flaco

So. It occurs to me that if Tony is going to spend money on advertising the site, we really need to clean up our act. Quit squabbling about politics like a bunch of girls, and go back the the constructive mutually supportive restoration and sporterizing advice that has made this site so great in the past. Especially since we no longer have the archives to keep folks' attention. I know that when I first found the site about a year ago, I spent hour after hour learning from the archives. As it is, newcomers are likely to find the pickins a little slim. With the exception of the sometimes not-that-well-informed opinions in the Cud and Fightin' Words sections. LOL. With all respect, flaco

Gun Goddess, Jerry- Jim Baiar Half Moon Rifle Shop 490 Half Moon Road Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406 892-4409 flaco

Where's Tye? Anyone hear from him? I miss our crankiest member. flaco

Is "Mindy from Dallas" a porn film? flaco

Forgive me, I can be obscure- Here's the lyrics to "Don't Think Twice...." It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe It don't matter, anyhow An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If you don't know by now When your rooster crows at the break of dawn Look out your window and I'll be gone You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on Don't think twice, it's all right It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe That light I never knowed An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe I'm on the dark side of the road Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say To try and make me change my mind and stay We never did too much talkin' anyway So don't think twice, it's all right It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal Like you never did before It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal I can't hear you any more I'm a-thinkin' and a-wond'rin' all the way down the road I once loved a woman, a child I'm told I give her my heart but she wanted my soul But don't think twice, it's all right I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe Where I'm bound, I can't tell But goodbye's too good a word, gal So I'll just say fare thee well I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind You could have done better but I don't mind You just kinda wasted my precious time But don't think twice, it's all right Bob Dylan, of course. We're all, I think, victims of our historicity. Where we are in time. I remember a fairly attractive bar tender--she had nice legs--about twenty years younger than I telling me that the late departed Jim Morrison of the Doors was a poet. I beg to differ. Morrison couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. For me, any BB King, but sheesh, it was Clapton's "Bell Bottom Blues" that assuaged my pain in college when I split with that long legged blond. And this Bob Dylan song. Too much beer and too much volume. Blues kick. flaco Who's Robert Johnson?

Thanks, Gentlemen- As usual, I didn't express myself all that well. The real question is... Is the 7.65x53 cartridge superior enough to pay an extra hundred and change (if not more) rather than getting a similar chambering that Lothar Walther sells pret a porter. I'm just enough of a contrarian to like a cartridge that is no longer in favor, but has an attractive, if not romantic, history. And it's a Mauser. I spent some time yesterday with a smith who builds target rifles for a living, and he scoffed at the difference. To him, the 7.65 is the same as a 30-06, or a 308. Just another generic cartridge. And.. there isn't much bullet selection for this cartridge. Although the 150 grainer sounds fine to me. If a little short. Not to mention.... Jason got it right. I like building rifles that emulate custom guns. The new blank was given to me, and had been gathering dust in the studio for months. It had some flaws, and I just wanted to see if there was a stock in there. There was, and a fairly pretty one, but as Chic Worthing advises, it's best to spend as much as you can on your blank, as it can't be replaced. For me, the temptation is to go all out on these puppies, fiscal responsibility to the wind. I'm spending like a Republican. And sheesh, DT. Wouldn't think of it. I have another carbine, with a nice barrel, although not that nice a receiver. I appreciate your offer. Here's another issue: I love that barrel band front sight mount, but would like to use one with a globe sight. I have an '09 long rifle with a Lyman aperture and a globe mounted in the original Mauser band sight, and even I can shoot with that combination. I've looked, and it seems like NECG has the only barrel band front sight mount. But you're limited to their sights. Which is fine, but I want a globe. Does anyone know of another manufacturer of barrel band front sight mounts? One that will accept sights by different makers? Or would it be possible to mill the NECG so a generic front sight would fit? Thanks, flaco

Whoa, baby. I've just returned from a week in Southern Michigan, wrenching with the gearheads. We were working on vintage raceboats, prepping them for action photographs. These boats all have different engines, and it was an education to watch the real gearheads diagnose the problems--the only one that stumped us (them) was a supercharged Harry Miller (Indy fans will know Miller) four--and fix 'em. In the end, we couldn't make it work. Given time, I'm certain the boys would have. Fuel pressure problems, probably the regulator. Anyway, I guess I have to mention some gun stuff--and I'm truly glad to be back to my projects, although I now have two books to write--so I thought I'd ask about the 7.65 Mauser cartridge. I liked the riffs above, on Pedestal's thread, and am glad to see bilurey posting. He always seems knowledgeable. I currently have a roughed out blank, I think it's black walnut (could be Claro, but it's very heavy) that's sort of, well, blond. A real light golden color. I wet it, and some weird figure shows, not just fiddleback, and a little nice grain. I don't really have a receiver yet. Although I have some '09 bottom metal. I want to put a red recoil pad on this puppy, and probably another Lyman aperture sight. My problem is, Lothar Walther doesn't make a 7.65 in the article 722, which is what I'm looking for. So I'm looking at over $300 for a custom LW barrel. I'm not certain the wood justifies this kind of investment. So I'm looking for suggestions. flaco Also, I have vertigo. This usually isn't too much of a problem, although I got a little queasy driving back and forth over some really high bridges to Canada this summer. LOL. Anyway, the boss asks if I want to photograph boats from a helicopter, and... how can you turn down an offer like that? We saddled up, and I got some amazing photographs of two Gold Cup winners from the 1920s. I was nervous at first, but sheesh, I love making photographs, and from now on hanging my *ss out of helicopters and making boat photographs is the most (legal) fun I've ever had. All else pales. What a blast. Image is a Southern Michigan doe that came down to the lake shore for a drink. I photographed her from a boat, and she didn't quite know what to make of that. Are deer really stupid? Lots of them tried to run in front of the car in Southern Michigan.

"Don't think twice, it's all right." Bobby Zimmerman. flaco

Hoping everything will be okay with you and yours, fritz. Actually, I'm pretty confident it will. Please, though, try and stay online; what would we do without The Further Adventures of Fritz? flaco

Nice work, Pedestal- If I remember correctly, you posted images of a skeleton stock on the old site. Was it mesquite? Also, I liked your comment about proportion: cutting the forearm to match the short barrel. Oh, aesthetics. flaco

I take it the numbers match? You're a collectible!! Happy Birthday. flaco

Thanks, guys- I've already loaded 50 rounds, using N150 and IMR 4064. I've been pleased with the N150--so far, I only have these two powders--in the 7x57, but Lapua is the only one to list a load for the 140gr Match KIng. My other handbook goes from N140 for lighter bullets, directly to N160. The 4064 seems like a great all around powder, so I might get lucky with that, too. Jason, look how long those bullets are. I think this weight is wonderful for 6.5x55. flaco

I'm hoping to shoot Project #2, the 6.5x55, this weekend, and putting together some loads. I know a couple of the guys--Jason, Rhys--have built 6.5s using the Lothar Walther barrel, and wonder if they have any suggestions for COL for the Sierra 140 gr. HPBT. Thanks, flaco N.B. I replaced the extractor for this project today. It was my second extractor replacement, and... much easier that the first. Which had me stymied for about half an hour. Even though I was working with a friend with much stronger hands than I. I hate playing with these extractors so much it's a little bit of a landmark to replace it. BTW, as far as I can tell, the secret is to start the extractor onto the ring in the area of the bolt in which there is no extractor groove. Once you have it on, twist it, until it falls into the groove. Took about three minutes this time.

Shame on you, Gentleman Farmer. You troublemaker. flaco Good try though, fritz. LOL.

Let it go, Mark. These things will eat your heart out. You've made your case; a reasonable one, I think. Soon this will be ancient history, and you'll have something else to anguish over. Too soon. flaco

Looks nice, DT- And yep, I always like to see more pictures. flaco

What would we do without Uncle BullMoose? flaco

Monty- I used Behr's #600, because it came so highly recommended by the guys on another forum. It's primarily linseed oil, tung oil, wax, and lots of mineral spirits. I know it will rub out to a decent luster, but it seems to darken the wood more than I would have liked. I'm currently finishing up Project #2, on which I--for the most part--followed Bill Soverns' instructions. For the final stages I balked at paying $10 shipping for Daly's BenMatte tung oil, and am using McCloskey Tung Oil, 9931. The problem may be similar to yours: This ends up with that "Dipped In Plastic" look. It's not a matte finish, as is, I presume, the BenMatte. What I'm doing now is rubbing it out with rottenstone, using the McCloskey's to wet it down. It's a slow, laborious process, but after removing the rottenstone with a wet rag, and giving one last very light coat--just a kiss as it were--of McCloskey's, I end up with much less gloss. It has depth, and is very clear, which allows the figure and grain of the wood to shine. flaco N.B. Along the way, Monty, I've been getting--and sometimes rejecting--advice from a boatbuilder friend, who finishes wood for a living. One of his points was... amateurs sometimes experiment, while professionals stay with the tried and true. Maybe best just to follow the instructions, to the letter, of the professionals.

AzRednek- Brownell's have a product specifically to achieve that result. flaco

Shucks, guys- [Looks down, kicks dirt.] Karl, she groups. One of my buddies is still amazed that it's more accurate with iron sight than his Springfield with a scope. Thanks again for all the help, flaco

mod70- It's a tragedy of life that all these wonderful old posts are lost. BobVZ, one of the most inspired alternative tool builders to post here, uses a beat up--okay, remodeled--old pot to steam his parts (barrels, etc.) rather than boiling them. flaco

Thanks, MFRC- About last September, I began obsessing on custom rifles. I had owned a few old Mausers years ago--at the tail end of my marriage [need I say why?]--and been a member of the excellent local gun club, but was not even aware of the concept of a Custom Gun. I began buying books, hey, they're cheap, and sometimes a good investment.. and haunting the net for rifle sites. I was particularly interested in the history and tradition of this arcane subject. I started off with two 1909 barreled actions. These were not perfect, replete with the now legendary "minor pitting below the woodline," but I was pleased at the time. Looking back, from the perspective of a not-to-be-expected success, I wish I had known then what qualifies a receiver to be a donor receiver. This is project #1: I guess it's obvious to everyone that it's an emulation of an early 20th century custom rifle. As noted, it's a 1909 action. The stock is by GAGS, and although I spent a good day pondering as to whether or not to send it back--it has at least 10 pin knots--I decided to keep it. Overall, I'm glad I did. The tung oil finish--not a tung oil varnish--brought out figure that I did not know was there. It was a lot of work, and I removed a lot of wood to fit the Niedner butt plate and pistol grip cap. (Now, of course, I know it's probably better to buy a blank and have a cutter shape it, and that's what I did on project #2.) Using only files, I narrowed the triggerguard bow. I pillar bedded the rear receiver tang, and glass bedded the front. I had help fitting a Lothar Walther barrel. I had help from the local welder (a girl, hey this is California) tigging in the serial number on the triggerguard, and some nasty pits on the bolt handle. I had help drilling and tapping for the Lyman aperture sight. If you're thinking I like Lyman sights, your correct. I like the improved sight radius of the aperture sight, and I think that this fits in with my traditional model. I sweated on the barrel band sling swivel, and the NECG front sight. The front band sight was problematic: I measured the muzzle, and ordered what I thought was the correct band, but found it didn't fit. I was reluctant to try stretching the band (as the instructions direct) and I didn't have an old barrel to bang to sight onto. I ended up with the next larger sight, which was generously large. I was particularly worried that excess solder would show when I blued the barrel, but as you can see, it's relatively clean. You'd have to be up close to notice any excess solder. And looking for it. I am also very happy with the SLOW rust blue. I researched this pretty extensively, and found the Dunlop book, and Jim Baiar's instructions that accompany his Gun Goddess blue, very helpful. I'm also pleased with my decision to bead blast the parts before bluing. My only local friend who had done this was aghast when I told him I was going to blast the parts, but the final finish is a very smooth satin, which reflects more the condition the parts were in before blasting that the actual blasting itself. Most importantly, I believe the blasting prepares the metal for the blue. It was suggested that parts should be blued immediately after blasting, and I believe this is good advice. Mainly, I'm a slob, but was also very careful to keep the parts surgically clean before and during the bluing. Really, I think of SLOW rust bluing as alchemy: turning dross to gold. It amazes me. Who knew you could improve steel by rusting it, and then boiling it? The only part I didn't blue was the NECG sight hood, which came blued. It's a reasonably good match, and don't think I'll change it. I mounted a Timney Sportsman trigger, which was a drop-in, with the exception of removing wood from the stock. There are, of course, a few things left to do: I'll remove the Niedner grip cap and butt plate and blue them to match. I need to blue the bolt stop/ejector. The stock needs a couple of final coats of tung oil, and a good rub out to bring up the luster. In the end, though, despite the fact that aesthetics are important, we all know that there is one objective criterion by which rifles are judged: accuracy. This rifle groups. flaco N.B. She's very light, comes naturally to the shoulder, and puts my eye where I want it. I've also been told she kicks more than a Springfield. Even with my girly man 7x57 loads. LOL. I have had the help of many, many people on this project, and for that I am truly grateful. Most of them were right here on MFRC. Thanks.

If I remember correctly, Monty, you've been through the trials of Job getting the cosmo out of that stock. Well done. Looks very sweet to me. flaco

z1r- BobVZ restores milsurps. I guess he can speak for himself, but I believe he takes actions/receivers and reblues them. Thus the efficacy of keeping the barrel on the receiver. flaco

I love your posts, Troble. Always have. I've learned more from you than anyone else except z1r. Who else is making his own reamers? flaco N.B. Okay, I forgot Clemson and Tye and a whole bunch of others. Oh well. Telll me how to make that "Bubba" with the registered trademark sign, okay?