What is the LOP and the OAL? WOW!!!!

AliveinCC,

I received your letter today and am ordering you barrel this evenning.

Moorepower,

length of pull on this one is 14 3/4" overall it is 41 1/2". Barrel is 24".

Thank you Mr. Bradshaw,
Chic Worthing should be shipping my blank shortly.

Hey Bailey,
Nice work.
Why dont we donate a nice Circassian or Turkish walnut blank for the Dallas Safari Club gun????
Putting Claro on a fine piece of workmanship seems, well, wrong.

Happy to donate.
Let me know.

Thanks,

Adam

513-576-1919

Sounds great to me Adam, I will call later this afternoon.

Very generous of you, right in line with your reputation.

How about this one??

It's ideal Adam. Can't wait to rub that finish on.

Wow!
I just came accross this thread.
Ok, I loved the minimalist design of the original but the finished product is a beauty to behold. To have these actions for $1,500 is awesome and that is an understatement.
I love the design and asthetics!
I hate the wobbley Ruger #1 lever so I will dream of having one of your beauties.
I like the deep trough a lot too.
I am into larger carts so I will dare to dream that you would make 2 more sizes. One to handle the 577 NE and one to handle the 50 BMG. There are no falling blocks out there to handle the 50 BMG for target shooting. If you made a 50 BMG capable action the target shooters would snap them up! Since you would only be making the action and not chambering the gun there would be no sticky 50 BMG issues. 50 BMG Shooters could chamber their own gun and have a strong action that would be a benchrest dream. The falling block is a great action design for such a long cart like the 50 BMG. I was lucky enough to play with a Rigby built 450 NE Farq that I fell in love with and would love to have a classy single shot some day like the one you created here.

Boom,

I appreciate the kind words. I almost took an order for a .700 NE in one of these, so I have the CAD drawings scaled to fit the beast. Unfortunately the Autrailian Govt. made it impossible to follow through.

Anyway, I will build some big ones soon. Also working on making a double rifle version.

Awesome! So you can fit the .800" casehead of the 50 BMG?!?!?
What would the cost be for the action?
A double falling block with twin troughs would be pretty sweet and could bring the cost of doubles down a bit right? What would be the largest casehead you could do for the falling block double?

Yes, it is large enough for the .50 case. It will be almost 3.4" tall, an I may go a little larger yet just for extra weight. Cost will increase abou 20%.

The double will be less expensive compared to a traditional break action. I will have to build the prototype before nailing down a price. The prototype will be chambered for 6.5X57R. I have a couple of extra 6.5 barrels on hand. The rifles can go up to 9.3x74R, same as my current action ( it's the same action, just sxs).

Pending any unseen or anticipated problems, it should be a very strong and funtional weapon.

One cool feature is the Gibbs extractor. Drop the lever hard enough and it will kick the cases out like and ejector, or just ease them out for more control.

Thanks for the great info
I will look forward to see all your projects come to fruition. Please post pics like you did on the 22 Hornet please.
Thanks again

bailey

it looks very nice, very nice indeed. drop ma an e-mail soon i have a few pictures for you to look at

best

peter

Mr. Bradshaw.
I like your new rifle very much. But I think
that the action should handle both rim and rimless cartridges this holds tru for wildcatters like me and others.

Myself I would not buy your action if I only could use rimmed cartridges.

The pistol grip on your stock should have a smaller radious and the distance from the center of the trigger to the front of the grip cap is far too long. I find the pistol grip configuration on the Ruger#1 very pleasing and big eneugh even for larger hands.

The large radious and the round grip gives the rifle a spindly thin look.

James Howe's book Vol 1 "The Modern Gunsmith" gives the distance from the center of the trigger to the front edge of the grip cap as 3.5" for rifles.
BTW that is the dimension on my Rugers #1's. There is no shortage of room.

Fred M

quote:

Originally posted by ZERMEL:
Mr. Bradshaw.
I like your new rifle very much. The pistol grip on your stock should have a smaller radious and the distance from the center of the trigger to the front of the grip cap is far too long. I find the pistol grip configuration on the Ruger#1 very pleasing and big eneugh even for larger hands.

The large radious and the round grip gives the rifle a spindly thin look.

James Howe's book Vol 1 "The Modern Gunsmith" gives the distance from the center of the trigger to the front edge of the grip cap as 3.5" for rifles.
BTW that is the dimension on my Rugers #1's. There is no shortage of room.
Fred M

Fred, I imagine that Bailey prefers the longer grip and also it's more traditional among both Brit and Euro rifles of the past.

I have the greatest respect & admiration for James Howe and his writings, but he's still only one man with one opinion. I find that a somewhat longer grip pull is preferable from both an aesthetic and a practical standpoint. Actually I make most of mine around 3.75" and often slightly longer but seldom or never over 4" or so except on heavy recoilers.

But then again my hands are almost too large for the Ruger grip so I guess I'm prejudiced (ESPECIALLY on a 458!).

Tom Shelhamer was another world-famous prewar smith who liked short grip pulls but I have always preferred the slightly longer dimension.
Regards, Joe

I appreciate everyones input and consructive critisism is certainly welcome. Seems there are severl comments about the stocks grip. Part of this is the action is small and it makes the stock look larger than it is. The other part is that it is long, but I like it. It flows nice, feels good and works. I've never been one to strictly adhere to traditional rules, but take what I like and leave off what I don't like. One feature on most rifles I don't care for is the short pistol grip.

Alex Henry's rifles have nice long grips too. One of the characteristics I enjoy about them.

That being said, this rifle was built to MY specs for a good friend. I am more than willing to accomodate the customers wants.

Mr. Bradshaw:

What kind of front sight are you contemplating for the Farquharson you're building for the Safari Club? I'm looking for ideas for a Swinburn's Patent Martini I'm planning on restoring to centerfire from its current configuration as a .22 club rifle.

Thanks.

Rem

Rem,

I will make the sights. Front sight will be a dovetailed blade with small bead. I haven't decided on wether to use an island rear base with folding leaf sights, or a quarter rib with fixed sight.

I like the island sight base from a traditional stand point, but since it's not an original, old farqy, I know if it would have more broad appeal with the ability to mount a scope. Maybe island base for the scope too? That may be the ticket.

quote:

Originally posted by ZERMEL:
The pistol grip on your stock should have a smaller radious and the distance from the center of the trigger to the front of the grip cap is far too long. I find the pistol grip configuration on the Ruger#1 very pleasing and big eneugh even for larger hands.

The large radious and the round grip gives the rifle a spindly thin look.

James Howe's book Vol 1 "The Modern Gunsmith" gives the distance from the center of the trigger to the front edge of the grip cap as 3.5" for rifles.
BTW that is the dimension on my Rugers #1's. There is no shortage of room.

Fred M

Dear Fred

the reason for the open grip on the english guns(and that is the style that Mr. bailey have chosen for his guns, as far as i can see)

quote:

Alex Henry's rifles have nice long grips too. One of the characteristics I enjoy about them

is that on the heavy recoiling rifles aka stopping calibers it reduces the chance of you brusing your index finger, and when shooting game that moves and using instinctive shooting tecnics, that stock shape facilitates that kind of shooting to a degee where the rifle feels like it is part of your body.

the short radius fat grip is usually made for bench rest like shooting and dont lend itself very well to other kinds of shooting.

bailey has been inspired by the greatest gunmaker of all times Alexander Henry, i have a few of his double rifles and allthough they are 120 years old they still fit me and all my friends even though we are of very different stature, perfection is allways a good thing to be inspired from

best

peter

P.S bailey those pictures you saw are a faitfull copy of the 20/577 stock and they actually shoulder like it amasing feel

Thanks for your input Peter,

I would love to see your Henrys. The only rifle I have seen that rivaled A Henry hammer double for sublime elgance was a little .360 Johan Springer. The kind of rifle that makes you want to wear a tie and tweed coat to go to the range.

Of all the rifles I want to own, a Henry double hammer rifle is at the very top of the list.

Peterdk.
If I did ruffle some feathers it was not my intention. Nor did I mean a target rifle grip.
A 3.5" distance from the center of the trigger to the front of the grip cap can only use a 3.5" radious as the shortest.That is not to say it can be longer to connect the two points.

I mentioned that all my Rugers #1 have that 3.5" distance, not only that but Win, Rem, and others have about that same distance. Which makes a lot of sense since only three fingers occupy the grip when shooting. A straighter grip wont change that.

During my younger years I made quite a few custom rifle stocks and did a lot of reading on good designs. Never had any complaints about my work.

Anyway I made these commments since Mr Bradshaw ask for opinions. Sorry to have wronged him.
I do know about the fine Henry rifles. I wished I had one.

Fred,

Please don't think I was offended in any way. I am not disputing your design measurements are the industry standard. I just like some things a little different.

I do appreciate your input and hope you don't hesitate to post on my work in the future.

The l o n g o p e n grip is one of the reasons I was drawn to this rifle and am now a Bradshaw client. I have several #1s and like them, but they damn sure don't have the lines of the Bradshaw.

No doubt the "Bradshaw" wrist profile is pretty and elegant and would be a great carry. I guess for more recoil for large carts a diferent profile would be better but for 06 based carts this seems fine to me IMHO. Nostalgia can be a cruel master.

quote:

Originally posted by ZERMEL:
Peterdk.
If I did ruffle some feathers it was not my intention. Nor did I mean a target rifle grip.
A 3.5" distance from the center of the trigger to the front of the grip cap can only use a 3.5" radious as the shortest.That is not to say it can be longer to connect the two points.

I mentioned that all my Rugers #1 have that 3.5" distance, not only that but Win, Rem, and others have about that same distance. Which makes a lot of sense since only three fingers occupy the grip when shooting. A straighter grip wont change that.

During my younger years I made quite a few custom rifle stocks and did a lot of reading on good designs. Never had any complaints about my work.

Anyway I made these commments since Mr Bradshaw ask for opinions. Sorry to have wronged him.
I do know about the fine Henry rifles. I wished I had one.

Fred

if i seemed blunt in my response please excuse me, english is my second language, and i fall short on the writing quite a few times, my response were only my way to try to inform and apparently i did not do a very good job this time.

Boomy

this design are actually very good for recoil control.

this is my original alexander henry during the ongoing rebuild (not finished yet) claiber is 577 black powder and weight is around 10,5 pounds

another picture of the stock shape


and this is a really bad picture of my new C-class medium frame with the stock that is a direct copy of that alex henry

better pictures coming very soon

quote:

James Howe's book Vol 1 "The Modern Gunsmith" gives the distance from the center of the trigger to the front edge of the grip cap as 3.5" for rifles.

????????

Back when I made Japanese style swords, I found a similar situation. Many thought the rules for sword design were hard and fast, but there are actually many styles and variations, some completely undocumented.

Here are a couple of gratuitous pics of days gone by.





I trained in Kenjutsu long enough to realize the briliance of the underlying design principles of construction, ergonomics and geometry, but beyond that, many details were left to be individualized.

The variations of rifle grip design are not much different in that they do vary from maker to maker and style of rifle.

Fantastic thread. I just happened upon it for the first time and am very impressed with your work. The action looks great and the gun is very sexxy as you have built it. I would certainly love to have one to build a custom rifle on someday. Great job!

Bailey,
How many actions have you built so far? Any idea of how many are finished rifles? Just curious. GREAT work, btw.

I've delivered 5 actions, have 4 more on the bench and have two finished rifles from them. None of the actions sent to customers are complete rifles yet as far as I know.

Thanks,

Bailey, did you get another letter from me ? Sent 9/1 .

Trey,

Yes, I will give you a call this afternoon.