Joe d's first build

[valongrifles]

What fer vice is that you are using?

[joe d]

The vice is a "Bessey" that I picked up in Lowes last fall when I happened to be in up-state NY.  I suspect it to be an off-shore
product, the fit of the various mating surfaces was horrible.  Complete dis-assembly, filing of pretty much everything, greased up with some white lithium, and now it works fine.  I will say that the cast iron itself is of nice quality. 

Had to drill and tap for the hex-head bolt you see in the side of the barrel, there was no way to lock the jaw assembly that rotates through 360 degrees


took off the pipe jaws you see on the bench, and replaced them with some angle with furniture grade plywood
faces, the one on the moveable jaw swivels a bit to hold irregular bits like rifle stocks. 


One of these days I'll trim the bolts holding the wood faces, just haven't barked my knuckles enough yet...

If you don't mind the extra work involved it turns out pretty good, got some substantial weight to it
so things are pretty solid, and I like the height the work ends up at.

[JDK]

Great idea.  Thanks for sharing the pictures.  J.D.

[joe d]

I've been quiet, but I've been working...

fussed around some more with various shapes and transitions, and finally decided it wasn't going to get
any better, so went ahead with the relief and incised carving (none of which I had ever done before)
whiskered the heck out of it, stained with Wahkon Bay AF, 6 coats of linseed oil and some bee's wax
and here we are.


Other side:


A little closer:


and over all:


I still need to make the sights, and find some screws for the buttplate
(seems like no-one in Canada sells slotted screws anymore)
all of which will now have to wait, as I will be out of town from next week
until the end of August.  Still will be ready in time for deer season.

Thanks to all who pitched in with suggestions, I'm sure that there are
still many things that could/should have been done differently,
number two will be better!

Joe

[McLeanWelsh]

Great job i like it!!

Speaking of slotted screws, I went to 4 different hardware store the other day looking for some to repair an old trunk and they looked at me like i was from another planet. I couldnt beleive they didnt have any!

McLean

[aflo]

I am no expert but I like your rifle very much. I think it is quite good and you have obviously stepped up and gone through major learning on this project.
Good for you.

[Acer Saccharum]

The lock panels are very 'school' dictated. Some panel transition carvings extend way out beyond the lock, come to points, or rounded, depending on the school.

If you're not following a traditional school, then do what pleases your eye. That would be a contemporary gun.

Tom