You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up

In my last post I mentioned we had just received a Fisher Barrel Vise. Well, today we actually had to put it to use. We had been shipped a very clean Pre-64 Super Grade 375 H&H to do some minor work to. Unfortunately the rifles bolt came loose in the case and the US Postal Service must have used the gun case as a temporary truck ramp while it was in transit and some serious cosmetic damage occurred. As the barrel needed to be removed Brian went through the normal SOP with our current barrel vise that has been a mainstay in my shop for over 24 years.

Throughout the years we have run into a few barrels that the only way we could remove those barrels was to place the barreled actions in our lathes 3 jaw chuck and by using a parting tool right up against the receiver face cut a groove to the minor thread diameter into the barrel. By doing so this reduced the shoulder tension and allowed the barrels to removed but this method destroys the barrel. Fortunately all those barrels were to be replaced anyway.

The circumstance we faced this morning was quite different, this barrel had to be removed, re-blued and reinstalled. All Brian's attempts did not break the action free from the barrel. He finally threw up his hands and backed away from the task to re-group, an uncommon occurrence I can assure you. What I saw was a perfect time to remove our old vise and set the Fisher in place. This required a trip to town for some additional hardware and the relocation of a mounting hole. In short order the Fisher was in place. The Winchester barrel shank OD was approximately 1.245 and the bushing that Jerry had sent along had an ID of 1.250. I found and placed a .004 thick piece of card stock around the barrel shank, slid the bushing halves over the card stock then transferred the barrel and bushing into the vise. Since the upper jaw is spring loaded the installation of said barrel was painless.

Then I snugged down all four 3/4" bolts that lock down the bushing and barrel. This was done with a socket wrench. My old vise only used two screws to hold down the top vise jaw. The action wrench was then re-installed. I gave the action wrench a smart thud with a dead blow hammer and the action spun free from the barrel. It was just that simple. The vise is now paid for.

                                         Now tell me, who writes these scripts ? 

Jerry Fisher Barrel Vise Arrives

I picked up my new Jerry Fisher barrel vise at the Post Office today and later in the afternoon I opened the box and gave this tool the hairy eyeball. Visually it is apparent the vise was made by a talented machinist. The exterior and interior finish is excellent, the tolerances are tight. A class act in anyones book.

One noticeable feature is the upper jaw of the vise is spring loaded and as you release the tension on the four 3/4" hex nuts

The upper jaw rises approximately .150 away from the lower base jaw. A damn handy feature when you're assembling a newly blued barrel and action as it gives you an ample margin of clearance to install and remove these freshly blued components without requiring a third hand to prevent marring the parts in the procedure.

A selection of aluminum barrel shank bushings are available from Mr. Fisher in a variety of common barrel shank sizes. Or you can make your own from standard 2" Aluminum or Micarta round stock.

The cost of the vise is $575.00 which I think for a one time investment is not expensive at all over the length of ones career. Good tools demand a fair price and are made to last. I have little doubt this vise will be a good addition to the shop.

458 Lott Legend And The Trijicon RMR06 Sight System

Over the last year we have had a number of inquires in regard to the Trijicon RMR sights and if they could be applied to our rifles? The questions we had seemed to work themselves out and I modified 2 Trijicon RM62 gunsmith bases that we finally acquired after quite a bit of effort to locate. The height of the stocks comb in relation to the height of the sight itself is as important as any other sight system. The Legends stock design and the RMR06 do work well together.

Anders arrived in Utah to hunt Mule Deer as well as have further work done to his Legend Heavy Sporter chambered for 458 Lott. This rifle has been used on one Elephant hunt already where he used both our Peep Sight and a S&B Zenith mounted in a set of our 30-mm rings. He did in fact use both sight systems to take two different Elephants. In short to try them both under field conditions.

One of his latest desires was to install the RMR06 as yet a third option. As we keep detailed records of scope mounts we make for each project I was able to duplicate the same radius that Brian had surface ground on the front ring to the underside of the RMR base, locate and drill the counterbores for the 8x40 screws and then have the base blued and ready for assembly when he stepped off the plane from Sweden. It took longer to drive to the range than it took to zero in the RMR06. He shot approximately 20 rounds to zero and test the system. He plans to use this rifle this winter in Sweden to add some wild boar to the menu for the holidays.

The Union Club In New York City Echols & Company Presentation

Last week I gave a Power Point Presentation to the Union Club In New York City. This presentation gave those in attendance a behind the curtain view of the construction process used to build both our Classic and Legend Rifles. My host Richard Turnure, club members, invited guest and the staff at the Union Club were most gracious and made my short stay quite memorable. This institution is steeped in history and it was an honor to be there. I have given these presentations all over the country for 20 years and find these engagements very enjoyable.

The last time I was in Manhattan was in 1979 when I applied for a position at Griffin & Howe. At the end of a two day interview I was offered a job but ultimately declined the position.

I would like to thanks those that were in attendance and hope the material covered was of interest to everyone.

Photo credit thanks to Wikipedia

The 2013 Mule Deer Season So Far

This has a been a good fall for some of our clients and friends. Lighting struck twice in Utah with LB's buck taken with Bucks and Bulls, Guides and Outfitters. LB's guide was Travis Adams and on a lease they have had for years. The buck was shot just at dark as he moved out of an Aspen patch to feed. The rifle used was made by Gene Simillion and chambered for 7mm Dakota.

         

The second buck was also taken in Utah again with Bucks and Bull Guides and Outfitters by a client of ours from Sweden. Anders had purchased a management tag and was to help cull some older breeding bucks that would never be considered by a trophy hunter. I was Anders guide on this hunt and I may have over-shot the protocol on this buck as I never saw the crab clawed fourth on the main beam. I will likely being clearing trails and mending gates this summer as disciplinary action for the oversight.  Anders made the comment that he saw more game on the first 2 days of the hunt than he might see in 2 years of hunting in Sweden. His shot was taken at 330 yards with a Legend 300 H&H Standard Sporter.

.This third buck was taken in Alberta by Chuck Nelson on a self guided hunt. Chuck said he past up 97 or 98 bucks before he had to be talked into shooting this bruiser, talked into? This buck was taken with a Left Handed 7mm Mashburn just shy of 300 yards. Chuck assembled the Mashburn with a LH Legend Stock and the help of some better than average Gun-Smithing talent in Canada.

      Talked into indeed. 

Professional Stockmaking, By David Wesbrook

Recently I acquired a copy of David Wesbrook's book on stockmaking. I had been aware of this book for a quite some time and had always meant to pick up a copy. Dave had one of the older copies in his possession and was kind enough to let it go. I first met Dave while on a pilgrimage to visit Fred Wells shop almost 30 years ago and we have kept in touch ever since that introduction all those years ago.

I enjoy reading right around dawn with a strong cup of coffee when the house is still quiet and the day full of possibilities. I usually read 10-20 pages and then head to the shop. I finished this book in two mornings and have since gone back and re-read a few select chapters. As a professional in the trade I found the text concise and very well written. The pictures are simply superb. If I were a budding hobbyist or journeyman the pages would be dog-eared and covered finger prints within a month.

Anyone interested in stockmaking from the casual observer or the seasoned practitioner will find this book an excellent addition to their library. Two thumbs up !!!!!!!

The Final Stretch, Finished With The Finish

Like they say about the Fat Lady singing? The same applies with checkering as it's only talk until you apply the finish. I apply at least 4 soaking coats. Then rub the stock out one last time with finish and rotten stone. Laps time from start to finish was 52.5 hours.

Remember the previous post entitled Into The Void? Below are some pics of those same voids that fell into or on the edge of the pattern. Had these voids been filled with glass only and not carefully fit with dutchman's the voids would have likely shown up as a less than stellar repair. In the end it's all about the details on the journey.