JRH

Don, I should have noted...I saw two does, and two beautiful high mountain eastern brook trout. Most importantly, we also located a nice place for a hike-in stand about 2.5mi from the access points. This swamp holds water at the low point of the valley all year long. Certainly a nice late fall rut spot... JC

Don, It is a PME, (I would post a pic but I just got back from a 6.5mi hiking/scouting trip and left my camera in my friends car). JC

Hey Don, What is the easiest way to tell Chapman v PME?...I have many combinations of actions/bolts/cocking pieces/safeties to try. (Which I presume would eventually answer my question after many hours of trial and error.) I just didn't want to go blind into the dark of night when I know there are plenty of people around here with flashlights that have been down this road before)...LOL Fortunately, ( as it should be), the individual that created this pieces will gladly replace it it for me if there are any functional issues...I was just wondering what the progression of checks is to determine the full adequacy of the function of these safeties is? (randomly trying a number of different parts first?) Thanks Don, JC Monte, Thanks for the response as well... JRH

Hey guys, I recently found a Chapman safety for a decent price and decided to pick it up for future use. (Sorry Donmarkey I didn't see that you were selling them before I got this one or I would have gladly talked to you first.) My situtation is...while I was able to install the safety on both my Vz-24 and 1909 bolts/actions it does apparently require some of the "additional fitting" I always hear about. Basically, everything is operational with the exception of the fact that if the trigger is pulled while the safety is on the gun does fire once the safety is turned off. My two questions are, is this safety functional and just needs fitting, or is it a problem with the safety. (If it is just a fitting issue as I suspect it is, what are the procedures for correcting this problem, and for those that have done them how difficult was the fitting to accomplish without causing other issues.) Regards, JRH

Nothing could be truer ZLR. I have been extremely luck to pick up some nice pieces with the approach I have been taking. In the end the only way to lose out is by paying too much for something that you really don't need. As long as you manage to pay a fair price for goods you can always resell them if need be and start over again... More importantly, there will always be another "deal" right around the next corner waiting for you/me/us. In fact, I already have my eye on another nice custom gun, this one based on a commercial sako action, also built in the late 50's, (the stockmaker is best known for his customer Mausers). Most of my interest lies in nice classic custom stocks and this one no exception. While the gun does need to be refurbished all around I think it would make a nice project and just might fit my bill... As always, thanks for your help and input guys.. JC

Could be...but I checked the guy out before I contacted him. He participates in forums similar to this and sells on the public auction sites occasionally. I didn't see a single red flag at all, and he has recieved all good feedback. In fact he seemed to be a regular old guy with a propensity to trading in Savage 99's....LOL JC

Thanks AZ, I let him know I am still interested. After finding out his history with the gun and the builder I don't think he is the kind of guy that is hard up for cash... JRH I guess that know that the sale is closed...here are the details.... Jerry Fisher Custom Mauser .270..... 22" barrel, 13.5" LOP, 7 1/4 lbs. FN action blind magazine Krag trigger guard, bit of engraving on guard with initials WLA for Wm L. Audes, a Texan for whom Fisher made several rifles. Inlaid in gold on barrel J. FISHER GOLDEN.CO.1959 Engine turned bolt and extractor, checkered flat under bolt knob. Redfield Jr. scope mount. Sling swivel eyes. Ebony forend tip. Checkered steel grip cap. Checkered steel oval trap buttplate, nice point pattern checkering about 22lpi. Black streaked Euro walnut, cheekpiece no Monte Carlo. No provision for iron sights. Condition new in and out except for minor handling marks, particularly, a very shallow dent 1 x 1/8" on lower right of butt, another, smaller, on the right forend, you can either ignore or steam out, wood not broken. Although this rifle appears to be in perfect mechanical condition, I have never fired it and there are no warranties of safety or fitness for use. Jerry Fisher is considered by many to be the absolutely best custom rifle maker alive today. His rifles are rarely offered for sale. This is a wonderful example of his work and a classical beauty.

Wow...Unbelievable Just my luck...after I began discussing the terms of purchasing this gun the seller immediately started having second thoughts about parting with the gun. He just emailed me to tell me that he has decided not to sell the gun!! He actually closed the public offering of the sale of the gun a minute before emailing me to say he had decided not to sell it.... I guess I will be waiting for this "once in lifetime opportunity" to come along for the first time again... JC

Rather high....however, in light of the fact that it is a fine complete gun it is actually reasonable. I guess the best way to explain it would be to say that I could not have the gun duplicated; and if I could, it would cost well over twice the current asking price to do so. Really the only thing that needs to the adressed on the gun are the minor dents on the wood, (other than that the gun is 100% inside and out). While that is not something I would be comforatable doing on a gun of this caliber, I don't think it would cost much to fix even if I had a respected stockmaker handle the job. (Any thoughts on the stock work Z?) JRH

Z, If you only knew....this is one of those that could haunt me the rest of my life if I let it get away. JRH

Thanks for the Advice guys, The original filler screws are in the action and the action appears as if it was born yesterday. The gun is a finished product being fully stocked etc, and is extrememly well done to say the least. I will try to haggle a little with the seller but as you can tell this point won't give me much leverage. As it is the stock has two scratches on it that have already brought the price down considerable. (not that they should as it appears that they could be easily removed). In the end it comes down to whether I want to the spend more money on another gun I really don't need...!! JRH

Hey Guys, I was recently looking at a nice Commercial FN Action that I know has been extremely well taken care of since at the late 50's (possibly one owner since original and rarely if ever shot). While looking it over I quickly noticed it was drilled and taped in the side of the reciever for a Lyman 48 receiver sight. My question is, I usually look down upon these tapped actions as inferior to those that have not been drilled, (not factory original). However, in this particular case the actions owner stated that these actions came from the factory drilled and tapped for these mounts. Is this true? Also, do these holes lessen the value of the reciever? If so why/ why not? As always any thoughts would be appreciated. JRH

I finally got a chance to shoot the rifle last weekend while on a Pheasant hunting trip in Western Ohio. I fired standard .280 Remington brass which chambered with a nice slight "crush". After comparing the fireformed brass to some Nosler .280 AI brass it appears that what I have is in fact the .280 "RCBS" improved....(30% shoulder vs 40% shoulder in the AI) JC ......................... .280 REM.....................Fireformed Brass.................. .280 AI Nosler brass.....................

Kenak, Here are few to get started. It will take a few days before I can better pictures. (In order to get clearer pictures I will have to wait until I can take them in natural light, as the lighting in my place is not sufficient to take close up hi resolution pictures of metal without a flash. Of course I can't use the flash for most work of the work due to the reflection.)

Sure, Just let me know what you are looking for....I'll start with a few I have, but if you want to see anything specific just tlet me know...

I recently received the once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a true custom Mauser from one of the great masters. What made finding this gun most even sweeter was the fact that it was produced by Mr. Keith Stegall. (As I understand from their writings, Mr. Stegall taught Jack Belk a good deal of his knowledge...Jack it seems then passed some of that knowledge to our own ZLR!) (For background, here are a few older quotes made by Jack concerning Keith and his work...) From an anonymous contributer... Keith Stegall....

One more...This one done decades ago...

Just Jeweled....

I finally got around to taking some pictures focused on the checkering for the folks that asked about it in the origianl Claude Gatewood thread. So here they are....

Scott, That looks great...I have similar addition on an FN, I will definitely say yours looks absolutely top-notch!!

Thx Montea, I agree, for the most part this gun has everything I was looking for in an honest hunting rifle. The only changes I have seriously considered are relatively minor...having the action polished, and possibly upgrading to a 3-position safety. JRH

A few members here may remember some threads I wrote last fall including a number of pictures where I was working on a VZ-24 action. At the time I was seriously considering what options I was looking for in a custom Mauser and how best to approach my goal of finding a rifle that would fit my needs/desires. While I have completed a good deal of work on the VZ-24 action, and even purchased another Argie 09 to work with, I view both of those action as works in progress that in all reality I expect will take a number of years before I complete working with them. In the meantime I spent a great deal of time deciding what I was looking for in Mauser in tems of wood stock design etc. After making a number of decision on my minimum expectations for the gun it became clear that the costs would be skyrocketing quickly, (and if I ever decided to resell the gun I would have little to show unless the work was absolutely first rate.). Instead of letting this fact get in my way, I decided to turn the tables and to make the most of it. For my short term needs, until I can finish a gun of my own, I decided my best option was to scrutinize custom Mausers on the used market in hopes of finding a stock/action that could be used for the basis of further work, (hopefully at a fraction of the cost that was put into already.) In an attempt to make a long story short....here is one of my most recent acquistions!!! I have a good deal more info on the gun, (including receipts for all of the work)...but here are the basics to get startated... JRH 7mm magum Mauser 98, Fabrique Nationale Belgian military action, #2 Douglas 23, bbl., Blackburn trigger, low safe, Argentine 09' hinged floorplate with checkered release, checkered bolt knob, checkered and jeweled bolt stop, jeweled follower, rust blue and metal by Montana Riflemen, classic XX English walnut stock, steel grip cap, shadowline fluted cheekpiece, glass bedded, wraparound checkering by Claude Gatewood, Pachmayr pad, Warne Premium bases and 1 inch quick detachable rings, Bausch and Lomb Elite 4200 1.5-6x scope, with brass and dies.

Gatewood... I own a Claude Gatewood checkered Mauser 98. I'd be happy to provide pictures of his work and additional insight to anyone interested. Feel free to PM me. JRH

I have a Blackburn that is very nice. I have not had a chance to really put it to the test yet. However, I can say it the best trigger I have in the safe behind a Rem 700 style trigger that was custom worked by Jim Pig. The comparison may not be fair however since I have the Rem trigger set at 2.78lbs and I suspect the Blackburn is set higher. (When I get a chance I will check and try to get a better comparison.) JRH

That's Beautiful!!