I thought I would show off my dream rifle that is finally more than just a pile of parts. This rifle has not only been a great project for me, it has also allowed me to make some incredible friends with those behind it. The guys who have helped me bring this into being are the absolute best. You could search for your lifetime and never find more talented craftsmen or better friends.

ForrestB was the instigator and inspiration and a huge help on this project. Before I met him I was still thinking a custom stock was made by McMillan and the metal should be stainless. My wife blames him as being the main cause of my new found taste in guns and the subsequent drain on the checking account.

The metal work was done by Jim Dubell and as you can see it is EXCEPTIONAL!!!!!! It started life as a 1909 Argentine. He installed the safety/shroud, new bolt handle, Blackburn extended bottom metal, quarter rib, sights, and the rest metal work that it needed. He is a truly gifted craftsman and an incredible guy to work with.

The stock work is going to be done by Customstox. The blank of english walnut was one he reccomended for me from his private stash and I was smart enough to listen to him.

So here are the pics:

When it's all said and done you will have a rifle of true heirloom quality, a product of true artisans.

VERY NICE!! I saved some of the metal work pictures for my gunsmith.

I am hoping it will be done in time for me to take on an elk hunt after I get back from this upcoming Iraq deployment.

Sorry for not mentioning sooner - it is in 375 H&H

Very nice Bill.Looks to be an outstanding chunk of wood.

Gonna be outstanding!

quote:

Originally posted by M1Tanker:
I am hoping it will be done in time for me to take on an elk hunt after I get back from this upcoming Iraq deployment.

Sorry for not mentioning sooner - it is in 375 H&H

Very nice wood & excellent Action / metal work
Got me thinking about the 2 09's leaning in the corner LOL. Need some picts when done. Best wishes on your deployment. Thanks for puttin your ass in harms way for the rest of us!

Plastic & stainless... Thanks ForrestB for saving this man!
Will be one sweet 375 H$H..........

Thanks guys for the compliments. It has been 4 years to get it to this point but it is finally coming together.

Jim did a complete heat treat on it. He is the guru so I sent him a pile of parts and let him do what he doe best.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Very nice M1

Two subjective questions/

are you going to have it heat treated?

What made you choose .375 H & H over .375 Ruger?

That would have been done prior to fitting the barrel.

The .375 H&H is cooler, that's why! Oh, and far more readily available.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Very nice M1

Two subjective questions/

are you going to have it heat treated?

What made you choose .375 H & H over .375 Ruger?

Yep it has been heat treated.

And as for caliber: There is a very long and very neat story as to why 375 H&H but I wont get into that. But mainly this project was started before the 375 Ruger came along. Also the 375 H&H has some much nostagia associated with it that it seemed very appropriate.

On a classic express rifle the 375 Ruger just seems out of place to me.

bill

that rifle is going to be absolutely beautiful! and i think the 375H&H is the perfect caliber choice. after i get my 416 rigby the way i want it, a 375H&H will be my next project.

again, a beautiful, tastful, classic rifle

Very nice. Looks like a winner to me.

Terry

I only asked about the .375 Ruger because as you already well know it "fits" in normal length actions better. I would imagine (I don't know for sure) that you had to take some metal off the Argie someplace to get that .375 Holland to slide in there.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
I only asked about the .375 Ruger because as you already well know it "fits" in normal length actions better. I would imagine (I don't know for sure) that you had to take some metal off the Argie someplace to get that .375 Holland to slide in there.

You are right about the Argie having to be opened up. I am not sure how much Jim removed from where but I believe he had to remove it from front and rear both to get enough length and fit the Blackburn bottom metal.

Bill...you made an excellent choice with the375H&H...classy and recognizable...You are going to have one extremely nice rifle...Of course, I glad you graduated from Mc Millan/Stainless!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Bill...you made an excellent choice with the375H&H...classy and recognizable...You are going to have one extremely nice rifle...Of course, I glad you graduated from Mc Millan/Stainless!!!

Duane,

I am not sure if you remember but you had a large part in this rifle coming into being. You will have to ask Forrest to fill you in.

This is the real thing. The better you know Forrest the more it costs you; it's hard to turn back from quality.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
This is the real thing. The better you know Forrest the more it costs you; it's hard to turn back from quality.

I kind of disagree (however, I know what you are saying )so far, Forrest has only cost me a couple lunchs and really that's a wash, because he has bought as many times as I have. For a "Custom Gun Advisor" you can't beat him, plus he is a really nice guy with alot of gun building experience, so I look at it from a standpoint of how much money Forrest has saved me........at least it is my story and I'm sticking with it.

M1,
Nice looking rifle and a great choice in the 375H&H.

Bill,

What a great rifle! I can't wait to see the finished product. Forrest's "influence" is evident.

And thank you, sir, for your service.

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
This is the real thing. The better you know Forrest the more it costs you; it's hard to turn back from quality.

I kind of disagree (however, I know what you are saying )so far, Forrest has only cost me a couple lunchs and really that's a wash, because he has bought as many times as I have. For a "Custom Gun Advisor" you can't beat him, plus he is a really nice guy with alot of gun building experience, so I look at it from a standpoint of how much money Forrest has saved me........at least it is my story and I'm sticking with it.

M1,
Nice looking rifle and a great choice in the 375H&H.

I am in total agreement. Forrest has always been generous to me with sound advice. It was just my tongue-in-cheek way of saying that going the quality route usually means discovering that the best quality merits the additional expense. Every time I see a rifle that shows the Bruch influence I wish I had done the same thing.

Well, well, well, it sure feels nice to be so "appreciated".

Bill, that is some great looking metal work. The rest of your project sure has a high standard to meet. I'm not worried about it at all though - you've got a great team working on your rifle.

I certainly don't think I can offer any secret recipe for a terrific custom gun. There have been thousands of good ones built long before I ever got interested in them. If there's anything worth knowing, it's to know when to quit adding to a project. I see lots of custom rifles that leave me saying, "What a nice rifle, but why did they have to do THAT?" "THAT" can be any number of things, but it's usually a needless embellishment that some owner or gunsmith decided the rifle required in order to shout "custom". Think Grace Kelley and not Brittney Spears.

Perfection needs no embellishment.

I hate to be a fly in the ointment, but I think that trigger lever could use some work. Its ugliness is out of place on such a beautiful action.

Bill,

Congratulation, this is a great rifle, the execution of the metal work is extremely nice. In combination with this outstanding piece of walnut will make a great heirloom.

And .375 H&H will give it that immortal touch of Holland’s legend. A very useful and elegant rifle, I’m sure it will serve you well.

Be careful out there,
Roland