A few photos for you.
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Dimner,
I wanted to offer you something quick.
However, there isn't anything quick.
It took me about 20 yrs. working near daily with a
true craftsman to teach me to inlet, shape, sand, etc.
I never read a book. I was taught ( hands on ) by a real craftsman.
Ben
I wanted to offer you something quick.
However, there isn't anything quick.
It took me about 20 yrs. working near daily with a
true craftsman to teach me to inlet, shape, sand, etc.
I never read a book. I was taught ( hands on ) by a real craftsman.
Ben
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Rick H
Well-Known Member
I had it explained to me rather simply. "You take a piece of wood and cut away everything that doesn't look like a gunstock". It seems the devil is in the details.
Like most things in life it takes some "seat time".....before you begin to understand what is needed, and gain the skills to make it so. I have stocked a few rifles, but will never be in the class that Ben is.
Like most things in life it takes some "seat time".....before you begin to understand what is needed, and gain the skills to make it so. I have stocked a few rifles, but will never be in the class that Ben is.
Dimner
Named Man
Thanks for the quick reply.
The good news is that I have the time to learn. Also, I do have some skill with mallet and chisel/gouge via my woodworking hobby. Rasp and file skills are decent too. Spokeshave skills are pedestrian, so I usually leave more wood than someone with a good hand at the spokeshave and use a rasp to dial it in.
In no way am I asking how to make a work of art like you have there. What I am looking to learn is the basic process of milsurp to sporter.
Until I understand the process, I won't know what tasks to hire out, do myself, or possibly skip. That last one being a possibility because I've seen some military to sporter conversions where metal working is done in a manner to save every half ounce of weight.
I think through this brief conversation I have my initial answer for now as to where to start looking. I'm going to focus on metal work for now as my research project for the week. Meaning the most common tasks of the conversion. I turn 44 next month, so I have a couple decades left to get this done.
Time is on your side that is the good thing.
I don't know if these publications would help you or not ?
https://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Military-Rifles-Transform-Sporter/dp/B000HBO3ZU
https://www.instructables.com/Sporterize-a-Military-Surplus-Rifle/
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=16246
Ben
I don't know if these publications would help you or not ?
https://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Military-Rifles-Transform-Sporter/dp/B000HBO3ZU
https://www.instructables.com/Sporterize-a-Military-Surplus-Rifle/
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=16246
Ben
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Ian
Notorious member
This may give you an idea of how a rank amateur goes through an entire rifle from one end to the other, replaces parts, fixes neglect, wear, and abuse, rebarrels, refinishes, restocks, and sporterizes.
www.artfulbullet.com
Savage 99 restification project
If chopping up a priceless, 99% original, pre-WWI rifle bothers you, fear not. While I'd love to just fix what's there, and have indeed tried, the sewer-pipe, magnetite bore and beat-up wood is just too bad. While I'm at it, might as well make something I really like, so the replacement barrel...
www.artfulbullet.com
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Got to agree 100%. It's a talented endeavor that requires much patience. That's why I don't make stocks. It doesn't mean that I don't appreciate fine stock work combined with fine lumber. Quite the contrary.
I've had a few finally stocked rifles, a Mauser 98 in 35 Whelen with a double set trigger and a beautiful piece of French Walnut that I let slip through my fingers back in the 80's. Then there's the Winchester 1885 Sporting rifles and Schuetzen rifles from my old collection.
But, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of a little Sako I had put together by a Smith here locally. His name was Peacock just for the record.
Had Peacock build this about 40 years ago. It's a 6mm on the 222 magnum case, so I started fire forming a couple of decades ago and hope to get it fully underway this summer. Sweet little rifle. For my taste and budget I'm leaning towards CZ American for the next rifle. Not sure what caliber. Maybe a 22 Hornet, or go big as in a 6.5 Swede or a 7x57. Sky's the limit when your dreaming.
