I was notified by Dick Davis at McMillan that my 700 Remington Shrike mold is now complete. I should have an example of this stock arriving at the shop this coming Monday the 21st of April. I will begin places orders for this stock late the same week. I look forward to adding this stock to the shops inventory of components for both professionals and hobbyist. I am now excepting orders to include in this first run of stocks. For pricing and proposed delivery dates please reach me by the following methods by phone at 435-755-6842 or by e-mail at echolslegend@comcast.net
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Giving Up Some Tools
I spent an hour with Lon Paul at the recent SCI convention. As many of you know a wildfire swept through his property and left his shop in ashes last year. I do not personally know Lon all that well but have admired his rifle making ability in both metal and wood for many, many years.
As many are aware I have the social grace and tact of a land mine and could not help but ask him what he planned to do in light of the disaster. His attitude was good considering the impact the event has had on his ability to make a living, pay his bills and to re-build a career. I'm not sure if I would be as stoic in the face of such a calamity. The long drive home made me ponder how I would hold up under similar circumstances as well as ask myself how I might help Lon in a small but positive way.
As I have posted on the blog before I just received a Jerry Fisher Barrel vise, which left my old vise obsolete. I then thought about other tools I have acquired over the years that for what ever reason I do not use anymore or have duplicates of. Metal and wood files I picked up by the gross in a good buy or yard sale chisels and gouges that I never got around to cleaning up and bringing back to life.
Today I sent two packages to Lon. The contents of which contained a variety of hand tools, cleaning equipment, the barrel vise and bushings, etc. Things that I could easily spare without directly impacting my daily work load that would allow Lon to begin his craft again. I look at this as simply donating a chisel to help restart a career, an opportunity to pay it forward.
I'm not sure if Lon is a Guild Member but what a gesture of support the Guild could show by offering a similar hand. I would like to think that their would be others in my profession that might be willing to step to the plate and help a brother in arms that has fallen but is clearly not beaten.
For those of you that might be feeling similarly philanthropic Lon's UPS address is as follows
Lon Paul
28-950 Bonita Vista Rd
Mountain Center, CA 92561
Both fire pics found on the dailynews.com
As many are aware I have the social grace and tact of a land mine and could not help but ask him what he planned to do in light of the disaster. His attitude was good considering the impact the event has had on his ability to make a living, pay his bills and to re-build a career. I'm not sure if I would be as stoic in the face of such a calamity. The long drive home made me ponder how I would hold up under similar circumstances as well as ask myself how I might help Lon in a small but positive way.
As I have posted on the blog before I just received a Jerry Fisher Barrel vise, which left my old vise obsolete. I then thought about other tools I have acquired over the years that for what ever reason I do not use anymore or have duplicates of. Metal and wood files I picked up by the gross in a good buy or yard sale chisels and gouges that I never got around to cleaning up and bringing back to life.
Today I sent two packages to Lon. The contents of which contained a variety of hand tools, cleaning equipment, the barrel vise and bushings, etc. Things that I could easily spare without directly impacting my daily work load that would allow Lon to begin his craft again. I look at this as simply donating a chisel to help restart a career, an opportunity to pay it forward.
I'm not sure if Lon is a Guild Member but what a gesture of support the Guild could show by offering a similar hand. I would like to think that their would be others in my profession that might be willing to step to the plate and help a brother in arms that has fallen but is clearly not beaten.
For those of you that might be feeling similarly philanthropic Lon's UPS address is as follows
Lon Paul
28-950 Bonita Vista Rd
Mountain Center, CA 92561
Both fire pics found on the dailynews.com
The quality of Lon's efforts through the years
Thursday, February 13, 2014
A Few SCI Convention Pics
I have just returned from the SCI Convention, happy to have seen older clients and to have met new ones. As usual I am a bit hoarse, bleary eyed and very tired of restaurant meals. I intend on getting in a good hike before the bird season closes to rectify this malaise.
Enclosed are a few pics that Phil Shoemaker took at my request while at the SCI convention last week. They're all of custom gunsmiths who's work always commands a second look. It matters little if their styles vary, the end results are always excellent. Forgive me if I haven't included your favorite gunsmith as this event requires days to cover and the number of makers that can be found at this convention is substantial to say the least.
Enclosed are a few pics that Phil Shoemaker took at my request while at the SCI convention last week. They're all of custom gunsmiths who's work always commands a second look. It matters little if their styles vary, the end results are always excellent. Forgive me if I haven't included your favorite gunsmith as this event requires days to cover and the number of makers that can be found at this convention is substantial to say the least.
David Miller & Curt Crum
Gene Simillion
James Tucker & Reto Beuhler
Joe Smithson & the Granite Mountain Team
Ralf Martini
Todd Ramirez
Sunday, February 2, 2014
On The Road Again, SCI Convention 2014
Campbell Smith and I will be once again be attending the SCI convention in Las Vegas this coming week. Our booth is located in the lower level in booth #'s 2127 & 2129. If your'e at the convention please stop by to say hello. Everyone travel safe in route to Vegas.
Here are a few pics from the past.
Here are a few pics from the past.
Monday, January 27, 2014
NEW FOR 2014
I have recently finished a Remington 700 DBL pattern stock for Right Hand shooters. This pattern stock is currently at McMillan Fiberglass where they are making the mold to reproduce this stock for the open market.
Like our Legend Model 70 stocks this stock is made specifically as a Classic Sporting Weight hunting stock. It features a straight comb with .550 drop at the comb nose and .550 at the heel. The butt is made with "CAST OFF" at both the toe and heel and comes out of the mold with a standard 14" length of pull. Unless special ordered specifically these will be machine inletted as Custom Drop In for the BDL Remington OEM factory or Williams Rem-700 steel floor plate and trigger bow assembly.
Unless otherwise requested these stocks will be sold without the ejection port or bolt notch installed to lend more versatility to this stock for a broader spectrum of 700 clones now on the market. While this stock was made specifically for the Long and Medium length 700 actions it will work very well with the Borden and Defiance actions as long as the rear tang is machined like the original 700. The stock will not come with swivel studs, recoil pads or painted and this service is not offered.
I anticipate the mold to be finished in 90 days and stocks available for sale by early to mid summer. I will take pre-production orders but will not accept down payments for these order. For further information please contact me 435-755-6842 9am-5pm. MST or by e-mail echolslegend@comcast.net
Like our Legend Model 70 stocks this stock is made specifically as a Classic Sporting Weight hunting stock. It features a straight comb with .550 drop at the comb nose and .550 at the heel. The butt is made with "CAST OFF" at both the toe and heel and comes out of the mold with a standard 14" length of pull. Unless special ordered specifically these will be machine inletted as Custom Drop In for the BDL Remington OEM factory or Williams Rem-700 steel floor plate and trigger bow assembly.
Unless otherwise requested these stocks will be sold without the ejection port or bolt notch installed to lend more versatility to this stock for a broader spectrum of 700 clones now on the market. While this stock was made specifically for the Long and Medium length 700 actions it will work very well with the Borden and Defiance actions as long as the rear tang is machined like the original 700. The stock will not come with swivel studs, recoil pads or painted and this service is not offered.
I anticipate the mold to be finished in 90 days and stocks available for sale by early to mid summer. I will take pre-production orders but will not accept down payments for these order. For further information please contact me 435-755-6842 9am-5pm. MST or by e-mail echolslegend@comcast.net
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Given A Choice
From time to time I am asked if I were to build a rifle for myself just how would I assemble the package. My answer is usually met with a raised eyebrow and a pause. I have suggested my approach to what I consider the ideal magazine rifle many times over the years and yet only a handful of clients have signed off on the plan.
1. It would be built for either scope or iron sight use, not for both. At 56 I'll take the scope every time for the type of hunting I currently do or will likely do in the foreseeable future. Detachable mounts ? No thanks I find it hard enough to keep a scope immobile.
2. The bolt would always be swept to the rear and positioned low enough to allow the bolt handle to clear the ocular lens mounted a close as possible to the centerline of the bore. The knob would always be checkered.
3. I am not a fan of bantam feather weights, I'll leave it at that.
4. The stock would not have an Ebony tip. Why cut of $130 worth of stable french walnut to install $20 worth of Ebony. As they are dissimilar materials by nature the expansion and contraction rates will soon be different.
5. The butt will always be fit with a natural rubber recoil pad without a widows peak. It would be 1" thick and always red in color. No leather covering, no toe and heel plates, no checkered steel, no skeleton butt plates. I want non skid rubber thank you.
6. The swivel bases I use on my Classics were developed by the late Tom Burgess. However I do not shape a platformed border around the swivel base. Rather I contour the steel base to match the contour of the stock. The swivel can't ever twist in the stock.
7. The barrel would be tastefully free floated.
8. It would have a 24 LPI open point checkering pattern.
9. All the guard screws would be engraved Allen heads and surrounded by aluminum pillars. All the scope base and rings screws would be 8x40's with T-15 Torx heads.
10. All the metalwork would be Caustic blued. Not rust blue, not Cera-kote, not MP3.
Below is such a rifle. This 5 shot, Left Handed Model 70 is chambered in 404 Jeffery and follows the parameters listed above with the exception of the Recoil Pad which does have a widows peak.
I have always felt a rifle build in this manner is the epitome of simplistic elegance.
Studio Photo's by Kevin Dilley Kevin@klikphoto.net
Swivel Base pic supplied by LB
1. It would be built for either scope or iron sight use, not for both. At 56 I'll take the scope every time for the type of hunting I currently do or will likely do in the foreseeable future. Detachable mounts ? No thanks I find it hard enough to keep a scope immobile.
2. The bolt would always be swept to the rear and positioned low enough to allow the bolt handle to clear the ocular lens mounted a close as possible to the centerline of the bore. The knob would always be checkered.
3. I am not a fan of bantam feather weights, I'll leave it at that.
4. The stock would not have an Ebony tip. Why cut of $130 worth of stable french walnut to install $20 worth of Ebony. As they are dissimilar materials by nature the expansion and contraction rates will soon be different.
5. The butt will always be fit with a natural rubber recoil pad without a widows peak. It would be 1" thick and always red in color. No leather covering, no toe and heel plates, no checkered steel, no skeleton butt plates. I want non skid rubber thank you.
6. The swivel bases I use on my Classics were developed by the late Tom Burgess. However I do not shape a platformed border around the swivel base. Rather I contour the steel base to match the contour of the stock. The swivel can't ever twist in the stock.
7. The barrel would be tastefully free floated.
8. It would have a 24 LPI open point checkering pattern.
9. All the guard screws would be engraved Allen heads and surrounded by aluminum pillars. All the scope base and rings screws would be 8x40's with T-15 Torx heads.
10. All the metalwork would be Caustic blued. Not rust blue, not Cera-kote, not MP3.
Below is such a rifle. This 5 shot, Left Handed Model 70 is chambered in 404 Jeffery and follows the parameters listed above with the exception of the Recoil Pad which does have a widows peak.
I have always felt a rifle build in this manner is the epitome of simplistic elegance.
Studio Photo's by Kevin Dilley Kevin@klikphoto.net
Swivel Base pic supplied by LB
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
A Walk In The African Sun
Terry Niegel sent in a few pictures from his recent safari in Namibia and South Africa. Terry's PH for this hunt was Bobby Hansen (Bobbyhansensafaris.com.) This was Terry's 2nd hunt with Bobby. The plan for this hunt was to visit a new area in Africa, hunt as hard as they could from dawn until dusk and roll with the punches. To say they did OK is a bit of an understatement. Terry used his Legend Sporter chambered for 300 H&H. This rifle has been his go-to rifle for quite some time. Loaded with 168gr TTSX's it has become the long arm of the law on any ridge-line that he settles down to glass from. The bluing is now worn silver in many places and the recoil pad needs replacing. A visible testament to its use.
Their joint persistence and luck ran deep as the wide-glide Kudu bull is stunning from any angle, the second bull more typical and equally impressive. The Mountain Zebra and Gemsbuck added sweat equity to the mix. The Eland is a stunner in anyones book, this old bull is a once of a life time encounter, long and worn, a true desert ghost. No one had ever seen this bull in the area, Bobby had been there for three previous weeks, the staff lives there but no one had a glimpse, not a hint, just an apparition that appeared out of the thorns.
Instead of electing to fly from Namibia to the Limpopo River area of South Africa to do some additional hunting. Terry elected to drive the 27 hours to the Limpopo with Bobby. While the drive was long the scenery was always changing. Dusty and dry they rolled into the Limpopo just in time for dinner and a sun downer.
In the remaining days of the trip they took a nice Bushbuck among the islands and pools in the river bed. While the quality a hunt should never be judged on the number of animals taken on many levels I think we can could call this trip a roaring success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)