Just wondering if anyone has used this gentleman for either supplying blanks, or for stockmaking? He is in my neck of the woods [i.e. 5 hours away] and I am still searching for a good English or Bastogne blank.

Steve has an excellent supply of english blanks. I have purchased several from him over the years. His stockmaking is in a league all by itself. Many people (including myself) consider him to be one of the best in the world and that is a no shitter.

In my humble opinion, SH is the best metalman in world and one of the top five stockmakers

WOW! and thanks. Did he ever mention he lives in one of the best parts of California? Sierra Foothills.

Where exactly in the Sierra foothills? I live in Fresno. I didn't know that there was a real stockmaker in this neck of the woods. I thought they all liked Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho etc.

Red

Heilmann is in Grass Valley.
I've purchased several blanks (english) from Steve and my opinion is that he has the best blanks for the best price around. You won't have to wade through a bunch of firewood to find a good blank.

There aren't enough superlatives to fully describe his work.

I agree completely with what has already been said. I have four blanks hanging in my basement that I bought from Steve a few years ago and couldn't be happier with the product and process. I don't think he has any junk wood in the lot. I believe that as a gunmaker he is beyond reproach.

SDH and all other Gentlemen of this site----PLEASE look at the grip, cheekpiece and butt of the rifle. That is what I am talking about! I also love the slimming cut along the front of the action to narrow the forearm....Not to different than the Westley Richards?

SDH,
Do you happen to know what rear sight was used for this? Pop-up or detachable peep?

- stu

I can also testify to the quality and value of the blanks that Steve sells. I bought two Bastogne blanks from him that are as close to matching as any two I have seen. Steve's wood is also properly dried. He is also a very pleasant person to deal with. When my daughter was 13, she spent about an hour pawing through his blanks at the ACGG show at Reno. He was happy to have her do so, and as it turned out, she found the second blank that I bought from him, a mate to one I bought three years earlier. My punishment is that I had to build it into a rifle for her. My reward is that except for caliber and the addition of a recoil pad for her, it is a twin to the earlier one I built.

All of his wood is good quality, and his prices are very fair for what you get.

This is Boha's new/old Westley Richards in .318 WR. I'm guessing that it was made about eighty years before the one in 333 OKH's picture above.

LD

SDH,

Thank you for pointing out the finer aspects of the Stephen Heilmann rifle.

I noticed the fine work, however, your description/comparison really draws out the features and enhances my appreciation for the level of craftsmanship.

p.s. your work is fantasic, right up there from what I have seen!

Thanks again!

Thank you jjs!

What an elegant and gracefully slender stock! All of these stocks look exceedingly shootable. Great work and thanks for the pix.

quote:

Originally posted by SDH:
...Another interesting view for a stocker.

The contour line of the rear of the guard loop being carried into the wood is very interesting. I have never seen that done before. Thank you for posting it. I am still trying to get my mind around how that actually looks (in 3D)!
Mr. Heilman is IMHO without peer when it comes to artistry in metal. I have apparently overlooked his considerable stockmaking skills.

The big scope spoils the graceful lines of the rifle.

Yeah and so does the trigger guard and the trigger. And the bolt sticking out.

Your all killing me! Lawdart it is jusr cruel to break out an original WR rifle in all of this! Thanks for the pictures.

Customstox, it is hard to get away from a trigger guard, but you are right, bolt action rifles necessarily suffer from assymetry because of the bolt handle. And that particular little rifle is simply overpowered by its telescope.