I’ve posted this photo before but I want to use it again as the starting point for a 404 Jeffery Duane is working on currently.



It needed a new bolt handle, square bridge and safety…





Extended tangs…


And now he’s working on the barrel hardware…it’s looking a little rough…



Updated with a not-so-rough photo...

This may be the best of the "best quality builds" posted here.

I my mind this is looking to be a spare-no-expense build without any gingerbread.

I don't believe any of Forest's guns have been "half baked"...

MKane160

Excellent forrest. I am glued to this thread!

Me too.

Terry

That is a beautiful piee of work!!!! I especially like the transition at the rear of the square bridge.

Looks great! That action is really special.

quote:

And now he’s working on the barrel hardware…it’s looking a little rough…

NO its not... going to look great! From Humps and lumps to WOW.
Thanks for posting!

This is really something I am looking forward to seeing come to life....

Very nice Forrest....

At this point when the photo's were taken, was all of the feed work completed yet?

Here's another photo. The humps and lumps are looking pretty good now. The forward dovetailed band is for one standing and one folding sight blades. The rear dovetailed band is for the front foot of the scope clawmount.



Matt, I think all the major feeding work has been done but I don't know when it was done relative to the picture taking. Certainly it was done after the first photo because the rails are unmodified in that photo. A while ago, Duane asked me for some dummy rounds with flat nose solids so he could double-check the feeding and I believe he's done this already.

Damn I love it Forrest! This is a real first class build.
Butch

One sign of a great society is the presence of active, gifted and disciplined artists and the patrons who allow those artists the leeway to expand the envelope of what is accepted as beauty.

LD

LD, did you do a lot of high altitude flying without oxygen?

Actually, I like the eloquent way you put it instead of me just admitting I'm addicted to dreaming up rifles to have built.

Is there anything Duane can't do...look at the fit of the front scope mount to the action. Holy sh*t.

Amazing work in a great classic caliber. I still dream of building my 404J but no way will it be so classy!

Good on you mate!

quote:

LD, did you do a lot of high altitude flying without oxygen?

I think it was all the "G" locking from pulling 10 Gz at low altitude so often.

First your vision, "grays out", "Then everything "snaps black", and you take a twelve second nap featuring "absolute incapacitation"; hopefully the aircraft was puling enough positive Gz that it was starting to head away from the ground. That last twelve seconds and often ends is splat/boom/kafucking BOOM! If you make the first cut you grayly wake up to twelve more seconds of relative of"relative incapacitation" In the industry we call that "doing the chicken" because you are flopping all around the cockpit like a freshly axed dry hen.

I think that activity loosened up the creative part of my mind more than I realized/wanted. I should have just held it to nine Gz'

LD

PS In the cold war, anything above 500 feet except when doing a 20 degree pop on a target was considered high altitude.

That is amazing. simply amazing.

Here’s a nuclear certified method for detailing a rear sight base…




And a the front sight band being thinned a bit…

Looks great, but I bet that bolt handle doesn't have a 100% penetration weld.

At the risk of getting banned again for posting innocuous photos, here are a couple of pics showing some progress on the inletting:



Duane has three rifles with extended tangs on which he's currently working. Mine is on the left and the other two I believe are for other AR members.

WOW!!! that is really looking outstanding.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
At the risk of getting banned again for posting innocuous photos, here are a couple of pics showing some progress

Please continue. I enjoy seeing projects like these going from concept to completion. It's better than watching the Discovery Channel.

Keep them coming!

Many Thanks

HBH

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
The rear dovetailed band is for the front foot of the scope clawmount.

Also, preserves the ring, which is quite handsome- very nice.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
At the risk of getting banned again for posting innocuous photos, here are a couple of pics showing some progress on the inletting:

You're safe unless they label you "obnoxious"

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
At the risk of getting banned again for posting innocuous photos, here are a couple of pics showing some progress on the inletting:



Duane has three rifles with extended tangs on which he's currently working. Mine is on the left and the other two I believe are for other AR members.

Careful, Forrest!

Forrest,

This is really shaping up to be something really neat! I am looking forward to seeing all this come together, in particular the figure in that blank. If I remember correctly that blank has a bit of red in it...

Jim, this blank was one of those without any finish or oil on it at all. It has very nice figure and layout (as you probably remember) but I'm not sure yet about the color. When I wet the blank, it didn't look particularly reddish. When it's time, I want Duane to add some of his alkanet love potion to the finish to give it that proper British colour. I'm also anxious to see what Ralf has up his sleeve for you.

I would love to leave this rifle with open sights only as it would be so lovely that way. Given my aging eyes though, I'm afraid I would be unduly limiting my hunting options by going that route.

Here's a first look at the stock after it's been filled and sealed. It's a very pretty piece of wood with more marblecake in the butt than I thought it would have. I'm anxious to see some more photos as the rifle starts coming together.

Very nice Forrest!

Wonderful! I was starting to suffer withdrawl.

This really brings a smile to my face, great to see it coming together.

Many Thanks

HBH

Forrest,

I think it is gorgeous and looking forward to seeing more photos! That blank really picks up the reddish/black tones as I remeber it would, kinda makes a grown man cry!

Looking good Forrest; however, I wish you would stop backing him up on projects that slow mine down.

Mike you should try ordering six rifles at a time then you'll be more worried that he IS working on them and you'll have to pay for them.

Jim, don't cry too much. It's in good hands. Thanks again.

Well, the stock is ready for the checkering cradle. Here's the latest photo...

Damn Forrest, I was going to finish my english stock to a natural finish.
Looks like I'll have to try Duanes alknet love potion =}
Thats sweet!!!

Forrest: Everything is spectacular. Keep sending the pictures. MMP

Looks fantastic Forrest!!!

NICE!!!!!