Author Topic: Nightmare! (Read 7036 times)

Pukka Bundook · « **on:** January 10, 2018, 05:04:19 PM »

Morning all,

Only rubbish photos, but this stock on an India pattern B. Bess was about as broken as I ever want to try and fix !
Belongs to a friend, and he wanted it fixing rather than a new stock making. Wanted to be able to fire it as well.
Stock had been shattered and Very badly glued back together. Worse, a large wood -screw had been used in the grip, and had acted as a wedge, further splitting the stock.
Had to make a new fore-end from just ahead of the entry pipe, and jigsaw all the parts together, after spending far too long cleaning old glue from the parts.
Stock was in 9 major pieces, and a lot of splinters and such.

Tang was broken off at screw hole, and front swivel broken. Some barrel loops broken/missing.
I'm lousy at getting at taking photos, but here are what I have.
I put a bolt through the wrist, where the screw used to be, ad hid it under T-guard tang. Used various dowels from various angles to pin the rest.
When finish'd, I tried it out after worrying about it a good log time!!

It held.
3 shots with 90 grs. so told him to come and get it. Tough trip it was!
Also the vise pin of the cock was so worn it would tighten up to hold the flint, so had to make an versize pin and re-tap cock.

More to come. I lost sleep over this one. :-)

WKevinD · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:12:30 PM »

I'm pretty sure I would have walked away, can't wait to see what you accomplished with it, and how you did it.
Kevin

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:19:58 PM »

In the last 2 photos above, you can see the start of the rebuild.
Must say, I didn't enjoy it!

Do the old breaks show? For sure some of the do! They had been broken a good while and the parts fridging together had worn some of them so not the best fit.

Few more to come. Nearly done.

In the last two photos above, the new fore-end starts just in front of the entry pipe.

Kevin, I didn't want to walk away,..............I wanted to Run!! I didn't know how bad it was until I started on it.

R.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:28:14 PM »

I take my hat off and stand aside for Anyone who would take on such a project.

Bob Roller

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:31:33 PM »

Last photos;

If I could have fixed it as quick as I can post it, it would really have cut down on the stress!
Cheers,

Richard.
PS, If you too have one broken like this, I don't want to know. LOL!

Bob,

Stupid attempts all kinds of things! If I'd have realised how bad it was, I wouldn't have started on it!

n stephenson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:33:59 PM »

Richard , I think you picked a fitting title for your post. This repair puts me in mind of Humpty Dumpty . All the King`s horses and all the king`s men couldn't put Humpty back together again, but you DID! Wow! You have really got some skills . Thanks for showing what can be done. Nice Job! Nate

KC · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:35:06 PM »

Certainly a project you should be proud of. I think many less damaged rifles end up getting parted out on eBay. Impressive work.
K.C.

smart dog · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2018, 05:46:46 PM »

Hi Richard,
Wonderful work! A fabulous restoration to working condition. I am sure your time and effort cost more than the gun is worth but now posterity has a survivor for a bit longer. I hope your friend appreciates it.

dave

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2018, 06:26:41 PM »

Nate,

I do like a challenge, but didn't like this one.

KC,
Funny thing is I never felt proud of it , more like I'd just survived a buffalo charge. I think the anguish of the fix got to me a bit!

Dave,

I hope he appreciates it as well, LOL!
Pleased you like it as I always respect your views.

For builders out there, here is a photo of how the rear barrel pin was placed originally. (!)

Also one with old and new vise pin.

lightshot

WKevinD · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2018, 06:35:32 PM »

Hats off to ya!
Very nice job.

Kevin

t.caster · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2018, 06:36:29 PM »

Good job! What a remarkable comeback for an old WRECK! My hat is also off to you!

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2018, 07:08:17 PM »

Quote from: t.caster on January 10, 2018, 06:36:29 PM

Good job! What a remarkable comeback for an old WRECK! My hat is also off to you!

You calling me an old wreck Tom? LOL!!

Kingsburyarms · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2018, 07:13:29 PM »

WOW - Great job - You crafted parts to fit very well - That's plastic surgery quality (Hope you got surgeon's pay) - I wouldn't know where to start -

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2018, 07:23:43 PM »

I had one of those years ago. My hat flew off every time I shot it....some fun....

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2018, 08:07:19 PM »

Impressed indeed...I like the idea that you took on the challenge..the old never give up attitude...an succeeded in spades...thanks for showing...

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #15 on:** January 10, 2018, 08:16:26 PM »

Richard: that is quite a recovery story. Congratulations on a very well done job.

David Price · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2018, 09:27:58 PM »

That was a magnificent repair job. Not many builders could do it. Just removing the old glue must have been a project. How did you remove the glue ?

Makes you wonder how a gun could be broken like that in so many different places.

David Price

SingleMalt · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2018, 09:44:15 PM »

Nice work, Richard. That should cost your friend more than a few pints!

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2018, 09:50:47 PM »

Thanks for the kind words gents.
I know it was one I was glad to be done with.

David P,
I cut down on how much glue to remove, by replacing the shattered fore-end.
The rest it was a pick, exacto and a wire brush at times. chisels and "optivisor" as well. Had to keep fitting and re-fitting the parts until they sat right.
Big problem was knowing which parts to glue together first! get that wrong and I might have been hooped.

I saw (and fixed...some of us never learn!) another friends 12 -bore decades ago. (Maybe I need a new set of friends!!) He'd bust it over a foxes head. Broken into five pieces through the (boxlock) action.
I wonder if someone had broke this over something, or maybe in shipping? I don't know.

The boxlock stayed together for some reason. He used to write every Christmas and tell me it was "still going strong".

Thank you again,
Richard.

Single Malt,

A few pints of Single Malt maybe? :-)
If he'd paid d what it cost in pain and time, he'd have to have left his nice truck and walked home!

Joe S. · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2018, 09:53:49 PM »

Tip of the cap on that one,a fine save indeed.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2018, 01:59:01 AM »

Quote from: KC on January 10, 2018, 05:35:06 PM

Certainly a project you should be proud of. I think many less damaged rifles end up getting parted out on eBay. Impressive work.
K.C.

No stupid man could possibly figure this thing out.
You must have the patience of a wooden Indian to
bring this thing back to being useful again.

Bob Roller

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #21 on:** January 11, 2018, 02:11:01 AM »

I live about a mile from CSX railroad, a few years ago they had a bad derailment close by....they could have used you!

Impressive work.

smokinbuck · « **Reply #22 on:** January 11, 2018, 02:19:40 AM »

Hats off to you. Don't know many builders that would have even started that puzzle.
Mark

Robin Henderson · « **Reply #23 on:** January 11, 2018, 02:27:04 AM »

Wow!... I got stressed just lookin at the pictures.

You did real good.

BOB HILL · « **Reply #24 on:** January 11, 2018, 03:02:22 AM »

You did a fine job on this project. Unless you've tackled something like this, it's hard for someone to imagine how much work it is. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Bob

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Author Topic: Nightmare! (Read 7036 times)

n stephenson