Thought you guys might like to see my latest custom job. It started life as a 338 Win mag put together by a dear friend of mine. He passed from a massive coronary and I inherited the rifle. After about twenty years, I decided to do something with it. The stock I threw away. I sent the barreled action to Danny Pedersen with instructions to re-bore and re-chamber it to the 416 Ruger cartridge. I also had him send the action to Salt Lake City for heat treating. When that was done, I sent the barreled action to Roger Ferrell to polish the metal and make sure it fed properly.

I had Curt Crum of the David Miller company turn a nice stick of English that I acquired from Wilcox Walnut to the Miller pattern. I then sent everything to Gary Goudy for stocking. While there, he gave the metal to Herman Waldron to take care of a couple glitches he found.

I received the completed rifle back from Gary a couple days go. I mounted a Leupold VX-7 30mm 1.5-6X scope in Talley rings. All that remains is to take the rifle to the range and try it out. That will come after the holidays though.

Whatcha think?

Tom

quote:

Originally posted by Tsquare2:
Whatcha think?

Bloody awful !!!


No, love it, really nice wood, nice looking lines.

Top stuff.

.

TSquare2, welcome to the forum. Great "membership card" you brought with you! Exquisite! I've had a couple of Gary's rifles, but don't know if they were as nice as this piece.

Very nice rifle Tom. I'm anxious to see targets.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I'm anxious to see targets.
Butch

I always love these type of comments.

When it comes to big bores, most guns shoot better than the shooter.

We need a system of firing the gun in a vice
so that the "true potential" can be seen of each gun.

.

quote:

Whatcha think?

It's truly beautiful.

Gee that's nice.

I think it is a classic safari rifle in a great new chambering! Well done and I know if it shoots half as good as it looks you will have a real prize and a great memorial to a good friend!

Love that wood, simply stunning.

very beautiful and it looks to be first rate work. congratulations.

Red

Love the rifle and the retro Biesens fleur-de-leis chequering.

Beautiful stick of wood. Everything I like in a safari rifle. Lots of mineral streaking and no fiddleback to distract the eye . I really like the quarter rib, very low profile. I can't think of anything I don't like about this rifle! Two questions; Who did the quarter rib, does C.C./David Miller offer stock duplication/pantograph services? Lee.

Your friend would be proud, Very Nice!

Enjoy...

Thanks guys for all your nice words. I'll try to answer the questions here. The bottom metal was on the rifle when I inherited it. I believe, but am not 100% certain, the it came out of Belgium. The quarter rib was fabricated by my late pal, Bud Miller, who originally put the rifle together as a 338 Win Mag.

Dave Miller, no relation to Bud, does not do stock turning for the public. I've talked him into doing a few for me over the years out of 30 years friendship.

Tom

Tom, that is absolutely stunning. You have to have one of the last works of Herman Waldron. Hope you are well and you and yours have a happy and joyous holiday season.

really nice!

Chic,
I call Mr Waldron from time to time. Said he was working on a rifle for Jim Carmichel that he started 20yurs ago. Said he needed to finish it up. I asked Carmichel about it and he confirmed it. I haven't called him in 6 months or so. I hope he is doing well.
Butch

Ok, I know this may be a bit rude or crude, but are you also having sex with Marilyn Monroe (or her 20 year look-a-like old grand daughter) as well? You are one fortunate son of a gun!

Holy smokes! Considering that Blue Chip roster of gunsmithing greats and the exquisite result, you've everything a gun nut could ask for!!!

Congratulations.

Mr Waldron has been in the hospital and was very seriously ill. I believe it was heart problems. Gary Goudy is a very good friend of his and he moved to Dayton WA to be near him when he retired in Southern CA. Gary had been visiting with him on a daily basis but that was some months ago. From what I heard, I would not expect him to continue to work. More than a year ago, he was selling all of his chamber reamers but he did not want to part them out, it was the whole lot or nothing.

I am sure he is still alive or Jan Billeb would have sent out an email.

Chic,

As I understand it from Gary, Herman had a brain tumor and underwent surgery. Apparently, the surgeons could not remove all of the tumor. Last I knew, he was still in the hospital, although that information was at least a couple weeks or more ago. His prognosis was not good. I haven't talked to Gary in awhile, so don't know the latest info.

TT

Congratulations on a fine rifle!

Another beauty you have there Tom, what a special rifle rifle to finish up as it came from a friend, I'm sure you will bring it honor in the field.

Thanks, I will give it my best shot. Hopefully, that shot will be at a 45" buffalo.

TT

That's a lovely looking rifle Tom. Looks like it will be a pussycat to shoot in 416.

Was it much work to get the 416 Ruger to feed well?

Congratulations. Good hunting.

Best wishes and Happy New Year,

Chris

Rockdoc,

Thanks for the kind words. Roger Ferrell did the feeding work on the action. I didn't ask him if he'd had any difficulties with it. He didn't mention any though. I'll be seeing him next month in Reno and I'll ask.

Tom

Tom, If you need that rifle run through it's paces I know a guy who can help.
See you at the shows.

I'll keep that in mind Phil. See 'ya in Vegas.

TT

That's a nice rifle, Tom.

I'm especially pleased to see you chose a Mauser for this one.

Sigh ... a simply lovely rifle ... sigh

Congratulations on a beauty!

sigh ...

Just curious, how much does that rifle weigh without a scope or mounts?

Matt,

I don't have the foggiest idea. Later today I'll see if I can't get a weight for you.

Tom

Very nice. I usually prefer point patterns but the fluer d lis look great on your rifle.

gorgeous .. and that answered the question of "will any of the greats do an XXX ruger"very well.

Thanks guys for all the nice comments. I'm trying to schedule a range trip next weekend. If all goes as planned, I'll give you a report on how it shoots.

Matt, As best I can tell with my scales, the rifle without the scope and rings, weighs 8 pounds, 5 ounces.

TT

Thanks!