Checkered Bolt Handle

18 October 2020, 08:59

4WD

Wanting to get a custom bolt handle checkered on a nearly complete 1909 Argentine. The checkered bolt handles I have had done in the past were 36-40 lines per inch. I am looking for a rifle builder/metal specialist or engraver that enjoys bolt checkering for fill in work between their larger projects. Anyone have any recommendations?

18 October 2020, 18:31

tom mason

Bruce Farman.

19 October 2020, 04:23

4WD

Thank you Tom. I found his contact info on the ACGG site

20 October 2020, 01:14

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

Max McFarland is in a class of his own for this work

20 October 2020, 03:35

4WD

Thanks Duane!

21 October 2020, 18:04

Jim Kobe

Google it and a name will come up; Charity, did it for Dakota and branched out

21 October 2020, 18:18

squeezenhope

It's Charity Littleton. She has moved around a bit but is currently in Whitewood, SD. Good work!

21 October 2020, 20:46

4WD

Did Charity Littleton retire?

21 October 2020, 23:02

Phil McFall

Charity has done several for me. 1st class.
Phil

21 October 2020, 23:28

squeezenhope

4WD, Charity did a bolt knob for me about six weeks ago.

30 October 2020, 23:09

Atkinson

If cost and time isn't a consideration, Id suggest a hollow filigreed bolt handle by Jack Belk, they beat anything Ive ever seen...

02 November 2020, 18:27

LesBrooks

If you make a few tools to engrave bolt knobs you can do these and keep the extra money for your on pockets. I build most of my own tools and then buy a Ngraver engravers tool which is shaft driven from the same tool used to do checkering on stocks. Learn how to make the gravers sharp and equal angles on the sides. All of this info in on my USB or DVD drives.

02 November 2020, 19:41

craig48

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
If cost and time isn't a consideration, Id suggest a hollow filigreed bolt handle by Jack Belk, they beat anything Ive ever seen...

Is Belk still active in the gunsmithing world ?

02 November 2020, 20:53

Jim Kobe

The crooked bastard oought to be in jail

03 November 2020, 00:29

craig48

quote:
Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
The crooked bastard oought to be in jail

Along with a whole bunch of other well paid "expert witnesses" and the lawyers who employ them.

03 November 2020, 20:54

4WD

I used Bruce Farman for the checkering of the bolt handle per the recommendation of Tom Mason. Thank you Tom and the others who replied.

Bruce did a beautiful job with a fast turn around.I would definitely use the services of Mr. Farman again.

04 November 2020, 18:02

tom mason

Bruce also does fine bolt jeweling and metal engraving.

05 November 2020, 03:14

Atkinson

Well Kobe save that tough town talk shit for someone else Im talking about metal smiths skill not your personal feelings. If I felt that way about the man Id catch him at The guid show and kick his ass!

BTW you ruined a stock on one of my guns, and I never mentioned it until just now, your failure to properly protect the guns I sent you and your attitude sucked, but I wont call you names unless were face to face perhaps, but probably not...like I did with you, you just need to get over it..

05 November 2020, 17:55

Jim Kobe

That stock you mention was damaged when I got it. You sent it to me without any mention of what you wanted. I sent it back because I didn't want to work on that POS. Being the great custom smith you are, I ask why didn't you do the work yourself.

Jack Belk was a great metalsmith, I know that but the way he scammed all of those people out of some cold hard cash on the premise of cataract surgery he should have been thrown i jail alongside Bernie Maddoff

05 November 2020, 18:05

butchlambert

Ray, I'm on Kobe's side. Don't care how good bellk happens to be, I don't need a crook working on my projects.

05 November 2020, 18:34

lindy2

I think the sort of raised bolt knob checkering by David Miller looks real nice. Might be a little rough on the fingers though. I wonder how he does it?

05 November 2020, 21:19

Atkinson

In that case Kobe why didn't you advise me of the damage before sending the guns back???..Your just making excuses in my books,all you had to do was add a m-70 type safety..excuses, excuses, and lame at that. I sent two guns to you and you with instructions over the phone, you know that and are again lieing. You were rude and without reason other than I inquired about the guns after 3 months or so...so if you live in a glass house don't throw stones.

If you have a problem with Jack, why don't you take it up with him, too much shit like this on the internet..I judge him by the quality of his work, much of which I cannot do, and its always been perfect, not interested in henhouse gossip on the internet and only one side of the stories..

Im not a custom gun smith, I build my own guns for myself,and some friends now and then, I make no claims. I don't need your BS calling a nice old 54 Win. a POS..so you attack me with that? Damn your a low life, I send you work and you reply to my good intention of sending you work, and I got stuck with shipping of about $75. You can bet your sweet ass if we ever meet face to face I will tell you what I think of that..thats no way to treat a customer..

06 December 2020, 07:40

DanM

I just stumbled back onto this site tonight after a very long absence, (decade or more perhaps) Folks are still going on about the One Eyed Jack debacle? Wow!

4WD, if you don't mind, please post some photos of Mr Farman's work. I, for one, would like to see it.

15 December 2020, 06:35

Gringo Cazador

I was about the say the same, I havent been on here much in the last few years and we are back to the one eyed jack rifle. Not much have changed.

15 December 2020, 18:43

Jim Kobe

Sorry, but it is kinda hard to forgive and forget when it hits you personally

15 December 2020, 19:12

Gringo Cazador

Jim,

I can understand and that wasn't the only one of those deals from back years ago.

15 December 2020, 19:15

butchlambert

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
In that case Kobe why didn't you advise me of the damage before sending the guns back???..Your just making excuses in my books,all you had to do was add a m-70 type safety..excuses, excuses, and lame at that. I sent two guns to you and you with instructions over the phone, you know that and are again lieing. You were rude and without reason other than I inquired about the guns after 3 months or so...so if you live in a glass house don't throw stones.

If you have a problem with Jack, why don't you take it up with him, too much shit like this on the internet..I judge him by the quality of his work, much of which I cannot do, and its always been perfect, not interested in henhouse gossip on the internet and only one side of the stories..

Im not a custom gun smith, I build my own guns for myself,and some friends now and then, I make no claims. I don't need your BS calling a nice old 54 Win. a POS..so you attack me with that? Damn your a low life, I send you work and you reply to my good intention of sending you work, and I got stuck with shipping of about $75. You can bet your sweet ass if we ever meet face to face I will tell you what I think of that..thats no way to treat a customer..

Disappointed in you Ray, but you probably could care less.

15 December 2020, 19:29

Gringo Cazador

In stead of building a rifle with this Dumolin action I have on my bench I think I am going to have the bolt handle checkered on. Then raffle it off with all the money going to a charity to start a midget wrestly league!

Who all is in!!

15 December 2020, 22:49

458Win

I have a basic understanding of honesty and appreciation for fine craftsmanship but am still abit fuzzy about why anyone would checker a bolt handle on a working rifle ?
That's like checkering the handle of a framing hammer, double bitted ax or splitting maul.

16 December 2020, 00:01

4WD

quote:
Originally posted by 458Win:
I have a basic understanding of honesty and appreciation for fine craftsmanship but am still abit fuzzy about why anyone would checker a bolt handle on a working rifle ?
That's like checkering the handle of a framing hammer, double bitted ax or splitting maul.

Actually many battle hatchets/axe handles were not only checkered but extensively carved, painted and other adornments.I’ve seen many with the Celtic pattern carvings.

Regarding why? I find a bald uncheckered bolt handle a little slippery in the rain or on hot days when sweating. I find a checkered bolt handle gives me a little more purchase and confidence when first working the bolt.
I also like the bolt release checkered on a Mod98 or Mod70. Is it absolutely necessary? No.
I also find the checkered bolt handle aesthetically pleasing rather than just having the polished round ball on the bolt handle.
Just one more level of refinement.
Most rifles I have seen coming from Hartman & Weiss, D’Arcy Echols, Stephen Heilmann, Gene Simillion, Duane Wiebe and the like have checkered bolt handles. I feel my rifles are naked or incomplete without a checkered bolt handle. This includes my carbon fiber / fiberglass stocked rifles.

17 December 2020, 09:52

458Win

quote:
Originally posted by 4WD:
quote:
Originally posted by 458Win:
I have a basic understanding of honesty and appreciation for fine craftsmanship but am still abit fuzzy about why anyone would checker a bolt handle on a working rifle ?
That's like checkering the handle of a framing hammer, double bitted ax or splitting maul.

Actually many battle hatchets/axe handles were not only checkered but extensively carved, painted and other adornments.I’ve seen many with the Celtic pattern carvings.

Regarding why? I find a bald uncheckered bolt handle a little slippery in the rain or on hot days when sweating. I find a checkered bolt handle gives me a little more purchase and confidence when first working the bolt.
I also like the bolt release checkered on a Mod98 or Mod70. Is it absolutely necessary? No.
I also find the checkered bolt handle aesthetically pleasing rather than just having the polished round ball on the bolt handle.
Just one more level of refinement.
Most rifles I have seen coming from Hartman & Weiss, D’Arcy Echols, Stephen Heilmann, Gene Simillion, Duane Wiebe and the like have checkered bolt handles. I feel my rifles are naked or incomplete without a checkered bolt handle. This includes my carbon fiber / fiberglass stocked rifles.

Each to their own, which is the main reason we have custom rifles. But most shooters who has ever shot across the course competition with a bolt rifle day after day, or done extensive shooting like culling with one have learned to appreciate a smooth, well formed, bolt handle.

Which is why framing hammers differ from blood splattered war hammers.

17 December 2020, 18:24

squeezenhope

I probably would not stir this pot if I wasn't Covid bored. First I want to make it clear that I am an admirer of good checkering, whether it be on stocks or bolt knobs. Having said that I am also of the opinion that both are cosmetic. Having used a matching pair of custom stocked uncheckered pre-war Model 70's for fifty years, not once have I ever suffered from the lack of checkering. Likewise with uncheckered bolt knobs. When you move into the realm of true custom guns it should be a given that you will get what you need, everything else is what you want or like..and that is the way it should be. FYI I took delivery on a built from the ground up custom a couple of weeks ago. It has a nice three panel checkered bolt knob. Go figure.

17 December 2020, 21:06

Duane Wiebe (CG&R)

Most custom makers I know, including myself, don't push checkered bolt handles as a money maker...In fact the client has to be the one to make the suggestion!

Don't think anyone has dropped a gun because it DID NOT have checkering on the stock..but sure looks like an unfinished job without it.

18 December 2020, 01:54

458Win

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Most custom makers I know, including myself, don't push checkered bolt handles as a money maker...In fact the client has to be the one to make the suggestion!

Don't think anyone has dropped a gun because it DID NOT have checkering on the stock..but sure looks like an unfinished job without it.

I certainly bow to your expertise in gun building and a checkered bolt knob, like engraving, can look very nice and classy. but checkering on a stock that enables you to hold it firmly, and checkering on a movable piece of a tool are slightly different.
I know from years of experience that a checkered bolt know will quickly wear blisters with a lot of shooting.