Just finished this 318 on a 1909 Argentine. Welded square bridges set up for ERA twist off rings with G9 Plus in the rear, bench-made front sight and sling studs by my son, stock by Noah Hathorne. Metalwork and rust blue by me.
My favorite caliber on my favorite action, what is not to like? Who did the engraving? and the square bridges? Looks like someones Leopard gun. Thanks for sharing this beauty!
DRSS(We Band of Bubba's Div.) N.R.A (Life) T.S.R.A (Life) D.S.C.
Posts: 2278 | Location: Texas | Registered: 18 May 2004
My favorite caliber on my favorite action, what is not to like? Who did the engraving? and the square bridges? Looks like someones Leopard gun. Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Mike Gouse did the engraving. I did the square bridges. I made bridge blanks for front and rear then Tig welded them on. Trying not to mess up the factory lettering was the hard part, and cutting the pocket for the front ring insert after all welding and shaping was done; you get one chance. Receiver and bolt were sent to Blanchard in Utah for re-hardening. I have a bunch of the square bridge blanks if anyone needs a set. If you're making one, you might as well make extras while you're at it.
Beautiful. What are you doing re ammo. Do you know who makes or has dies and bullets for the 318 WR, or even a swage for reducing 338 bullets down to .330?
Posts: 987 | Location: Scotland | Registered: 28 February 2011
I've been scrounging brass and bullets for a while. I was able to pick up some components from AR members, Huntington's Sporting Goods in Oroville, CA (importer for Woodleigh and Bertram) and other places. I've never tried the swage approach.
Some interesting old components I picked up from an AR member:
Damn... just when I say I don't need another custom rifle someone comes along and posts a rifle like this! Well done.
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling
. . . everything about that rifle is classy. I am not a huge fan of the grip cap engraving but to each their own. Otherwise, that rifle has the lines, engraving and look that any nice custom rifle should have. I like the longer barrel and shorter forearm which give the rifle a very svelte look.
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
Wonderful! Is the action, floorplate and trigger guard just polished steel or some type of finish? What is the barrel length
The metal finish is rust blue which is very black, as in the full-length photo of the rifle. The lighting and reflection makes it look silvery. It seems to me that the engraving and detail shows best when in lighting like this??? Someone who knows photography better than I might chime in and give the best answer. The screw heads are nitre blued.
Your metal looks silvery in certain photos because you have too much direct fill light coming from the front.
Try lighting from the rear of the piece and use reflectors from the front to bounce light back into the piece.
you can also use some gobos (light blockers) to block some of that fill light on the metal.
In other words, increase the contrast of your lighting.
And remember that shiny objects will reflect what is surrounding them. So if you have white walls or white paper near that action it will reflect the white in a photo.
KJK
Posts: 699 | Location: MN | Registered: 11 December 2020
Wayne: Sir, that is beyond awesome! Love the grip cap engraving. All of my African custom rifles have engraving of one of the African Big Five or Dangerous Seven on the grip caps and also on the floor plates. Love it!
No flies on a .318 100 years ago and the same applies today. 
