Wish me luck

[Brad]

It’s easy for Ian, he has a checkered past.

 

[Ian]

And probably future, too.

A tip: 16 LPI feels like a cheese grater and 24 LPI will make you go blind. 20 is good.

 

[fiver]

you know checkering is just for hiding ugly wood.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Mac on the forearm did you start by routing out the barrel channel

 

[MikeN]

Only tried stock making once back in 1961 when I was 15 yo. Our neighbor had a Winchester model 1897 that I thought was cool, and he let me have it if I would shovel his coal when he brought a truck load home. It was in pretty bad shape. A hose had come off a paint gun and totally filled the action and the stock was busted. I just tried to copy what I thought the original profile was and went from there. The wood was a piece of birdeye maple that my dad had. Had to be careful not to pop one of the eyes out. I tried to checker it with one of the little checkering tools. I turned the fore end in my dads wood lathe. The finish had ambered a lot over the years, but I still like it.
I shot trap as a 16 yo junior with it and used it for about 4 years. The barrel appears to bent upwards a slight amount. I would always get people on the line say "hey do you know your barrel is bent". I was just a kid and it was the only shotgun I had. Plus, it shot some great scores. The 4th round I shot with it was a 25 and I started the next round breaking the first 21 targets and the thought came to me "that maybe you'll get a 50 straight". I missed the last 4 targets. That '97 would sure smack primers hard. Maybe that is why the gangsters liked them so much. Never a misfire. Gosh I'll have had this gun 60 years next year.

 

[S Mac]

Yes Kevin, took a router to it after getting square sides. The squaring was necessary because I started with a log.

 

[Rick H]

you know checkering is just for hiding ugly wood.

Wood shines right through the checkering. Checkering makes a rifle feel 2 lbs lighter when you carry it.

 

[Ian]

^^^^^^^^ Yup.

 

[Ben]

A lot of work and a lot of sweat.
However, you'll have a unique firearm that is tailored to your own personal specs.

 

[S Mac]

I am getting pumped, I bothered Ben with a few questions, am now in the finish process. Hope to post pics soon. Thanks Ben.

 

[waco]

Looking good a Steve. Can’t wait to see some photos. Nice work!

 

[CZ93X62]

Well beyond my skill set. I admire folks who can do such beautiful work with wood.

 

[Ben]

I am getting pumped, I bothered Ben with a few questions, am now in the finish process. Hope to post pics soon. Thanks Ben.

You did not bother me in the slightest.
That's what I'm here for ! !

Ben

 

[Walks]

So it's going well then ?

 

[S Mac]

The wood work is, still fussing with the finish.

 

[Walks]

Patience is a Virtue to be cultivated.

 

[S Mac]

Ok, need to recoat the forend, went a bit deep polishing. Not perfect, but hey, a $400 rifle.

 

[S Mac]

 

[Spindrift]

Nice work, that should serve you well!

 

[Walks]

Very Nice !