flaco

Look for me to be banned at AR. I have just implied--however delicately--that one of their moderators is a Pompous Ass. I am so glad to be here. The worst we have is z1r, who sometimes gets testy. But that's family. flaco

Sheesh- Somehow z1r lifted one of my images and posted it. It's a wrangler from a brochure I made for a local guest ranch. All the rest of the images were color, but we put this one in as a duotone. Sort of historic looking, and all. Thanks, Z. flaco I love that image. And Karl? I'm a working freelance writer/photographer with two book contracts. In August I'm going to Michigan. It's great there. Anyone know where the old Niedner shop was in Michigan?

Tony- On this board, there is no greater honor than to be mistaken for a Texan. flaco N.B. I'm always looking for liberal girls, Tony! LOL.

So I went to the local gun show today. I hadn't been for 20 years, so I didn't expect much. It was lousy then, and it's much worse now. Pretty much looked only for Mausers, although my budget is tapped. One table--only one--had a significant number of Mausers. Guess I've been spoiled looking at the rifles on the internet. Anyway, I found a small group of interesting rifles. Didn't recognize them right away, and made the unfortunate comment that the Swede was expensive. At first glance, I thought it was a 38. It was a 94. For $500. The vendor, a young looking guy, took offense. Who could blame him? Even if it was a legitimate $500 94. (I.e., bad shape.) I guess it's only fair to admit that I wasn't really in my gun show togs. Actually, I was wearing a pink (PINK) polo, and madras shorts. I don't think I blended in very well with the rest of the guys. One of whom I admired. I'm not certain that the Southeastern contingent knows that cowboys have a uniform: If you see a guy in Wranglers, a pressed button-down oxford cloth shirt, boots, and a nice straw hat, you can bet dollars for doughnuts it's a real cowboy. And California may have lot of other types, but, gods bless us, we still have cowboys here. Actually, I would have been happy to make some purchases. I'm looking for a big can of Rust Prevent, which I'm pretty convinced is a great product. I would have gone for a big bottle of Hoppes #9. Or patches. Or--and this would have maxxed the card--neck sizing dies in 6.5x55, 7x57, or 7.65x54. For a while I was convinced I would try partial full length sizing, but I've decided that neck sizing will be easier. I wouldn't be having that chambering problem with the once-fired 7.65s had I been neck sizing. So I came home and spent some time cleaning up the newly blued parts. And mounting barrels to receivers. Most recently, I've spent a couple of three hours making a mess with tung oil and rottenstone. Things are starting to look good. Or better. Did you ever realize some folks just don't understand? A photographer friend of mine from DC--Virginia, really, but he lives inside the Beltway--was in town yesterday. About the time he shows up, I've got the gloves on--is everyone using plastic gloves inside the cotton ones when they card?--and having my way with some degreased steel wool. Right about then, I am very pleased, as this is the last pass, and the parts look good. My friend is mystified. "Flaco" he says, "why aren't you photographing girls?" (In another life, I photographed a lot of beautiful girls, some of whom you can now see in ads for clothes like Abercrombie.) How do you explain the satisfaction of seeing parts you've worked on for many, many hours come out of the boil with a blue so deep could could drown in it? Later, we went downtown and took up a strategic position at a table at a sidewalk café. I know you guys all think your towns are full of beautiful women, but I am here to tell you, and if you care to visit, I'd be happy to prove it to you, that my beautiful town has per capita more beautiful young women than anywhere else in Western Christendom. It helps that this is a university town, but... we just grow 'em good, too. And that was sort of fun, but I kept thinking about putting barrels on rifles. Or like today: The Aussie in shop behind my studio spent most of his day drinking beer, and watching motorcycle races on the tube. I really like motorcycles, and in my youth, came close to successfully killing myself on motorcycles on many occasions. It was rainy Grand Prix racing from Donnington. Those guys have balls of steel. As much talent and courage as one could imagine. "You should have watched the race," my Aussie friend said. It was an accusation. He didn't understand. I wanted to get those barrels on those receivers. I was on a mission. flaco Oh, and my friend from Virginia? Thinking of Tye, and some of the other Southern contributors, I commented he didn't seem to be caught up in the habit of fighting a now long-lost war. "Every day," he said. "People from Virginia don't go to Maryland, and folks from Maryland don't go to Virginia." His family's from Richmond. My spell-check doesn't like "rottenstone."

Hey Batray- Thanks. I got antsy, and already mounted the barrel for project # 2. There were just a couple of small blems, infinitesimal, but blems nonetheless. I'll take your advice for project #1, which I am commencing right now. It's not like the torque on the barrel will be anything near the torque necessary to take off an old barrel. flaco BTW, the bolt closes on a go gauge on project #2. This is really the moment of truth, isn't it? I know I was nervous. It may have taken just a little pressure at the end of the bolt's throw, but not too much... I expect. The receiver wasn't in a stock or anything that would provide a good grip, and I'm pretty much the pencil neck geek type. LOL.

Wowsers!!! After all these months, I'm ready for final placement of the barrel on project #1. Yes, that means I've blued the barrel and receiver. And they are gorgeous. Really, really great. So. The momentous moment has arrived. And I don't want to screw up the bluing on either the barrel or receiver. I have lead shims for the action wrench, and my barrel vise uses aluminum bushings. Both of these are softer than steel. Need I take any more precautions to avoid marring the finish? flaco And my great thanks to all the contributors here, for the entertainment, but, in particular, really good advice. And sometimes patience. LOL. (The "Wowsers!!! is for you, Karl. LOL.)

Jason- You might want to get a book, "Professional Stockmaking" by Wesbrook for example. There are lots of illustrations, and it gives you a really good idea of the architecture of a contemporary rifle stock. Anyway, yours looks a little thin in the wrist. My experience is that by using a grip cap, one establishes the dimension (width) of that area. Also, I believe that before the move someone posted the name of a book that gave specific advice for reshaping military stocks. Good luck, flaco

This is a sort of belated "Well, yeah," for Jason. Who asked what we were doing this weekend. I was eager to complete as many cold rust blue passes as possible on the barrel and receiver of project #2, and my brother threw a belated 80th birthday party for our father. The brother has 20 acres in a formerly rural area where the Hollywood refugees have chosen to relocate, and wine growers have moved in. Still, it's a nice place, on a saddle overlooking the canyon, if a little hot. (This is hot, I guess, by any standards, over 100, but dry heat, with no appreciable humidity.) We've heard more than a few insults aimed at California, and it's not my intent to deny anything--believe what you will--but mine is an old California family, whose ancestors crossed the Plains back in 1848, 1849, 1850. I've always felt that the Eastern tenderfeet waited for my ancestors to kill off the Grizzly bears, and then moved out. On the train. Anyway, I think it's new transplants that are wafty. Not the old timers. This is a photograph of my Dad's mother, circa 1904. She's the one with the reins. Wouldn't you know it? She was a second generation Californian native, as it was her Grandfather that crossed the Plains. Like I said, it was a celebration of Dad's 80th, and, well, he's no Spring Chicken. In his time he was a pretty smart guy, with advanced degrees--CPA, MBA--and he's still okay, but not exactly the sharpest tool in the box. Oh well. Both of his brothers were there. I liked this. The oldest was a medic who landed in Normandy on D-Day plus three. Or four. Not certain it makes a difference. He moved around, but was always attached to infantry companies on the American left flank, near the Limies. Ten battle stars, as Dad was proud to add. Dad's younger brother was there too. With his hearing aids and bypass and all. He was blind in one eye, so a noncombatant. Dad was a Navy corpsman on a hospital ship, and pretty happy he wasn't chosen to accompany the Marines. (We all know that in general Marines don't think much of the Navy. Except those ballsy corpsmen.) So it all made me a little sad. It's a more than good guess that these three brothers will never be together again--alive--and that's sort of depressing. I asked some family history questions, but who can trust the answers? Sometimes memory fails. I spent a goodly amount of time with my cousin, a retired PD captain. He used to build rifles. I've been trying to talk him into going shooting with me. I brought it up on the way home. "I don't know what I'd shoot," he said. "You've got safes full of rifles," his wife corrected. As it turns out, seems the best prospect is a Husky 7x57 in a mannlicher stock. Sounds like fun to me. flaco

Well done, Jason- flaco

I was wondering if anyone would ask about the prop in the triggerguard. Good eye, z1r. Actually, it's not a chisel, but a gouge. My favorite: The 1/2" Cranked In-Cannel Paring Gouge. http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/defau...Path=39_171_219 If you intend to spend any time inletting barrels, it's a nice thing to have. flaco

Sadly, the new MFRC site doesn't like my browser. Is it me? Anyway, thought I'd post here, as long as I can. I've already mentioned Project #1, the 7X57, but here's Project #2: She's another 1909, this time 6.5x55, with a Lothar Walther Article 724. Davis May bent the bolt--a little short, I guess, but she's a target rifle--and the wood came from Jim Preslik. I learnt about him here. Obviously, I'm pretty convinced Jim Preslik is a Saint. I've had good advice from almost everyone, but am truly indebted to Bill Soverns. If it's not obvious, yes, I'm an obsessive, and love doing this stuff. I'm a writer/photographer, so this is way out of my metier, but... despite the protestations from a truly talented bubba on another forum, there's more shared between the literary craft and the gun making craft than is obvious. It's about attention to detail. I am reminded of Gustave Flaubert, who wrote "Madame Bovary." I don't guess a lot of gunsmiths have read it--maybe forced to, in High School--but it's a pretty racy tale for the 19th century. Mainly, teacher's don't tell their students how to interpret it. What I'm getting at here is that Flaubert had a concept, "le mot juste," the perfect word. He agonized for days over his writing. If this isn't what real custom gun makers do, please let me know. No effort spared. Everything as perfect as possible. Anyway, you can see the pin in the bottom metal where I'm fitting the floorplate release, and I'll knock down the current coat of tung oil, and do it again. The receiver is just about ready to blue, as is the barrel. Am I the only one who gets nervous when things look this good? Or is it just because I'm a rookie? flaco Don't ever underestimate writers. Flaubert came back from a trip to North Africa dreaming about a feast that included tiger clitorises. With plenty of garlic butter, presumably. What do you expect from a nation that eats snails?

Thanks, Lynn- You have been busy. And no matter how much the guys enjoy the Cud and "Fightin'" boards, it's the gunsmithing posts that really count. flaco And thanks to Tony, too. Of course.