Can someone recommend a smith or barrel maker who can make a rifle barrel with integral rib, sling stud, and ramp front sight base? Rick Stickley is a master, there is someone in Denver who is very good, anyone else? Thanks.

Dan Pederson or Bill Thompkins down in AZ. I've talked with Bill and last I talked with him he had CNC programmed a barrel for an 8x68S. It's been two years or so since then. Also GOLmatic - the german wonder parts source has standards listed on their website...some big drooling there!
Good luck with your project - JeffP

Duane Wiebe and Ralf Martini have each made full-length integral rib barrels for me. Both do beautiful work. Martini is probably going to be a bit cheaper for a stand-alone barrel job.

Duane (530) 344-1357
Ralf (250) 417-2926

Martini and Hagn Website

Forrest, how long does it take Ralf? Did you see this barrel on Waffenfabrik Hein's table at the NRA show?

Forrest,
I'll be making this in 8 to 12 months
jeffe

Steve Heilmann can, I'm sure. Whether or not they shoot well is another issue.

The best custom integral rib barrels I've ever seen that will actually SHOOT are those turned out by David Miller and Curt Crum of the David Miller Co., Tuscon, AZ. But you have to buy an entire rifle to get the ribbed barrel, and the price and waiting period are both high and lengthy.

One other guy you might try is Mark Penrod. Mark has some extremely sophisticated milling equipment, and he does some really precise work. There aren't too many milling jobs that he can't handle to perfection.

Or you, can buy a Ruger Magnum for less than $1500, and you'll have a integral barrel rifle right away, and it'll likely shoot.......

AD

FLA, I think Ralf is going to be a trade-off between fast and cheap. Cheap means $1500 and wait a 9 mos to a year. Fast mean $1850 and means 3-6 mos. Those are rough guidelines based on what I've experienced. Prices might be a shade higher now because the FX move - but still close to 2/3 of what it would cost here.

Best to give him a call. He'll give you an honest answer and he's a pleasure to talk with.

I didn't notice the 500 at the NRA show. There was a lot to see and I had a limited amount of time. I had to get out before Tom DeLay showed up.

Hello,
How is Mark Penrods work? I am thinking of have him do a similar job
John

fla,
Check with Butch Searcy, he does them and the ones I have seen are very well done and reasonable.

I think you can get them from Lothar Walther.

quote:

Originally posted by allen day:
Steve Heilmann can, I'm sure. Whether or not they shoot well is another issue.

Feel better now Allen?

I feel fine.

Maybe if I would have filled in that particular blank with another name you wouldn't be shaking your finger at me?

AD

What makes me feel better is irrelevant. For the past 4 years I have been on AR I have seen you take pot shots at Steve and the reason for it is not apparent. Not that it really matters. What relevance did that comment have to this discussion other than to degrade the guy and somehow justify your righteous indignation? Just because Steve isnt your current "flavor of the month" rifle builder does not give you liberty to hack on him. If he wronged you in someway. Lets here it - in detail. Otherwise take you overinflated ego, get on your high horse.......and get lost.

btw - my apologies to fla3006 for hijacking this thread. Im done here.

Allen, I take everything you say with about 4 pujnds of salt. A grain just doesnt cut it. As long as a gunmaker is "blessed" by your seal of approval we all will need to bow down and honor your great wisdom. Bull shit.

Your obvious slam against Steve Heilman just proves your arrogance and ignorance.

BTW, I must have forgotten how many rifles you have owned, how many hunts you have been on and how many trophies you have stockpiled waitng to return to their former glory. My mistake.

fla3006
The only I have seen from NA was made by Martini.http://www.martiniandhagngunmakers.com/ I'm sure there are others who are just as good. There are a few European makers but I doubt it would be faster or cheaper.

Anyone on the forums that has any experience with barrels from a Jim Briar?

Allen Day-
You are running out of forums to preach your wisdoms, which is next? http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/376135/page//fpart/1/vc/1

Give Woody at Lothar Walter a call. They have exactly what you're looking for. Best quality too.

site has not been updated for sometime but same neck of the woods as Searcy.

check under custom barrel

Chic, you and I were just born to not get along. And do you know what? I simply don't care.

AD

Maybe this might help you out Allen?

Integral Rib Specialist

Contact Dan Pedersen

Dan Pedersen

With Dan being a barrel maker, he drills the blank, then does all external contouring (1/4 rib) then reams and rifles, doing things in this order insures consisten bore dimensions

Todd

quote:

Originally posted by JOHAN:

Allen Day-
You are running out of forums to preach your wisdoms, which is next? http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/376135/page//fpart/1/vc/1

That's an interesting thread.

Sorta took a nasty little turn in the middle....



GV

On the subject of intergral ribs, I have one barrel by Richard Stickly, on my Dakota model 10.

It is 35 Whelen AI, with an integral quarter rib, integral barrel band, and integral hooded front sight.

The work was superb....I mean really superb.
The rifle shoots between .5 and .75 at 100 yards.

But (and it's a big butt), he has a reputation of taking a long time, and sometimes disappearing for periods of time.

I should point out he did a fine job for me...probably took about 18 months (quite reasonable for the job he did).

I think I paid between $1500 and $2000 for the whole thing (with installation and headspacing).

He was in Pocatello, Idaho last I knew of him.

Garrett

quote:

The work was superb....I mean really superb...But (and it's a big butt), he has a reputation of taking a long time, and sometimes disappearing for periods of time...I should point out he did a fine job for me...probably took about 18 months (quite reasonable for the job he did).

I knew him about 20 years ago and this has always been the case, great work but sporadic. Ralf Martini is a good bet nowadays, I especially like his "swamped" ribs.

I had a similar discussion with the guy who wanted an upscale 416 Rigby with integral rib and I began to wonder if in fact an intergral rib has any real merit over a well fitted add-on rib by a respected metalsmith.
An integral rib simply tales additional machine and operator time plus a significant amount of hand filing and polishing.
On the other hand, a handmade rib by a master metalsmith takes every bit as much machinework plus the skilled-labor time to make that seamless fit to the barrel.
Which is more valuable? A question for the forum...I am not sure.

Harry, that soldered-on rib on your 8mm guild Mauser certainly is nice, but I don't know if anyone does those anymore. They're more about aesthetics nowadays than practicality, especially since most folks use scopes today.

Intergral ribs: Frank Wells - John Bolliger - Mark Cromwell - James Corpe.....

Roland

Harry,
dakota offers ribs for shilen and doublas barrels for 75 bucks... precontoured... they have to be machined DOWN as they are all too high...

so, programing an attachable one in cnc is always an option

jeffe