If anyone is back near Milwaukee for the NRA show the weekend of 19th, 20th, 21st, stop by the ACGG booth and take a look at the work on display by some of the members. The #22 project rifles will be on display (without the coffee table) and they should have ticket applications available. I think Dennis Potter and Bob Snapp will be there for sure, and I imagine they will have help from several other members.

This scan is from the brochure...



There is more info about the Guild and Guild Projects at the ACGG website.




This is the pair in their table/ display



This is some of the engraving done by Diane Scalese (in-the-white)

Wow!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim_Dubell:
I think Dennis Potter and Bob Snapp will be there for sure, and I imagine they will have help from several other members.

Jim,
Would that be the Bob Snapp that comes from Michigan? Jim

Jim, beautiful rifles. You guys did a wonderful job. I heard you are not taking any orders for those coffee tables.

Great work. I have been admiring them on your website too.

By the way .. Chic and Roger promise me they will be done fondling the work you did on my Springfield sometime this year. Then it will be my turn to fondle it.

Although, they might have mentioned something about a thorough break in period.

Those are fantastic! Who ever wins them will be be very lucky indeed.

Terry

Gee, how come the one isn’t listed as a .275 Rigby???



I got to see these beautiful rifles (and the equally beautiful coffee table ) at the Reno show...and they are incredible. IMO they strike the perfect balance of fancy/practical. The intricate “extras†are there, but they don’t jump out at you.

Thanks Guys! Yup Mr. White, that would be Bob Snapp of the Martini Cadet Snapps. I'll bet a cup of coffee a person will be able to lay eyes on nicely done Cadet conversion!! Should be a good show with much to see and learn, but I'm not going to make it. Hope to hear back from some folks that get to make the trip.
Jim

A few more in-the white

Jim that is beautiful metal work. The safety shroud is just gorgeous.

Thanks Forrest,
These were made from blanks recieved from Jim Wisner. He pulled them out of line after he had the threading and front-end cuts made. They were used for his 3 position safety assemblies. The whole back end was still in round-bar form, which allowed the installation of a two-position lever and contouring specific to this project. It's been a blast, but time consuming also.
Jim

I can see where the time went into that safety, but I can't figure out how you fashioned that perfect little widow's peak.

That's the kind of work that differentiates a gunmaker from a parts assembler.

A couple more views of Dave and Dianes artistry. The forend shot shows the folding swivel base. Folds flush when using a low carry with the barrel band swivel base, but allows for a standard cary or the use of a bipod.

I agree with Forrest. The word "crisp" comes to mind. Not only is that work gorgeous, but it is also very very crisp.

Anyone notice the sling swivel studs????

Jim, could you give us a few more detail pics of the action from when it was in the white? Those are great photographs. I'd love to see some more of your metal work detail on these rifles.
Thanks for sharing with us.

Here are a few more work in progress pics. This first one is kind of a do-it-yourself custom gun kit



This shows the extended tangs and the rear action thru-hole made blind.



If you are under 18 you might want to skip the next one...she is 'topless'...



The square bridges almost done



UM HMM, yup, made 'em myself. Can ya tell??



The rear bridge and ring almost finalized..

Jim,

The Pair of Sevens are fantastic looking rifles and the work in progress pics are great as well...!!!

Loved the "Do it yourself kit".....and the topless photo was a bit of a shock...

Can you tell us a bit about the scope rings you make?

Thanks for posting.

Regards,
Dave

Jim

Truly magnificent metal work.
I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.
How was the front bridges attached?
Do you have more information or pictures of the
swivel in fore end?
Thanks and again excellent work.

James

Thank you James,
The front bridges are welded on as are the rear. The actions were recarburized after the modifications by Blanchard in Salt Lake City. The swivels were actually designed for a customer in your neck of the woods in Buckhannon W.V. The engraver for the project sold him on a barrel band swivel base but he does a lot of his shooting off his back deck on a covered bench and usually uses a bipod. We wanted some way to attach the bipod in the normal location without having a sling swivel stud poking out the bottom of the forend. This serves well for that and also allows for a standard high carry on a sling, depending on field conditions.
Jim

I'm in awe. There's so much work there to appreciate. The extended tang is very nicely done as are the mounts. The topless photo was a bit of a shock, but a clever way of dealing with the rear bridge. Super work for sure, Mr. Dubell.

What actions did you start with?

Jim

Thanks for the reply.
In my opinion the metalworker never gets enough credit for there work on custom rifles. It seems the credit goes to the stock maker and engraver. Not that there work is less incredible but without a solid foundation there work is mute.
Little and big points on these rifles that might not be visible to all.
Square bridge, Rings, Extended tang, Bolt shroud, Thumb pad on bolt release, Quarter rib,
The Widows Peak theme carried through on Bolt shroud Quarter rib, Barrel band. Not to mention the feed and function and safety aspect. All of this X2.
Metalworkers do not get enough credit!

James

Good point James.

I've had several rifles built, and never ever once have I said, after they were finished, that I wish I had put more money into engraving, or said I wish I had bought a better blank. But more than once I've said to myself, I wish I had spent more money on metal work. A nice stock will catch your eye, but good metal work can hold your attention for hours on end.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
Good point James.

I've had several rifles built, and never ever once have I said, after they were finished, that I wish I had put more money into engraving, or said I wish I had bought a better blank. But more than once I've said to myself, I wish I had spent more money on metal work. A nice stock will catch your eye, but good metal work can hold your attention for hours on end.

Yeah...and an ugly piece of wood attached to beautiful metal work is like putting Hillary Clinton’s face on Pamela Anderson’s body!!

The two should compliment each other and neither should dominate or distract from the total package. Just my opinion.

Jim,
Very nice.
TIMAN

Jim you truely did a marvelous job. Simply Stunning. Your treatment of the bolt shroud just holds my attention and the way you handled the rear bridges. Wow.

I would like to recommend that anyone who appreciates this work consider becoming an associate member of the ACGG. What a great organization of craftsmen. The "Gunmaker" quarterly publication is great, too.