Some of you may remember the "Dress Rehersal" photos I posted a while back. Well, this has been a great project, but I can't hang on to it any longer so it will ship out on Monday.Here are a few shots of the finished rifle.

That's a fine looking gun there John. It was neat watching go together. 1st class all the way.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
That's a fine looking gun there John. It was neat watching go together. 1st class all the way.

Terry

well said.....very nice.....

Very, very nice.

I wish you had more outdoor photos with natural light. For whatever reason that really showed off the classy lines of this rifle last time. Thanks for posting.

Jason

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
That's a fine looking gun there John. It was neat watching go together. 1st class all the way.

Terry

well said.....very nice.....

+1

Wonderful work.

Thanks for the finished photos, nice work, on a very nice lookng rifle!

Very nice work and nice pics too.

Rich

quote:

That's a fine looking gun there John. It was neat watching go together. 1st class all the way

+2 Beautiful work John.

That rifle is AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! MAGNIFICENT!!!
When my rifles grow up, I want them all to look like that one...

Don

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

That's a fine looking gun there John. It was neat watching go together. 1st class all the way

+2 Beautiful work John.

+3

Very nice work John. I will look to see more.
Butch

Thanks for all the kind words. In hindsight I would have liked some shots of the rifle taken outside; after all, that's its natural element.

Project began in mid May and finished first week of November so a little over 5 months in the shop. I only get orders for a couple custom rifles a year so it's not hard for me to get them out in relatively short order, but when I hear the horror stories of 'smiths taking years to deliver I really have to question what's going on in those shops. Maybe some day I'll better understand.

John-

That's a beauty!!! I suppose I did not see the "Dress Rehersal" posting.

Perhaps you could provide us with a few details as to the action and the like.

Fantastic job!!!!

For those who didn't see the "Dress Rehearsal": Rifle is a M400 Brevex action (pronounced brev-o). Magnum length, French-made, Mauser type. Originally barreled by P.O. Ackley in .460 Imp., and came to me with no stock and no rear sight. I set back the barrel and rechambered in .450 Rigby. Shortened the barrel to 25", in the process removing slotted ports. I installed NECG sights and Talley barrel-band sling swivel. I stocked the rifle using a blank supplied by the customer, installing a Jerry Fischer grip cap, ebony forend tip and Pachmyer Decelerator which I covered in leather. I finished it off with 22 lines-per-inch checkering in a borderless point pattern. Here's a link to the "Dress Rehearsal" pictures:

Brevex Dress Rehearsal

quote:

In hindsight I would have liked some shots of the rifle taken outside; after all, that's its natural element.

John,

The photos are excellent, and assume the quality that one would enjoy on a daily basis, looking into his safe.

The striking lines of the grain complement the rifle in every way.

John,

Nice work....that ought to be a real nice thumper!

Thanks for sharing photos of your work.

I have had a chance to look at and handle the subject rifle and I can asure you that the pictures do not due justice to the work. It's a dandy!
John did well.

Very nice work, beautiful wood!

Nice rifle.I saved a picture.

That thing looks ready to hunt.
The owner better hurry up or it may go without him.

Thanks again for the kind words.

Last night, while reviewing the photos I realized there's a small problem evident in one of the pictures that thus far no one has called attention to. The owner has kindly fixed it but I'll give you fellas until this evening to pick out my mistake before I reveal how stupid I can be. (Something I demonstrate every day to those who know me best)

Rear sight reversed

Did you leave the firing pin out? I can't tell, but it looks like an empty hole.

Jason

Dont see a rear sling stud/swivel either

No front sight hood?

Forgot to blue the bolt handle?

John, very nice work on that rifle

John,
What is the prize for the right guess?
Butch

I'd guess the rear sight blade is in backwards.

quote:

Did you leave the firing pin out? I can't tell, but it looks like an empty hole.

it's a new gov't mandated safety feature created by "Elephants for a safer Africa"

quote:

Dont see a rear sling stud/swivel either
Look harder....it's there
No front sight hood?
Many customers specifically ask for them to be deleted.....but I like them

quote:

I'd guess the rear sight blade is in backwards.
Maybe...it's a matter of personal preference....I happen to like it the way it is

Let those among you that can build a better rifle cast the first criticism.....

My guess would be that it has something to do with the caliber marking. What's P.O. Ackely doing under the .450 Rigby? Is this correct? Wouldn't that make it a .450 Ackley? Also, why is it not silver like the other markings?

That's all I got.

Terry

Does it have to do with the safety being flipped over?

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
Does it have to do with the safety being flipped over?

Nah, that's a FN safety. It's correct.

It must be the smallest of problems, I've just sat here for 1/2 hour looking and can't spot anything that I'd be dissapointed with.

I suppose it's cuse being the MAKER because you get to know the gun intimately and can see the problem(s)

Very nice work you should be proud

regards
S&F

OK, I'll tell you. Jason was by far the closest. If you look closely, when I assembled the bolt after bluing, I didn't push the cocking piece down far enough. I didn't even think you could put it together like that, but you sure can. Pretty stupid, and I sure was glad I could talk the owner through fixing it.

Terry, the "P.O. Ackley" was left on the barrel because that's who barreled it originally, in .460 Improved. I thought it important to retain it in honor of the late Parker Ackley.

Thanks for playing!

I knew it was thin Thanks for the explanation.

Terry

Nice gun , Nice photos too.
Timan