I don't want to buy a checkered bolt. I want one that I already have checkered.

Our own AR member Scrollcutter aka Roger Kehr

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/myspace?x_m...ge=profile&u=1621011

He should be your man, or will at least steer you in the right direction

IIRC, AR member Jim Kobe does metalwork too...

I was unaware that Jim Kobe did engraving. I do know he is highly recomended as a smith.

Hmmm, well I could well be remembering wrong...

Charity Littleton 970-252-0702 Montrose, Colorado.
I remember her being recommended on this site a few times.
Bob

22wrf,
look in Brownells at the bolt knobs from Max McFarland. $135 ($108 dealer) for a 4 panel. You won't get anyone to do them for that price.

quote:

Originally posted by manhasset:
Charity Littleton 970-252-0702 Montrose, Colorado.
I remember her being recommended on this site a few times.
Bob

Charity did this one for me a few years ago. I'm very happy with it. Also as Chic stated, you won't beat the convenience or the price of a McFarland.

Terry

Roger Kehr, aka Scrollcutter, has done three bolt knobs for me. In two cases we started with McFarland checkered knobs and then Roger added the bottom pannel or design. In the other Roger started with a blank knob and cut the design in the lower half. I am very pleased with all of them. Sorry I do not have access to my pictures at the mement so I cna not post them all.

Here are some pictures of one that Roger did for me.

Once again, Chic is spot on. The MacFarland handles are very well done and the price is literally unbeatable.

I charge 50.00 per panel. So you are looking at $270.00 for a 5 panel job, with the polished handle. The only reason I can see to have somebody like me do the job would be if you wanted a different shape to the panel or gold borders or something on that order.

BTW, I don't like doing the handles once they are welded on. Once on the bolt the layout has to be done strictly by eye. You can literally waste two hours on the layout and it will never be perfect. Done off of the bolt, I do the layout with a rotary table fixture and all of the panels are perfectly spaced and lined up with each other.

I am a heretic on this feature, I do not like checkered bolt knobs, I think they slow you down. If you are grasping the knob with your fingers - where the checkering might help - you are manipulating the bolt wrong and your length of pull is too long. Bolt know should be rolled in the palm for speed and here checkering gets in the way. Another example of the meaningless cosmetic features that run up the price of a custom rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by 54JNoll:
Roger Kehr, aka Scrollcutter, has done three bolt knobs for me. In two cases we started with McFarland checkered knobs and then Roger added the bottom pannel or design. In the other Roger started with a blank knob and cut the design in the lower half. I am very pleased with all of them. Sorry I do not have access to my pictures at the mement so I cna not post them all.

Here are some pictures of one that Roger did for me.

Very Nice!

Terry

Vigillinus

Tell your wife or girlfriend that her lipstick and rouge are meaningless cosmetic features and see what she says to you.

I can see your point for a guy that works the bolt the way you do. However, my way of working is a lot slower and more deliberate. Even when I am shooting at an animal I tend to make sure I remove the case from the bolt so I don't lose it because I want to reload it. So I need a checkered bolt!!

22WRF, you do not need a magazine repeating rifle, you would do as well with a single shot dropping block like a Ruger No. 1.

Vigillinus, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? Sort of a contrary so and so aren't you.

Vigillinus has a good piont about a smooth knob.

Check the posted schedule gents. He is bolt knob supervisor this week.

LD

If you want a smooth bolt knob you shouldn't have any trouble finding one.

Terry

If I keep on losing hair I will have even less trouble finding a smooth knob.

quote:

Originally posted by vigillinus:
I am a heretic on this feature, I do not like checkered bolt knobs, I think they slow you down. If you are grasping the knob with your fingers - where the checkering might help - you are manipulating the bolt wrong and your length of pull is too long. Bolt know should be rolled in the palm for speed and here checkering gets in the way. Another example of the meaningless cosmetic features that run up the price of a custom rifle.

When shooting with gloves on, I find that checkering actually helps operating the bolt as you describe, as a smooth bolt can then actually be too slippery IMO.

Now this is a bolt knob:

the closest I have to a checkered knob is the little line around the bolt knob of my safari express. therefore I haven't done testing on how much it would slow me down, but I would guess that if a checkered bolt knob were enough to make a difference then a person needs to step up to a semi-auto to get the speed they are going for.

That said, I think that the last one posted is Roger's as well, just because he takes his pics ona blue field which I think is very classy. I could see getting a 4 panel and then having him do a 3rd with my monogram on it, that would be too cool.

Maybe somebody could speak on this, I really liked the one that I think Jbelk had posted on that had been cut then rewelded together so that it was not only checkered but hollow inside, looked cool but I wonder how strong it would be? would suck to be operating the bolt and have the knob snap in half leaving you with a cut hand and jagged edges.

Red

Gorgeous and pointless, albeit ErikD does have a point about gloves.