This project was a combined effort between myself and Jim Dubell (Delta Gunshop). Jim did all the metalwork and the stock and bluing were done by me.

Here are the stats.
Pre-War Model 70 Action (3 digit serial no)
24" Krieger barrel chambered in .270 Win.
Bottom metal by Williams
Custom scope bases
Conetrol Scope rings
Original trigger tuned to break cleanly at 2.75 lbs.

The stock is Bastogne walnut. Checkering runs 24lpi with a wrap around forend pattern and a saddle panel on the grip. A skeleton grip cap and leather recoil pad were also installed. All metal was rust blued save the screws which were nitre blued by Steve Nelson.

It shoots great. Below are some pics of the targets it has produced.

The client has already taken 2 whitetail deer with this rifle and is currently on his way to west Texas to knock over a muley.




3 Shot group.


2 Shots


[ 12-04-2003, 19:00: Message edited by: Bill Soverns ]

Nicely done! Good luck on the Muley hunt!

Bill

[ 12-04-2003, 18:58: Message edited by: Bill M ]

Simply stunning. A work of art that shoots, or a shooter that is a work of art? Both, apparently. Congratulations to the makers and the owner.

Regards, Wayne E.

Very nice work, Bill!

Question, what would be considered the grade of the wood? I like as it's interesting but not so extreamly figured that I'd be afraid to take it into the woods.

Thanks,
Dennis

Pretty as anything and shoots well too! What more can you want? Good job!
- mike

Nice looking rifle. And it shoots like a varminter to boot. Congratulations, gentlemen!

Total bliss pretty much sums it up fot me That's nice!

Terry

Beautiful, thanks for taking the time to post. Pics are worth a thousand words.

Really nice Bill. That's a rifle to be treasured through several generations.

Jeff

Bill,

You and Jim indeed do excellent work!

Thank you for posting the photos.

jim dodd

That, simply put, is a work of art. What a beauty, and a hunter too. I like that.

Bill,

That is a fantastic rifle! Congrats & good hunting.

Regards,
Dave

Bill - Fair-ta-middlin' job, as usual! This gun seems to bear some resemblances to the 270 you built for yourself, if memory serves. I like it a lot!

Spectacular work gentlemen. I really enjoy topics like this.

Dsmith - those pictures are actually pretty lousy. The wood is exhibition grade but its hard to tell from those pics.

Glen71 - my .270 is a lot more slim and trim than that one. The clients gun weight 8.5 lbs. Mine weights just a tad over 7 lbs. Very nice to carry. I havent checkered mine yet. Too busy hunting with it. Its about to hit the cradle. Here is a pic for comparison. Its not a very good picture....once its checkered I will try to take some better ones.

It's hard to tell it's exhibition grade? Wow, then I would probably be more than happy with what you consider Grade A! :-) It looked obviously super high grade to me. Gorgeous pictures, fantastic work. Any time you want to post gun "porn" please feel free.

Red

Any more pictures like these and the drool running down my lower lip will short out my keyboard.

You really do excellent work. There is no other machine, not even an Italian sports car, that I love more than a finely made and finished rifle.

Congratulations on a job done to perfection.

Bill,
Hey you did good. Looks wonderful, imagine the doc is happy as he can get. Where did you get that hole cutter that made those neat looking targets?

Bill:

Is yours Bastogne, too? Or is that where the weight difference came from? Muy bonito, too!

Mike K. aka BigDogMK

BigDog - yep.....mine is bastogne also. Fiddle back from stem to stern and a PITA to work on. But it turned out okay I guess.

Chic - its called a paper punch! sheesh.....

Bill,

What do you call that particular stock style and where can I get the pattern for MY Pre War 70???

I see the original Pre War flag safety was retained- was there any difficulty operating it?

Is the blue a Mark Lee Slow Rust formula? How does this finish wear for you?

Any additional information on this work of art would be appreciated...

More Bastogne eye candy on a Sako L-57:

Bill, What Is that a paticular stock pattern? Is the comb parallel to the bore or drops at a slight angle?

Bill or chic , Can ya post what the different carecteristics of Types of Walnut.

Calif Claro
American Black
English
Bastagne

Density,ease of working ,looks , which one do you like ,etc

thanks Rick B.

Beautiful rifle! Congratulations and do post pictures of the trophies that it gets you.

Good hunting!

DeBee - I would call the stock a classic style. I took a cheap pattern stock, a big can of bondo, a few files and went to work. The original safety works just fine on that rifle. The rust blue on the clients rifle is Mark Lee. The finish wears like iron for me.

GSP7 - the comb is straight...

Chic knows more about wood than I but then again...he has a few years on me...quite a few I might add.

This is what I think on the various woods - for what its worth which aint much.

Claro - Flashy wood(pretty)..but tends to be soft. I dont use it typically. You really have to carefully look at the blank before you decide. Tends to be very open grain.

Black - Most of the stuff I have used has been excellent. Dense, cut and checkered great. It can be had for a bargain most of the time.

English - This is the most consistant of the stock woods. Almost always works well under the chisel and checkering cutters. High grades of this wood are stunning.

Bastogne - This wood is probably the hardest and most dense of all. Weighs a ton most of the time.
It can be confused for Claro at times but Claro tends to be reddish in color.

I will let Chic expand on this if he wants but I will conclude with this. Whatever wood you are looking at, the quality really depends on the tree it came from. Where it was grown, how fast or slow did the tree grow, how the blank was cut and dried. There is good and bad in all varieties.

Here is a buck taken this year with my .270. For around here he is a nice one. Took me a week to get him.

Bill,
That is real nice looking work. guess checkering a broom handle did'nt hurt your new Dembart. I remember when I showed this one I did 18 year's ago, http://community.webshots.com/user/jag1989, you said how about a close up of the checkering. Well that goes two way's. Your Bastogne sure look's a lot like the chunk I used. I like the leather covered pad. I've never tried it. The good Mr. Worthing sent me the info on how to do it but I have'nt tried it yet. I hope to do one this winter.
Beautiful rifle

Ron,

This is as close a picture as I can take with my camera. I didnt take many close ups of this rifle....I was behind and needed to get it out of here. I was almost done with the grip here. Just some cleanup around the border and point up a few odd diamonds. Then some finish.

I pushed the rong button.
Bill,
That is really nice work. You have a right to be proud of it. I can't get a picture that close. My wife has a camera with Macro but it won't take a picture as close as that. How do you like yur Dembart? I think it was a Dembart. I have had my MMC for over twenty year's and if I just used it for spacing it would still save a day. I've never had the head repacked. I probably should do that. Did you know Dave Kiff can sharpen the cutter's?

Excuse my spelling I just came in from spliting some wood and it's 8 degree's outside. I'll do better after I warm up.

Bill,

What Ron mentioned in the past is exactly where you and I had went south with each other. Maybe I was a bit sensitive about things. However the smiley face at the end of asking me to post closeups didn't help either. As time passed I reflected upon it and figured it was probably my fault for letting it bug me. But it did.

On another note that is a very fine looking rifle.

-Mike

Ron - I use a Dorion - I love it. You wont get it away from me. Who is Dave Kiff?

Mike - we went south? Damn...I missed it! I never intended to offend you. I really was interested in seeing your work.

Bill,
To get that swirling look do you just mix brown and black plastic like Chic does or do you use a special recipe? Do you also use his dremel tool technique for checkering

Jeff

Jeff, I use an old saw blade to checker with, just drag it over the wood a few times. I am going to start on this one this evening, then throw some ATF on it for a finish, lol.

BTW, this is Jeff's new rifle, the One Eyed Jack Argentine 09 that Jack Belk built during his eyesight problem. It was auctioned on a site that is going through some tyrant/ego problems at this time and shall remain nameless.

That's great, I sure hope it is a big bore, have you ever seen such a perfect flow of straight grain through the right areas with pretty streaks and figure all over the butt end.

mmmmmm....

Red

Hey Chic..... Is that sap wood on the right side under the action opening? ?

What type walnut is that on the one eyed jack?

Thanks Bill for your low down on wood types

Rick

[ 12-06-2003, 04:17: Message edited by: GSP7 ]

Chic - that is going to be a honey when its done......WOW!

Chic- who made the sling studs? Are those the type that take hooks? Anyone know where to buy sling hooks?

Red, mpt exactly a big bore, it is a 7X57. It will be a rifle that Jeff will use on a regular basis to chase his favored game for the rest of his life. I already heard that his pre 64 that was his grandfathers is going to his son in the very near future.

GSP7, no it is not sapwood, sapwood has a much lighter coloration. It has the normal coloration, it is just in an area that has less dark lines, mineral streaking. You are looking at a layer between the dark lines.

Bill, it will be dramatic thanks to our friends, The Dressels, and their wonderful wood pile.

[ 12-06-2003, 04:57: Message edited by: Customstox ]

Chic

If my memory serves me correct, you posted a photo of Skibums blank awhile back un the fore mentioned, unmentionable site. If you have it handy could you post it. I find it interesting to see the blank transform into the stock. Thanks. Rob