montea6b

Thanks for chiming in Mausermeister! I'll slow down and research this one a bit. It is indeed in great condition, and every little part seems to have a serial number. (safety lever, shroud, etc.) They all match with the exception of the bolt release and floorplate. The only downside to originality is that on the aft section of the front receiver ring there is an Interarms importer stamp. Glad you spoke up as I didn't think much of it as was prepared to start metalwork this weekend. The $80 gunshow VZ-24 (bottom of photo) that has been overpolished and reblued is a much better donor rifle.

Couldn't help but ruminate on some of Flaco's comments above... "The friend cleaned the action up, and removed the s/n. My cousin turned the action in for disposal." If removal of the serial number is a Federal crime, the receiver is now evidence of this "crime". Would not destruction of this evidence also be a crime? Now I'm certainly not advocating turning in a friend for such a mistake, don't get me wrong, but who was the action turned in to for this destruction? The police department? And would they accept such evidence of a crime for destruction without so much as initiating an investigation? I'm just trying to apply the law literally, dispassionately, and without regard to common sense or keeping within the spirit and intent of the regulation as our legal system often seems to encourage. So, what other options are there for the law abiding citizen should this situation arise? I would assume that the original serial number was not recorded anywhere as restoration of this number would be for me the most logical way to remedy the problem. Legal? I don't know. Moral and ethical? Absolutely. Such an action is certainly in compliance with the intent, if not the letter of the law. As much so as this: "Subsequently, the metal guy removed all Mark X markings, and moved the s/n from the right hand side to the left. Being careful to engrave the new one in before removing the old." Was this legal? I don't know... The old one was removed... IF the above is OK, yet re-marking one mistakenly obliterated is NOT, I submit that it does not pass the common sense test. The only difference in the two is one of chronology. Receiver "A", for a time, existed without a serial number, while receiver "B" existed for a time with two. Not exactly a gross violation of the spirit and intent of the regulation to be sure. OK, I'll shut up now! Sometimes I think too much. Especially when I've had too much coffee late at night.

Two final questions: 1. The aft side of the bolt handle root has a mortise in it which matches the contour of the top of the bolt shroud. With the bolt lifted, it fits, preventing over rotation. But wait, the bolt lugs would keep this from happening anyhow. I guess without it you could conceivably thread the bolt shroud on too far, but it would eventually butt into the handle and stop. I don't see any real need for it. It would certainly be easier to clean up after welding a new handle if I didn't have to worry about it and could just carry the flat surface of the inner part at the root out to the welded area I was reshaping. Any issues with this? I'll post a photo if you're not sure what I'm talking about. 2. Cock on opening kit... worth bothering with? Time for bed! I had too much coffee with the pumpkin pie and was still wired after everyone else fell asleep. But now I'm fading....

Here's a shot of the Swede that I'd like to pretty up a bit: (third from top... obviously!) Here's what's on the agenda: 1. Drill and tap for scope. 2. New bolt handle and safety. (may try DT's method for forging a flag safety out of the military original.) 3. Narrow and contour triggerbow. 4. Taper the top of the tang for slimmer wrist. 5. Remove white line spacers under grip cap and forend tip. 6. Replace plastic forend tip with real ebony. 7. Shorten length of pull. Currently a hefty 15" for my long armed Father-in-law, would like to make it a light weight mountain/youth rifle. If I cut it down to 13" LOP with a 1" pad I can lose the monte carlo hump which I'm not a big fan of. I prefer the classic style. I know that 13" sounds short, but my military Mauser and Springfield are both 13" and they seem to fit me fine. This is also the same as the Winchester compact model 70. Not sure if my daughters will get into shooting and hunting, but I have two nephews who most certainly will enjoy it. If they start out real young I could always fit with a half inch pad for even shorter LOP. 8. Stock make-over - slim wrist, sharpen edges and recontour cheek piece, comb flutes, and loading gate mortise. Refinish properly, filling in all pores, and checker. 9. Bed action. 10. Rust blue all metal except for bolt and cocking piece. I guess I should call this project #2 and the commercial FN .35 Whelen #3. I figure this will give me a little more experience before I go on to what I hope will be my pride and joy. One question, the cocking piece has a knurled bit sticking up at the top, the only purpose of which I can figure is for de-cocking. It screams military surplus Swede. I'm certainly not trying too hard to disguise this fact as it will retain the stepped military barrel as well as the distinctive action, but I've thought about grinding this off for cosmetic reasons as I see no real use for it. Will doing so potentially have adverse effects such as changing lock time or reducing the inertial mass and hence the striking force of the firing pin assembly? Comments and suggestions are welcome!

The number on the bottom is 8395. Not sure what to make of that. I think I'll just leave everything as is. After all that is what was recorded on the transfer paperwork, I don't care if it's visible or not. Never had an ATF agent check my rifle's serial number in the field or range before, and have no reason to anticipate it happening. Requesting a new number seems like more hassle than it's worth.

Amen to everything above. Happy Thanksgiving all!!!

Thanks Brad! I'll have to check that number again to see if it looks like a date. So, if it doesn't have a serial number, is a builder required to make one up? The FFL dealer I had it delivered to recorded the number on the flat as the serial number, should I restamp where it's visible above the woodline? I know it's illegal to obliterate them, but unsure if they're required otherwise... (Just in case an over zealous ATF agent stops me in the woods!) On another note, I saw in Shotgun News where they are selling new FN commercial receivers without the ejector slot or hole, and un-heat treated for a very good price. Are these worth messing with? BTW, mine supposedly came from a J. C. Higgins which explains the trigger.

Just to clarify a few of my points... I am not suggesting in the least that reporter or story should have been censored or that the article should have been written with a pro-gun slant. Also, note my comment above: "I'll agree that this story does nothing to prove that the media is intentionally anti-gun or leftist,..." Sadly we are all too thin skinned and politically sensitive where our personal interests are concerned. This report truly was a "just the facts maam" story. I've seen worse and don't think this particular one was very bad at all. My point is that irrelavent facts often obsure the truth or cause erroneous assumptions to be made, and I'll stand by that point. Yes, I agree to a certain extent that "A reporter writing a news story....reporting the facts... has no more "power" over the perceptions, fears and desires of the vast majority of the general public, than a commercial sponsor of a TV show has the power to FORCE you to purchase their products." However, the problem is that without the time to thoughtfully research all aspects of an issue, or without extensive background knowledge of a particular subject matter many of us have to rely on the media to provide us with information. If this information is incomplete or includes obtuse data, we may end up with an incomplete or incorrect understanding. I'm sure we've all seen media stories on subjects that we are smart on and noted how bady the facts were reported. It scares me to think that a lot of the infomation and opinions on subjects which I am not so knowledgable about are formed by the same kind of poor reporting. Fritz hit the nail on the head - "A good rule of thumb is to not believe anything you read, and only half of what you see." Among a list of humorous comments that was spammed to me yesterday by a friend was the following: "None of us is as dumb as all of us." Individually, most of us are intelligent, critical thinkers who form our own reasoned opinions. But over a long period of time and a barrage of media and entertainment, our collective societal values have shifted. Just ask any old timer for an opinion on this. I honestly don't think any of this is intentional. I agree that the media is more leftist that the mainstream public, and I think this point has been proven in surveys, but I don't think there is a conspiracy to force this politically leaning on the public. When it does come out it is most likely an unintentional expression of their personal beliefs. You have to remember that they are trying to crank out stories to meet a deadline. As a case in point, a respected local TV anchor in Seattle made a slip last year when she was interviewing somebody about the hotly contested governers race. Her mistake was using the term "we" to describe the democratic party's standing in the vote tally. Man, that one got some attention! In the above story I can even picture the fresh faced cub reporter in his crusty editor's office: Editor - "Good story Johnson, but 54 guns?! Holy cow, were they dealers?" Reporter - "Gee sir, I don't know..." Editor - (bellowing) "Well find out dammit! We've got a deadline for this one and can't let the other network scoop us!" Would I or another gun enthusiast have written the story differently? Yes. But the difference would have been very subtle and would not be "pro-gun", but merely 'differently neutral'. Finally a comment about subliminal advertising: I don't think that it was abandoned because it didn't work, instead I believe it was banned for exactly the opposite reason, that it was devastatingly effective! I may be wrong, but that's what I remember from school...

There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January.That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq. When some claim that President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following: a. FDR led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us; Japan did. >From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ... an average of 112,500 per year. c. Truman finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us. >From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost .. an average of 18,334 per year. d. John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. e. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. >From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost .. an average of 5,800 per year. f. Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions. g. In the years since terrorists attacked us , President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaeda, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. Those who are complaining about how long the war is taking. But .. It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation. We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records. It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!! Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB! The Military morale is high! The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts But Wait . there's more! JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR) Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13 Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living. This IS a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military. Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn): "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?" Senator Glenn (D-Ohio): "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took my tie off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank." "I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men ... with their mangled bodies . in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job? What about you?" For those who don't remember .. During WW.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA. Now he's a Senator! If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran. It might not be a bad idea to keep this circulating. If you do circulate it, you should include this link too for complete accuracy: http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/glenn.asp

I think the main issue here is that the media has in this case, (as they often do in other cases) led the public down a path of false logic. Without stating so much, they infer, or cause the public to infer, (intentionally or not) that there was something illegal going on besides the murder. Facts from the report: 1. There were 54 guns in the house. 2. None of the residents of the house were licensed gun dealers. 3. The police confiscated all guns from the house. Now, what will 90% of the population who is not familiar with firearms laws draw from this factual information? Most likely that possession of 54 guns is illegal, and if not probably should be. Irrelevent facts add nothing to the story, and in fact often tend to obscure the truth. I'll agree that this story does nothing to prove that the media is intentionally anti-gun or leftist, but if an avid sportsman or gun enthusiast were writing the press release it would surely have been worded differently.

I'm actually planning on a little more apprentice work on the Swede pictured above. It has a long 15" + pull, and a very fat wrist for such a short handy little rifle. Plus it has some rounded edges on the cheekpiece and ill-shaped flutes on the comb. I plan on slenderizing all around, D&T, new bolt handle and safety for scope, remove white line spacers, refinish and checker.

Got some good leads Googling Silvers recoil pads. Thanks. Actually, maybe I'll opt for the pink one MB. It will go well with the "Hello Kitty" theme of this rifle! After all I have three daughters and they may want to hunt with me when they get older.

Z, I just realized that you may have been referring to Clemson's pad with your comment. I assumed that you were talking about the link I posted to Jack Belk's 6mm project. Just to clarify...

It very well may be brown, but it looks a bit more red-brown than the dirt brown color of my Pachmayr. I wish I knew what kind it was... Who, besides Pachmayr and Uncle Mikes, makes aftermarket pads?

I've been going through his pages, trying to sponge up all the knowledge I can, but some of the longer text is cut off. Anybody know how to get the rest of the words?

Great stuff! Lots of other good photos on other projects as well. He should write a book! I'd buy it. Couldn't find a photo of the $1000 blank in there anywhere, would love to see one. I can't imagine a piece of wood that expensive as I have seen some jaw droppers for far less. And I sweated every checkering line I did on my $80 piece of plain jane cherry...

The heart and soul of project #2 will be a commercial FN receiver. I picked it up sans bolt, but with the triggerguard and a funky two part trigger assembly. Two questions: 1. The left front receiver ring, (where the serial number normally resides... it's on the bottom flat) has some strange heiroglyphics that if read vertically (muzzle end up) from top to bottom consist of a star, a small letter H, a kokopele (or dancing lion), larger letters "PV", and a down pointing arrow. Aside from their whimsical appearance do they serve any useful purpose? Perhaps they tell a story about that action, and if so are an additional clue to its pedigree. If so, would it be wise to keep them? 2. Wassup with that trigger? Is it any good? I tried sliding an assembled bolt into place to check for function and it wouldn't engage at all. It seemed that the cocking piece didn't even contact the sear. Should I just plan on replacing it? In case anyone's interested it will be an elk rifle, possibly for moose or bison should I ever pursue that. I've pretty much decided on the 35 Whelen, and am wondering if the AI version is worth venturing into. I have a beautiful piece of classic shaped, semi-inlet claro from Dakotacliff, and that's about it for now. I'm thinking about having a Benchmark barrel installed, (they're driving distance from me, and I dropped by and spoke with Ron for a while two weeks ago. Good people, great barrels.) I'd like a three position Winchester style safety, checkered bolt handle, ebony or burl forend tip, banded front sight, and express rear, or possibly a quarter rib. I'm after a classic safari type look, although I think I may skip the banded front sling swivel. Kind of what a Dakota rifle looks like. By the way, project #1 is finally range ready. The Mrs has her monthly day with mom and sister or I would have shot it today. Stand by for a range report and additional photos... It's still less than 100% - the checkering needs some final work pointing things up, finishing work in the corners, and cleaning up the borders. I was trying to get it in shape for hunting this year and brushed in a light coat of tung oil just so I could take it afield. Alas, I didn't get it chambered and feeding in time to make it, although there may still be a late season I can make... I'll also probably bed the action yet, and may eventually break it back down for a proper rust blue job. It has been Oxpho-blued and looks OK, but not as good as I'd like. Plenty of other glitches though, so not willing to spent too much more time trying to polish a turd. Still, I'm happy with it for a first go around.

Yeah, I've considered other things like that. I also seriously thought about a skeletonized buttplate with checkered wood, (I'll be trying that on the grip cap) but decided that I didn't want to rest my 24 LPI butt checkering on a rock while taking a "rest" in the woods. I've decided on a recoil pad, now I just need to find the right one. Thanks anyhow for the suggestion.

I like this one: http://community.webshots.com/photo/70128822/70547253XwJBCU

P.S. again... Clemson, Are you sure that is a red pad? Not to insult your intelligence, but it does look a lot like the brown one I have, and I don't see red as an option in the sporting clays pad.

P.S. Here's a photo of the shade of red I think looks best on a dark walnut stock. It's on the Ruger #1 at the top of the photo. That's what I'm really after.

Thanks guys, for the rapid response and photos! It's tough to tell... The ones in Z's photos look just a hair on the bright side for me, but the thing is that I think the one on top looks brighter because the stock is a bit darker by contrast. The one on the bottom, even though it's the same shade, appears like a slightly better match for the stock. I have a feeling that my stock will be fairly dark as well, and that's why I wanted a darker red if possible. Clemson's shot almost looks brown. Again, lighting, etc. certainly has a lot to do with it. The brown pad I have on project #1 looks OK, but it's just a little too muddy for my taste. Purely a cosmetic thing. I think I'll probably just go ahead and order red and see what it looks like for myself. I'm sure it will look fine... Thanks again.

I'm slowly assembling parts for project #2 and would like any advice or opinions on the type of recoil pad to get. My preferences are solid sides, black base, and leather texture in a reddish color. Pachmyer makes a nice Old English style pad that would fit the bill, but I have only ever seen them in black or brown. I know I can order one in red, but the proper shade of red is important. I don't want a garish clown-nose red, or harlot lipstick red, but would instead prefer a subtle, dark brick red. Does anybody know what the red on a Pachmyer pad looks like, or can forward a color photo or post a link? I have seen some others that I like, but they are usually on factory rifles like Winchester or Ruger. I know Brownells also lists a solid rubber brick red presentation pad, but I like the softer Pachmyer rubber for the primary job of recoil absorbtion. The "London" pad is also a few more $$, although I'm trying not to scrimp as much on the second go around. Any other suggestions?

Some good discussion here as upon completion of .30-06 project #1, I intend to launch #2, caliber undertermined. (I hope it won't be another 5 year odyssey!) I have similar thoughts in that I'd like to go up in bore size/power for larger game like elk, moose, or bison, but with minimal modifications to bolt face and feed rails. I like what I've heard about both the 338/06 and 35 Whelen, in standard and improved versions. I've been leaning towards the Whelen AI because I didn't think that the 338/06 was factory loaded. I've also read that the improved Whelen is better for both performance and headspace issues, and the option to handload improved cartridges or shoot factory ammo appeals to me. Plus lightweight pistol bullets for plinking sounds like a neat idea to me. Despite German heritage on my father's side I'm not fond of eurometric cartridge designations. I guess it's my British mother, but I prefer .275 Rigby over 7x57 mauser. Just some random thoughts from somebody pondering similar questions... Anybody know if there are feeding issues with the improved cartridges having a straighter case and steeper shoulder? Another good rule of thumb I've read for elk is that you'd like to have a ton of energy to knock 'em down. Factor in the range that your brother would be comfortable shooting out to and see which rounds still carry that much energy at that range. (I believe the 06 drops below 2000 ft/lbs at around 200 yards but don't have a ballistic table handy....) That might help you choose. BTW, saw a nice spike bull during yet another unsuccessful "rifle hike" for deer this year. (I'd call it hunting if I ever actually got anything.) Just like a few years ago when I saw a beautiful 4 point muley during elk season. Just my luck!

I got this forwarded to me at work and thought it was such a good idea that I'm posting it here. What an ingenious, no-overhead way to utilize an existing technology to streamline a process, and so easy to implement... most people probably already have their next of kin programmed in their phone, all they need to do is add "ICE". Read below for more info: (I also have a powerpoint brief if anybody is in a position to present this to others.)