This project started for me 26-27 months ago and the metal work is now done. All the metal work was done by Jim Dubell at Delta Gunshop and Jim did not disappoint. I went all out on this one with Satterlee safety, Wiebe bottom metal, 1909 action reheat treated, qtr rib in the Martini Hagn style, custom talley bases etc.



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This was originally supposed to be rust blued and wood stocked but the timing has worked out poorly as my .275 Rigby metal work is finished and I just had a gun finished by Kevin Weaver.

Because of all this I can't go out and spend the $3,500 to $4,500 to have a top notch stock and rust finish done.

This leaves me with 3 other options that I can think of.

1) Have the rifle cerakoted and sythetic stocked and then add a wood stock later if I choose. I figure it might be easier to stock a gun with such a durable finish. Issues with this option are that I don't love sythetic stocks, cerakote and their like don't come off ever, not in the traditional style of the rifle. This would probably be the cheapest and I would end up with a reliable and durable rifle.

2) Send it off to a good but not top notch stock guy who can work from a 98% inlet in the $1,200 to $2,000 range.

3) Buy a 98% inlet and inlet it myself and then send it off to be blued and checkered by an expert.

Thoughts?

Sexy beast!

I would rust blue it and put it into the safe until you can do a nice wood stock. It is too nice to compromise.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I would rust blue it and put it into the safe until you can do a nice wood stock. It is too nice to compromise.
Butch

Me. I would spend the money to have it rust blued and stock it, temporarily, in a McMillian stock or some other relatively inexpensive stock until funding improves.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I would rust blue it and put it into the safe until you can do a nice wood stock. It is too nice to compromise.
Butch

+10 That work deserves rust blue. There is at least one guy out there that can help you with a good price and excellent workmanship on a wood stock and a nice pattern. You dont have to spend big bucks to get a nice blank either.

Sure go ahead and rust blue it....after you stock it. We always final metal finish after stocking a gun in my shop, otherwise you end up putting a few scratches in things while fitting the stock, or your wood ends up a bit too proud. In the mean time, coat it with a good rust preventive and save your pennies.
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I would rust blue it and put it into the safe until you can do a nice wood stock. It is too nice to compromise.
Butch

Sounds like good advice! Why go the cheap route now? There is way too much potential there!

quote:

Originally posted by skb:
Sure go ahead and rust blue it....after you stock it. We always final metal finish after stocking a gun in my shop, otherwise you end up putting a few scratches in things while fitting the stock, or your wood ends up a bit too proud. In the mean time, coat it with a good rust preventive and save your pennies.
Steve

That is even better advice!

quote:

Originally posted by GeoffM24:

1) Have the rifle cerakoted and sythetic stocked and then add a wood stock later if I choose. I figure it might be easier to stock a gun with such a durable finish.
Thoughts?

Personally I would take option three.

But option 1 would work if you do hot blue instead of ceracote. Then, when funds become available, you can toss the synthetic stock and replace it with wood and have a proper rust blue done.

thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it. I'm going to hold off and do it right as you guys suggest.

-Geoff