-Posting for Dave Wesbrook-


Metalwork by Ralf Martini, engraving by Robert Strosin, stock and photography by Dave Wesbrook.

Several years ago I was approached by a man at the ACGG show in Reno, NV. After handling the G33/40 rifle I had on display (see CRCC post in this section) he shook his head and grinned and asked me to assemble a team of craftsmen to build such a rifle for him.

Ralf and I had wanted to do a build together for many years so I walked the client over to Ralf's table. More grins as he examined Ralf's work and the many options available. The client's instructions to us was to do whatever we wanted, but build him the "finest G33/40 ever made." (Note: Ralf did me a personal favor in doing the metalwork only as he generally accepts commissions only for complete rifle builds) Wow, what a client and what an order!

Ralf asked me to send him a specific list of what I thought needed to be done to the action, I sent Ralf a list of 23 things, all of which he agreed with and would have done anyway, and Ralf added several more such as custom made scope bases and welding up the little bevel at the rear of the bolt raceway for a cleaner transition into the wood as well as several other features. When Ralf suggested his octagon to round barrel with everything integral, I jumped at the chance even though it added over $3000 to the project. After all, we were given a carte-blanche budget. When the client received photos of the finished metalwork he was ecstatic. A Recknagel safety, and a shortened Heubner trigger were added.

For the stock I chose the finest example of quarter-sawn parallel fiddleback European walnut that I have ever seen, let alone owned. Dense, perfect grain flow and very expensive. The client bought it sight unseen. (I will admit to some seller's remorse over that blank as I am a wood whore and could either use this blank now on an appropriate rifle, or look at it for the rest of my life and dream.) It took my sawyer almost 15 years to uncover that blank from a stock in the back corner of one of his warehouses, but when he did, he remembered my request and called me. He was only able to buy one huge limb from the tree, the rest of the tree was already sold for furniture veneer. What a waste. Anyway, that one limb yielded 4 blanks, one seen here, one quarter-sawn with feather-crotch fiddle-back, one slab-sawed and one re-sawn blank - all very dense with very tight growth rings. I bought all four. Guess I'm on this sawyer's "A" list.

For the engraver, I chose Bob Strosin. Bob is a world-class engraver that lives right down the road from me in Wisconsin. The client didn't know Bob's work and wanted some input on the engraving. (He is an engraving whore) The client finally met Bob at the Engravers guild show in Vegas last January and worked out the sketches for the engraving you see here. My original concept for this rifle was one of "quiet elegance." I believe that Bob's skill and the client's input on the engraving elevated this rifle to "world class elegance." What do you think?

Dave Wesbrook

P.S.

The client has neither seen the finished rifle, nor these pictures. I will hand-deliver it to him next week. From there he will ship it back to Ralf for gas nitrite hardening of all the metal and rust blue of the barrel.

Baxter i cannot see the photo's.

Is it just me..?

Excellent !!!!!!

I like the way the stock is done along the left side of the action. I've never seen that done before. Thanks Dave!

As usual, the concept of the client is masterfully executed by masters of the trade and art. I expect it to shoot as well as it looks. Well done gentlemen!!

Bob Strosin in engraving a shotgun for me, one of the best, can do all styles.

Stunning, simply stunning!

Very, very fine rifle ! One question; who make the decision to use allen key screws with magazine ? It´s quite unusual to see those in that kind of "high-end" rifle. In my eyes they looks good.

First, let me say that this rifle is a blending of two obviously great artists. It is absolutely gorgeous. Any differences I would have would be personally aesthetic differences, and very minor. Since you asked. I see three different types of screws, allen, torx and flat, all superbly done. Is there a way to make that two? The Talley rings also appear to have blued levers and screws that look different than the rest of the rifle. I don't know if that is a lighting thing or not, but if not, could those be brought to a similar color to the rest of the rifle?

Again, the rifle is an absolute work of art and I am positive the owner will be ecstatic.

It looks so good in the pictures, the client will be completely blown away. Greta work!

Igorrock and larrys, I use allen head action screws so that you can mantain the proper torque on the action from any seasonal changes in the wood. Wood is a living and breathing medium that absorbs and expells moisture constantly no matter how well you seal it. ...As far as the screw head types--I suppose that you could replace the ring screws with allen heads but it never bothered me.The wood screws in the grip cap and sling swivel base are a horse of a different color however, and I think that they need to be left slotted. ...The levers will be modified by Ralf and then gas nitrited to match the color of the finished metal. Thank you for the comments. Dave

I thought that might be the case. Great work!

Wow is that ever nice!

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
First, let me say that this rifle is a blending of two obviously great artists. It is absolutely gorgeous. Any differences I would have would be personally aesthetic differences, and very minor. Since you asked. I see three different types of screws, allen, torx and flat, all superbly done. Is there a way to make that two? The Talley rings also appear to have blued levers and screws that look different than the rest of the rifle. I don't know if that is a lighting thing or not, but if not, could those be brought to a similar color to the rest of the rifle?

Again, the rifle is an absolute work of art and I am positive the owner will be ecstatic.

I agree, wonderful! But, how about the engraver, he would probably be the third guy to give some credit to.

I agree Jim......my bad.

Nice work from all...but I'm a Martini barrel fan.

Beautiful work. Must be a gunmakers dream: A client with unlimited cash and no ideas or direction...

quote:

Originally posted by clowdis:
I like the way the stock is done along the left side of the action. I've never seen that done before. Thanks Dave!

Knowing the 33/40 action that is the only logical way to treat the stock along the left side.

I do know Bob

Is there a scope worthy to grace this rifle?

Beautiful job by everyone!

Dave,
Awesome..I particularly like the comb flute going into the pancake check piece shadow line, nice touch..The metal is top notch for sure..

Yes that is a beautiful rifle. I just need one more thing.....................


Calibre???

Cheers,
Mark.

i'm with mark
For some strange reason i always want to know the cambering ?
...tj3006

quote:

i'm with mark
For some strange reason i always want to know the cambering ?

.275 Rigby

Gentlemen, The caliber is .275 Rigby and is gold inlayed on the top of the rib just foreward of the front receiver ring. (The client thought that sounded more elegant than simply calling it a 7x57 Mauser) ...Note: The metalwork for this rifle was more thoroughly covered in the "Ralf Martini G33/40 metalwork" thread posted earlier. ...Dave Wesbrook ... Looks like Baxter beat me to it

And Hornady is supposed to be making 275 Rigby stamped brass...very nice!

Its a shame to waste this quality of craftsmanship on a mauser action.

Well Duane,
After all these years are you surprised at a comment like that? My wife says a lot of folks have taste in their mouth only.

Well,
I was in love with with it before , now that i know its a .275 rigby , i want to sell my house and have you build me one...tj

The rifle is as good as it gets, there is no doubt about that.

As I was considering Dave's comment that Ralf did him a favor by agreeing to do the metalwork and then allowing Dave to stock it I realized that the owner has something extra special: a masterpiece that is signed by 2 masters.

Beautiful rifle.

Congratulations to the owner and the craftsmen involved.

Fabulously engraved finely finished metalwork that seems to grow out of the stock.

Classic cartridge too!

Thank you for posting.

Best wishes, Chris

What a beauty. Kudos to all involved.

Couldn't wait to see the stock finally , well done Dave ! You paid a lot of attention to detail .That makes a pretty nixe package after all and compliments the iron. The engraving by Bob is outstanding , there is a lot of very tasteful coverage on there. The detailing and gold lettering by Warren Smith looks great
too, I noticed that on your earlier posting of the metalwork. I guess the barrel will be hotblued that the Gold comes out the best and the trickquestion is how to finish the action? If you gas or bath nitrate the action the engraving will show the best in that french grey kind of look, with the black contrast in the engraving? The gold will not show so much ! Have considered maybe to color caseharden it and fading out the colours on some of the engraving, like the animals on the floorplate and the steel buttplate ? The gold will show good with the color casehardening ? What do you think ?

Dave,

The stock is beautiful and the stockwork exceptional.

Congrats to all involved in the project, the work is top shelf to be sure!

Thanks for sharing!

Perfectly inletted, sharp detailing, checkered & finished to perfection, exactly what you would expect from Dave Wesbrook.
I think it was a gutsy move to get rid of the wood in front of the bolt release all together, I wasn't sure about it at first but it is growing on me. That small peak of wood always looks too vulnerable anyway, damn those G33-40s.
I also like the use of the socket head action screws, they are just so practical and when nicely engraved are not at all out of place on a fine rifle.
Overall a stunning piece, wood, metal and engraving.

Absolute stunning rifle!

quote:

From there he will ship it back to Ralf for gas nitrite hardening of all the metal and rust blued.

I understood gas nitride hardening was not recommended for Mauser actions? And am I incorrectly presuming this is the same gas nitride process offered by multiple firms that also includes a coloring of the metalwork?

Thanks for the clarification.

Properly done nitried works very well on firearms. It is a type of case hardening. If the temp of the process is lower than tempering, it is fine.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
Properly done nitried works very well on firearms. It is a type of case hardening. If the temp of the process is lower than tempering, it is fine.

Thank you.

Unfortunately that raises another question, "What is the correct temperature, or temperature range, to nitride a M98 Mauser action?"

I apologize for the thread jacks...

I have had them done, but you need to talk to somebody that is more aware than I. I have had stainless and CM barrels melonited. It is a salt bath process at temps lower than the barrels temper. Since Mausers are case hardened and color cased, aftermarket processes done properly should work fine. I'm just not the person to give advice.