Been a long time since I have hung out here. But it's time to get back to working on some projects that got benched for several years.

am building a 9.3x62 on a FN commercial action that I have had sitting around. It's a beautiful action that surface ground and stoned. It's got a Wiebe bolt handle a Dakota safety. Barrel is a Shilen #3 contour. It will be a beautiful package when all put together. My dilemma is with my stock and my bolt. I have built 3 rifles with the same contour and have made up a glassed in pattern stock so it can be 1:1 duplicated and doesn't require much individual fitting. Stock came back from my duplicator and had a bolt handle notch cut for a swept back handle. And not for the Oberndorf bolt handle on the gun. If I use my Oberndorf handle it leaves a big notch exposed to the rear. It is entirely my own fault. I told him it was for an FN action and bolt and didn't clarify it had a Oberndorf handle. I figured the easiest route is find a bolt that has a swept to the rear handle like a FN or Charles Daly since the barrel hasn't been threaded and chambered yet. Unfortunately have not been able to find anything on eBay or any of the parts sites.

That brings me to here. Hoping to find someone who has an appropriate bolt. Or the ability to do a bolt handle for me. Any suggestions?



I apologize for any grammatical errors. I am doing this. On my phone since I am traveling. And between autocorrect and squinting to see what I am typing it's been an adventure

I would find a close piece of walnut fill in the notch.

Then recut it to match the bolt handle.

Nope; weld on an FN handle. A patch will be visible and you will always know it's there.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Nope; weld on an FN handle. A patch will be visible and you will always know it's there.

Yup. It would be difficult to get a patch that is not noticeable. BTDT

You could also sell your stock and have another duplicated with the proper notch. Or you could celebrate the defect by installing a decorative ebony inlay to fill the area and notching for your handle. Or, now you have a reason for another rifle to use your bolt and get a swept FN bolt for your project.

Would you not be able to heat the handle and sweep it back as necessary to fit the notch? I think that is what I would do. Regards, Bill

Bill, I believe it is an Oberndorf handle which is a straight elbow bend with some standoff from the bolt body. Likely wouldn't look right and not nestle into the wood.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Leeper:
Would you not be able to heat the handle and sweep it back as necessary to fit the notch? I think that is what I would do. Regards, Bill

dpcd is a gunsmith who replaced a bolt handle for me. I bought this rifle on Gunbroker. It was a bargain, but the bolt handle looked like dog shit. It had booger welds and was discolored from heat.

I don’t know if you can find an FN bolt handle. You could always class it up a bit and put a butter knife handle on it.

I have a Mauser Bolt that I started working on. The bolt handle is just tacked on. You can have it. Give me a call & I will mail it to you for nothing. Larry Miller 715-699-1014.

I have like 50 FN bolt handles....
The problem is getting time to weld them on.
Here is an FN bolt; on a 450 Bushmaster Pig rifle I did a couple of years ago. Painted OD green.