Well I've finally gotten my 5th rifle project about 99% complete and was ready for a little constructive criticism and a little more input on a couple details. I've kinda self graded myself on several areas but appreciate the input from some of the superior gunsmiths on this forum.
Again I'm a amature stockmaker and this is my 5th complete stocking project - I've done a number a partials here and there but this is the 5th complete. I feel I'm improving on each gun but still have a long ways to go to be where I want to be.
Special thanks to Doug Humbarger who gave me the round swivel studs on this project and also to LB404 who supplied me with the rest of the items used in this project besides being a great freind.

Here's a side veiw, In this veiw you can see that my bolt notch is a little larger than it needed to be, something I'll watch next time;





The other side, this was my first pancake cheekpiece. I like it pretty well and will likely use it on my next project also. Also a sharp eyed wood person will notice that this stick of wood has a graft line in it. I liked it and thought it added character. LB404 didn't care for it and may be one of the reasons he gave me such a good deal on the wood ...:






The next is a bottom veiw. I did another ebony inlay in the grip cap. I chickened out of checkering inside the grip cap with a border. I broke a couple teeth off my gunline 28 LPI cutter head and didn't want to risk a big screwup and was too impatient to wait for another cutter. Next time the blueing runs I plan to reblue all the screws and swivels:



Here are some side veiws of the checkering pattern. On the left side what looks like a scratch is a light streak in the wood. I like the pattern ForrestB had on his 6,5x55 and used the same 3.5-1 layout that it did - the first time I'd tried 3.5-1. I should have rounded the back corner by the grip cap like his gun does, something I'll try next time.......









This was also the first Mullered border I've ever cut. Thanks to CustomStox for his advice and encouragement on how to cut one. I'm not so sure that I don't like the extra line style that was on ForrestB's 6.5x55 better though and may try it on my next project. Other than curving the back edge I was reasonably happy with the grip checkering. The forend has a small goof in it that you probably can't see and a couple inclusions in the wood that filled pretty well. I can live with fixed inclusions but even one little goof makes me less happy with the forend checkering, maybe project 6 will be better, one of these days I really should start using a checkering cradle!

I still have a few questions to discuss:

I was thinking about Jeweling the bolt and follower but started to think it might look slightly out of place on this gun, what do you guys think?

I also wanted to hear about how well freezing the recoil pad works. It still has just a couple little spots to refine and was thinking about trying that method. CustomStox, I see what you meant about the step that a belt sander can leave, do you think freezing and light sanding might correct it? It's a very small step so I'm a little nervous about getting it near a disk grinder.
I debated about whether or not to include Iron Sites on this gun, I wanted to go lighter weight and the comb is perfect for the scope and think probably to high for Irons. I've got two 9,3x62's and think that my other one is probably the one that needs them more and if I try them I'll do it first.

Thanks for any responses and thanks again to Gnmkr, CustomStox, LB404, ForrestB, DHumbarger who have all given me inspiration, material help or both. It sure makes this hobby a lot more fun to talk back and forth with such good people!........................DJ

DJ

I am just curious. Did you whittle that out from a block or did you have somebody run it through a duplicator. Absolutley gorgeous wood.
All of your stuff has been gorgeous!!!

22WRF, that blank had been through a duplicator which is why there was a gap to fill in in the forend and why I'm working from a block on my next project. . As Pantographed it had a regular cheekpeice but fortunately it had enough room left to trim it to a pancake style and Blackburn bottom metal will clean up a std factory inletting on bottom ..........................DJ

Nice. Very, very nice!

no criticizm here friend....that's excellent wood and excellent work.....and you used a fantastic action to build from....all in all I'd rate that a 9.9.....and I never give 10s!!!!!

A word of advice on the critism. You are your own worst critic. Sounds like your very much like I am in that regard, looking at what you did, and mentally registering what you could do better.

Real world is just about 98% everybody else would never even notice the stuff unless you point it out.

My only critism would be constructive....start working on #6, and you did a very good job on #5.

Looks great to me !
I am no smith but i look at and buy rifles quite abit and that one looks prety expensive !
You mentioned sights, have a look at Brockmans I treid to do a link but a search did it for me. He makes a set of baese that have a spring loaded ghost ring.You hve to use tally rings though He makes it for the model 70. Is that a pre 64 ? if its a classic what kind of bottom meatle did you use ? ...tj3006

Thomas

DJ mentioned that the bottom metal is Blackburn, and a careful look at the action indicates it is pre-64.

fantastic work and the checkering is beautiful.

rich

Thomas, The action is a post-war Pre-64 Model 70, with a custom contoured 22" barrel. The bottom metal is Blackburn.

Schromf, I may be my own worst critic but I have a good idea where my stuff stands. It's also hard to criticize detail without actually handling the rifle and seeing it up close. My photography could also use improvement. But I'm happy with how it came out, I learned while making it and know some areas I can do better next time. Also we have some of the greatest gunsmiths in the world posting on this forum and they can certainly give ideas of how to improve. The last few %'s of improvement might be the hardest to acheive, but hey getting there is still fun!

If anyone is curious here are a couple pics of the pantographed blank after inletting:









................DJ

Given as much as one can see from pics the work is splendid! You should be very proud indeed. Skill at your level makes access to lovely rifles very much easier. You and your gun safe are very much the better for it!

Absooooolutly wonderful, I just got a piece of wood if you want to practice, lol. Wish I had that talent

Another lovely one!

You've done an excellent job, very nice indeed. The only thing that I see is that the forend tip needs to be more rounded. It's still a bit blocky at the corners. Thats just my personal preference though. You should pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

DJ, you are my hero. Beautiful work. Wish I could do half that well... I personally like a little slimmer foreend, but think that looks and works fine with a bigger caliber. My .338-06 has a very similar shape. I think you could do a lot of things differently, but I doubt if you could do a lot of things much better. Keep up the great work.

MKane160

DJ,

Very nice work dude! Just plug that hole in the bolt handle with a little JB Weld and you are good to go .

lawndart

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:
I was thinking about Jeweling the bolt and follower but started to think it might look slightly out of place on this gun, what do you guys think?

No, please don't. It looks great as is.

That is a superb rifle, one I would be gutbustingly proud to own. I like the whole effect very much, but, also wouldn't mind a slightly rounder forend tip. You are easily good enough to go "pro" should you so desire, I wish you lived in Canada and would fit a stock to my slowly developing Brno 21H project in 9.3x62. I would be thrilled to have this, good on ya!

very good work, it one thing to be able to build a stock.........its another to checker it.......I want to say again.......very good work, thanks, Billy

DJ, like usual, your craftsmanship and desire to 'do it right' show through. That is a neat choice of platform and wood, and I think it looks really fantastic! Everyone will have a favorite flavor when it comes to the checkering pattern, obviously you might tweak it on the next project, but it fits that rifle well and looks fine.

You must really stay busy, I know there's a lot of time invested there, thanks for sharing, the pics are great, I'm trying to figure out how to take better ones, you're pretty far along as far as I'm concerned...

That rig is just Sweet!--Don

awesome job...
there's an item or 2 left to preference, not failure in execution.

I would be proud

sent you a PM
jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:

I debated about whether or not to include Iron Sites on this gun, I wanted to go lighter weight and the comb is perfect for the scope and think probably to high for Irons.

On the two custom rifles I have built thus far (450 Ackley and 9.3x62) I have gone with iron sights, however I am in the process of having several more custom rifles built and have made the decision that I will not add iron sights again except for DG “stopping†calibres. I have tried hunting several times with irons and really do not enjoy the experience. For me irons have purely aesthetic value on most rifles.

I like the look of your rifle and do not think its diminished because it does not have iron sights.

Fergus

PS - great job on the rifle!!!

Fergus, I looked at the wood on your two rifles at your website, wow what nice sticks. You guys must be keeping some of the good stuff down under..... ......DJ

The only thing I see wrong with it is that it is not in my collection. Thanks for pics and you really do nice work.

Your work looks fantastic, but your choice of scope and mounts lets it down in my opinion. A set of Conetrol Customs holding a 2.5-8 Leupold would be my choice.
Please dont take this as criticism, you asked for opinions and this is offered as such.

DJ
Beautiful, and I agree with you on the graft line. I think it's in the perfect position on the stock to add to the character.
There are amatures, and then there are "world class" amatures. I'd have to put you in the latter catagory. Great work.

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:
Fergus, I looked at the wood on your two rifles at your website, wow what nice sticks. You guys must be keeping some of the good stuff down under..... ......DJ

DJ, thanks for visiting my site. I am WAY overdue to update the rifle photos on my site. No time these days

I hope Geoff, my stock maker, has some more of that good stuff on hand!! He is going to have to stock a 500, 416, 9.3, 300, 275 & 6.5 for me in the near future! Photos will be posted as the projects are completed.

[QUOTE]Originally

I have tried hunting several times with irons and really do not enjoy the experience. For me irons have purely aesthetic value on most rifles.

QUOTE]


Is that ever the truth!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike A:
Your work looks fantastic, but your choice of scope and mounts lets it down in my opinion. A set of Conetrol Customs holding a 2.5-8 Leupold would be my choice.
Please dont take this as criticism, you asked for opinions and this is offered as such.

Mike A, I'll have to agree that as far as scope finish is concerned a Leupy 2.5x8 Matte would probably "match" the finish on the rifle better. And Conetrol rings are quite nice looking.
However I do have a 2.5x8 Leupold and it is inferior optically to the Kahles and since I plan to hunt the rifle I opted for the optical superiority of Kahles. The Talley rings might not be as racy as the Conetrols but I find them to be superb. I also like the quick detatchability and if I was on a hunt a long way from home I'll have a sighted in spare scope along -maybe the leupold .........DJ

NICE LOOKING RIFLE

A combination of a classy american design/gun, with a classic continental cartridge. Perhaps there can be peace between
the two worlds after all

DJ,

Superb! I wouldn't change a thing except maybe the name on the title, to mine of course, lol.

dj,



Outstanding - what more can a guy say, simply a beautiful classic looking rifle.

Like others have already stated - I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axel second-guessing yourself and attempting to make it even MORE perfect!

quote:

Like others have already stated - I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axel second-guessing yourself and attempting to make it even MORE perfect!

Gerry, Don't worry, I'm happy with the way it's ended up. But critique not only helps refine technique but it often gives me idea's for the next rifle.
My good buddy LB404 suggested a rounder forend - which will appear on my next project using the Round bottom Fisher bottom metal.
So anyway I appreciate both praise and criticism, one encourages the other educates.............DJ

BTW: Sind Sie Frankfurter? Or an American in Germany?

The rifle is beautiful to say the least. But since you did ask for opinions I will give you mine.

The only part that I would alter is the fore-end tip. It appears to be a bit squared off. But that may just the way I am seeing it in the pics.


I would like to know what finish and technique you used. I especially like the satin quality of your finish job. It really allows the beauty of the wood to come through.

It's really nice. I can't do nearly that well so I don't feel right trying to critique what looks like an excellent job.

As far as the tip, that's a matter of taste and plenty of folks share yours. Lots better than being too short, anyway.


I have a hankering for a Fisher round bottom intermediate 7 x 57. Is that a piece he'll sell or does it only come with the rest of the metal work?

M1 - Your not the only one that's commented on the forend. It isn't as rounded as a lot of people prefer.
In finishing I sand bare wood to 400 grit. I then used a Clear Epoxy Penetrating Sealer that I got from Japan Woodworker. I like the idea of having the best moisture seal possible. I then sand in Tung Oil with 400 leaving it "muddy" and dry for a week. Then wet sand with tung oil and 600 grit again leaving it muddy and dry for a week. Usually with 2 wetsandings the pores are filled, though they do seem to fill more quickly when I didn't use the epoxy sealer. After the second mudcoat I wetsand with 1000grit and hand rub. Sometimes I like to rub in a couple additional coats with Linspeed but it isn't always needed.

Tiggertate, You can buy the Fisher/Blackburn roundbottom metal directly from Jerry Fisher. That's exactly what I'm doing for my next project.......................DJ

dj, it looks great. I would offer the same comment as far as the forend regarding hemispere shape, but yours still looks very nice.

Your checkering looks extremely well done. There is a way to check for consistency even in a photo at this size. Look for consistent lines formed by the tips of the diamonds. The lines appear as vertical lines on the checkering. Yours looks extremely consistent and well spaced. That reflects very good checkering.

I will give you a tip on the bolt handle groove. I approach it just like I am inletting the action. I use prussian blue under the handle and tap it to the stock, then remove what is blue. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes and it is in and very close to the shape of the bolt.

Wonderful work and you are way ahead of the learning curve with this being only your fifth.

quote:

sharp eyed wood person will notice that this stick of wood has a graft line in it

That line is very minute compared to the wood I patterned today. It was English with Claro root stcok and the difference was from a light tan with black grain to the deep brown of the Claro with burl and tiger strips. I like your wood because the difference is not so striking.

Very good, be proud! If anything could be commented, I would say the front end corner of the comb should have been further foreward. Jerry Fisher claimes it should be exactly abobe the middle of the pistol grip cap. However, that is purely a matter of taste, the quality of your skills as a craftsman is not in question - very nice work.

dj, outstanding work. I think lb404 made a bad call on that stick of wood, I would love that on one of my guns. I noticed the sling swivels,are they the same as Chic has described and uses?
The bottom metal is perfect, I also like the Talley's w/o the levers, much cleaner look.