrel is a Douglas #4 contour. Dennis Erhardt did a hell of a job making the quarter rib and fitting the sling stud and front sight.

As for the factory hanger, Dennis cut it off as short as possible (but still long enough for the mainspring to function) then dovetailed a block to the bottom of the barrel to mount the forearm.

Lovely rifle. Great job. Congratulations.

I like the quarter rib.

I look forward to photos with rear sight installed and other projects.

Best wishes, Chris

The wood is really handsome and well shaped. You did a really first class job. I like the color a lot. Did you use a stain and if so what and what did the wood look like before staining?

quote:

LRx
one of us

posted 11 August 2014 07:42

I'd really like to see that worked over hanger, and the block for the forearm !!!
PLEASE.........

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Liles:
Did you use a stain and if so what and what did the wood look like before staining?

Thanks Jerry! I used Behlen's Solar-lux in walnut to stain the wood. The entire process is detailed in Steve Hughes' "Double Guns and Custom Gunsmithing". Buy two copies, since your bench copy will get pretty tattered (you can buy them directly from Steve at www.finegunmaking.com).

The wood was a dark brown to begin with, but the staining took it over the top in providing that beautiful reddish hue (IMO).

[/QUOTE]I'd really like to see that worked over hanger, and the block for the forearm !!!
PLEASE.........[/QUOTE]

Here you go, Leemar. Hope it helps!