Reading older Rifle magazines, I stumbled across a display advertisement of Action Castings. I visited the link which automatically linked me to WYVRN CSTGS, apparently owned and operated by Gordon Robertson. What piqued my interest is M1897 Westley Richards Farquharson single-shot action kits in varying stages of completion.

From the web site's blurb it appears castings were created and inventoried by Action Castings, which which went out of business because of poor sales. I anticipate poor sales occurred because castings offered were:

1. Poor quality; OR

2. Good quality material, but too grossly dimensioned as-cast; OR

3. Good quality material, acceptably dimensioned as-cast, but too incomplete for hobbyists; OR

4. Good quality material, acceptably dimensioned as-cast, good value, but poorly marketed.
***
I am very interested in Mr. Robertson's product's potential. Were I to purchase a Farquharson kit from him, what am I getting into? That is, what levels of completion are available -- not by name, but by describing what the buyer actually receives? What is the quality of castings offered? I wouldn't expect aircraft quality castings or castings that have been densified via Hot Isostatic Press. Pinetree Castings has set a reasonable standard for firearms investment casting quality. Are drawings supplied machinist's inspection drawings -- that is, dimensioned drawings that allow any journeyman machinist to finish the casting "to the numbers?"

I saw most of the actions in kit form last June at the Quigley Match. They do not come with all of the holes drilled, and no instructions. IIRC, they used to be OTR.

Rich
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I saw most of the actions in kit form last June at the Quigley Match. They do not come with all of the holes drilled, and no instructions. IIRC, they used to be OTR.

Rich
DRSS

Your evalution, then, is they are essentially impossible to complete without a finished W-R Farquarson from which to get numbers?

I have almost completed a Farquharson kit from Gordon, only some minor adjustment on the extractor timing remains.

The Kit comes with an about 20 pages instruction how to complete the action. All the important measurements are in the instructions, along with some tips and tricks to do building easier. There are many pictures of the different setups, so you don’t need to have an engineering degree

The qualities of the castings are ok. There haven’t been any casting errors on mine. Some places on the castings need almost no work, and other parts, like the front and sides of the receiver block, there can be several mm to remove.

Any persistence hobbyist can complete this kit. You need (?) access to a mill to make the receiver block square. The rest can be done with a small drill press, some files and drills&taps.

Gordon replies fast on emails if you have any questions.



R

Rogre,

and what is that link? I was disappointed that they did not make it to the Quigley this year.

Rich
Shiloh Sharps and Stevens/CPA 44 1/2

This is Gordon's new site

I think the "Dragon Slayer" is very interesting. Gordon says 2 days to build


R

Rogre,

I think it says two weeks. He mentions 80 hours in the website. Neat stuff, but at regular gunsmith labor charges it would be pretty spendy.

Rich
DRSS

80 hours is for the Farq.

From the DS features page:

quote:

Construction is such that it should only take a reasonably competent machinist about two days to obtain a working action. This does NOT include cosmetic (contouring, filing, polishing, etc.) work and miscellaneous items.

R

Pics of the castings you recieve:







R