Jack you're finally WRONG! That thing is uglier THAN a piece of shit! A sure sign of some one who doesn't know ho to weld or doesn't want to learn the art of welding!
Posts: 8354 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
I think it's supposed to be a "tactical" bolt handle. Doesn't suit my taste, but whatever floats your boat I guess. If welded properly, I see no reason why it wouldn't last. I'd be leary of the plastic knob in cold weather though, cracking or shattering looks like it could be an issue. - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
The term "tactical" is used for so many things now I don't even know what it means. My M98 has a perfectly round smooth and original bolt handle. I operate the bolt with the palm of my hand , it's fast and easy. I have never understood operation of a bolt with thumb and forefinger .As for this plastic ughly - not for me.
The word "tactical" usually encompasses all that is butt ugly. Plastic is good and flat black is the color of choice. Siver soldering of a non-ugly bolt handle can be OK and a good siver solder joint is better than a poor weld. Usually the "smith" who produces a poor weld can do the same with silver solder though so there is no advantage. It seems to me some of the BRNO flat "butterknife" handles were dowelled and siver soldered. I have silver soldered handles on request but have not used the Gr8 bolt up to now. I had thought of making up a classic Jackleg Sporter for gunshows and this might be a nice touch. Imagine the barrelled action buffed to a high gloss but with tool marks remaining. All sharp edges removed for safety. Add this bolt handle with a mother of pearl knob. Put the whole works into a maple thumbhole stock with white plastic grip cap and forend tip. Add a couple of diamond inlays and there you have it! What a beauty! In all seriousness, I'm sure the handle works fine and utility appears to have been the goal. Our views on the attractiveness or lack thereof may not be that appropriate. Regards, Bill.
The terms "Butt ugly" and "looks like a piece of shit" is close. But I think based on it's shape and appearance, it is probably something a proctologist would use to go in search of a piece of shit...
If you check out the resume at that web site, you will see the guy is not a professional gunsmith.
I noticed that he is getting tighter clearance relieving the stock for the bolt handle, if you look at the Swede Mauser.
I forwarded some of JBelk's draw file pictures [before sending to the engraver] to the guy who does my TIG welding. When I picked up the welding, I asked if he looked at the pictures, he said yes, and started showing me a Mauser shrinking project. He is a professional gunsmith and felt some competition from JBelk. I remember being grateful that I an an amateur gunsmith, and don't have to compete with JBelk's draw filing pictures.
If you guys aren't familiar with this site, it is really entertaining. It has a large amount of how-to information, and for the targeted audience, it is pretty useful. There is no intent to build fine rifles or even presentable rifles. It is geared toward amateur conversion of the world's cheapest military rifles to the world's cheapest sporters (my definition). For instance, the stock shown in the links listed is not fiberglass, it is a refinished military stock that has been trimmed, filled and refinished. I suspect the idea for the big plastic bolt knob came from seeing them on $5000 benchrest rifles. While these guns certainly aren't to my taste, most of the work presented seems very functional, and of benefit to the intended audience. It all seems to be safe. To everyone his own.
Posts: 1238 | Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA | Registered: 04 February 2003
im currently looking at options for my m38 swede. i came across this and was wondering what other people thought. a local "gunsmith" quoted a price of $50 to bend the already curved bolt. does this seem reasonable? also, Art S., what part of Kentucky are you from? im from the se corner in whitley co. thanks for all the replies.
Posts: 128 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: 15 October 2002
I have to take up Steve's (GSWagner) case on this one as well. I've met Steve, he is a heck of a guy and quite a machinist. He and his brother are also accomplished shooters. The project that is shown was one that he took on when people asked him if there was a way to relocate a bolt handle with a minimal amount of tools. Since many of us 'hacks' (I'm not taking it personally, that is the name I've given myself) don't have torches or TIG welders at home, he came down to our level and came up with a method to relocate the bolt. I think the original idea was getting a bolt handle on a Mosin-Nagant that would allow low scope mounting and he wanted to see if it would work on a Mauser. The people who asked obviously weren't in it for aesthetics, but he came up with a viable solution. End of story.
If you look at his other pages, you'll find the match rifle he built using a Turk action, E.R. Shaw barrel, Richards Micro-Fit reject stock, and a Tasco scope. If I recall correctly, he fired a mid to high 390's with it in an F-Class match (600 yards). Like I stated, he is a very good machinist and can build a great rifle with minimal cash outlay. Granted, these will not win beauty contests but they weren't designed to. They do exactly what he wanted them to do: function well, shoot accurately, and all for a minimal cost. They don't look like what I want my rifles to look like, but they're not mine, they're his.
To be honest, I have learned loads from Steve as well as Jack. I have great respect for both and each excels at what they set out to do. They just have a different finished product in mind.
Granted, the handles aren't pretty, but they were an experiment for him and the experiment was a success. Don't judge the builder or the site by that page alone.
Posts: 714 | Location: Sorexcuse, NY | Registered: 14 February 2002
I'm sure that bolt handle/knob combo works just fine. Actually, it reminds me of the things Finn Aagaard wrote about African farmers "fixing" their own rifles.
You know I thought I was closed minded, till I started visiting the firearm forums. SOME OF YOU THINK OF STEVE AS BENEATH YOU. HE'S ACTUALLY WAY OVER YOUR HEADS. Some people would rather say,"look what I did". Some would rather say, " look what I paid some guy $50.00 an hour to do".
Somebody remind me, just how much will engraving, pretty hand rubbed finish or a two hundred dollar bolt handle job improve my groups?
"The word 'tactical' usually encompasses all that is butt ugly."
No arguing that, but this is something beyond that. My fellow 'smithing students have termed this 'grade' of work as Deliverance Gunsmithing. This is by far the best(worst) example I have seen of this grade of 'smithing.
You may be proud to hold that 'custom' rifle up and proudly say "I did this". I would be ashamed. That thing is gawd-awful.
I saw that bolt job on His web site. I just shook my head . That looks like crap. He should have made plastic bolt knob out of a '74 toyota cigerete lighter knob.
Stock made out of a old fence post,Some checkering made with a hack saw blade , some inletted bottle caps from hieniken bottles in the stock would looks slick. Radiator hose clamps as scope rings, Sling made out of a ladys perce stap. recoil pad made by nailing a old tennis shoe soul to the butt. Presto.....Full Custom rifle
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