Mr. Gain Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 The before and after photos speak volumes. You've taken a rifle I wouldn't have given a second look and turned it into one that's a feast for the eyes... and I bet it feels wonderful in the hands too. Did you have John looking over your shoulder eagerly throughout the process or was it all a glorious surprise for him at the end? Best, Jules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 The before and after photos speak volumes. You've taken a rifle I wouldn't have given a second look and turned it into one that's a feast for the eyes... and I bet it feels wonderful in the hands too. Did you have John looking over your shoulder eagerly throughout the process or was it all a glorious surprise for him at the end? Best, Jules Hi Jules, Thanks for the comments. John obviously knew I was doing up the rifle for him but was under the impression it was a quick 'wash and brush up'. He had a clue that something was up because I had the rifle for longer than expected. When I finally returned the rifle he was more than a little bit pleased! It worked in my favour as he bought a Remington XCR in .25-06 from me to use in foul weather. Although the Springfield has picked up a few dings and scratches on its' trips to Scotland it still looks good, All the best, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCH Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Beuatiful work, the cocking piece peep sight is a nice touch that one does not see much on modern rifles. It's a good calibre for a travelling rifle too, is it 4 down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Beuatiful work, the cocking piece peep sight is a nice touch that one does not see much on modern rifles. It's a good calibre for a travelling rifle too, is it 4 down? Hi CCH, Thank you for your comments, I'm not sure about the '4 down'? Presumably it's a typo, get back to me and I will try and answer your query, All the best, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCH Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Oh dear, I can't work out how to edit posts and between the predictive text and watching something else I made a complete mess of that post.. I meant to say cocking piece sight and by "4 down" I meant holding 4 rounds in the magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Oh dear, I can't work out how to edit posts and between the predictive text and watching something else I made a complete mess of that post.. I meant to say cocking piece sight and by "4 down" I meant holding 4 rounds in the magazine. Hi CCH, No problem! That's why I refered to a bolt mounted peep sight and not a c*cking piece mounted sight as we then stray into 'male chicken' territory . The 1903 Springfield magazine is designed to take five rounds either loose or fed from a stripper clip. The stripper clip guides can be seen in the 'before' photo of the top of the action, they are now obscured by the rear scope mount base. Interestingly, the bolt stop also functions as a magazine cut-off by restricting the travel of the bolt so it does not pick up a round from the magazine. The idea was to engage in deliberate aimed fire with single loaded rounds and then rapid fire with the magazine when you could 'see the whites of their eyes', Thanks for your interest, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John H Dale Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Hello to everyone, As this is my rifle I thought I had better join UKV and say thank you for all the appreciative comments. As posted earlier I had a very pleasant suprise when Alan returned what I had originally bought as a bit of a basket case. It was always my intention to use the '03 for red deer stalking on my frequent trips to the West coast of Scotland. Since being completed it has grassed many beasts at ranges from 180 - 310 yards, all one shot kills using Federal Premium cartridges, I consider myself fortunate to have Alan as a friend and to have a riflemaker on the premises! John D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon J Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Beautiful rifle. What about the Loch and Wey actions mentioned on your website? Any examples of them, to show off? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Beautiful rifle. What about the Loch and Wey actions mentioned on your website? Any examples of them, to show off? Simon Hi Simon, Like everything else these days, too much work and not enough time! Current status is that parts are being subjected to stress analysis while detail production drawings are finalised. Hope to launch later this year! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz6br Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Excellent work mate, looks very nice well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon J Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Hi Simon, Like everything else these days, too much work and not enough time! Current status is that parts are being subjected to stress analysis while detail production drawings are finalised. Hope to launch later this year! Alan Understood. Keep up the great work and look forward to hearing about them in due course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannywayoflife Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Wow your an artist Alan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jungle_re Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 WOW! - for some reason i've been able to view the pictures today well worth the wait fantastic craftsmanship Alan. Really enjoyed reading your description also and appreciate the time taken to explain your stock finishing great to have just a little bit of an insight it to how its done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bewsh Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 My God!! I wish you hadn't mentioned me in the original post! Kind of forces me to up my game if my Midland refurb is to be anything other than run of the mill!! [note to self: colour case hardening is the way forward for bolt bling!) excellent job, looks very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted January 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 My God!! I wish you hadn't mentioned me in the original post! Kind of forces me to up my game if my Midland refurb is to be anything other than run of the mill!! [note to self: colour case hardening is the way forward for bolt bling!) excellent job, looks very nice Hi Bewsh, Thank you (and everyone else) for your kind comments, please keep all of us informed about your Midland project, All the best, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradders Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 That's fantastic Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryh Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Alan, Love the colour case finish, very nice end result. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 That's fantastic Alan Hi Mark, Thanks for your comments, I still have those items we talked about the other day, All the best Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradders Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Hi Mark, Thanks for your comments, I still have those items we talked about the other day, All the best Alan Hi Alan, Thanks for the reminder. I've been tied up all week since getting back from OZ, arranging parts supplies and doing the bloody tax return. If it isn't too late I will be at Bisley all day tomorrow (sat)shooting and helping to run the Civ SR. If you're around and have them we can meet up at the OSM or somewhere and do a deal. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskett Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 That colour hardening is just superb. London makers seems to be able to do it right but no one else it seems to me can. How is it done and can it be done to any old steel? The question really is: do modern steels take the process or does it have to be faked...?? Faked because I've seen some Italian lesser guns (Higlander) that are given a colour hardened effect and though not bad just haven't got that depth of the real deal. Think we would all enjoy a bit of an education on the process Alan. There are a lot of bolt together tack drivers being made today with plastic stocks. All well and good but for lowland stalking I don't think having a classic rifle can be beaten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Hi Alan, Thanks for the reminder. I've been tied up all week since getting back from OZ, arranging parts supplies and doing the bloody tax return. If it isn't too late I will be at Bisley all day tomorrow (sat)shooting and helping to run the Civ SR. If you're around and have them we can meet up at the OSM or somewhere and do a deal. Mark Hi Mark, Sorry, I did a corporate day at Bisley yesterday (Friday) so I am in the workshop today catching up. Hope we can sort something out next week, All the best, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgobang88 Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 That colour hardening is just superb. London makers seems to be able to do it right but no one else it seems to me can. How is it done and can it be done to any old steel? The question really is: do modern steels take the process or does it have to be faked...?? Faked because I've seen some Italian lesser guns (Higlander) that are given a colour hardened effect and though not bad just haven't got that depth of the real deal. Think we would all enjoy a bit of an education on the process Alan. There are a lot of bolt together tack drivers being made today with plastic stocks. All well and good but for lowland stalking I don't think having a classic rifle can be beaten. Hi Muskett, Any professional engineers or heat treatment specialists reading this, please look away now! This is an extremely simplified explanation of the case hardening process. Essentially, to harden steel there needs to be present a certain percentage of carbon within the steel. Carbon steels are heated then cooled, temperatures, time and cooling methods are varied depending on the type of steel, degree of hardness required and the ultimate application of the part being hardened. The cooling is done by quenching in water, oil or even in air for certain classes of steel. For low carbon steels such as mild steel additional carbon is added by such processes as cyanide hardening or bone charcoal case hardening. In each case the part to be hardened is surrounded by the hardening medium and then heated for a specified period of time at a pre-determined and monitored temperature. Colour case hardening is done with charcoal that is made from bones. The part being hardened is quenched in water or brine. Some hardeners claim to be able to influence the colour and pattern of the hardening by passing air bubbles through the quenching tank. It is only recently that the colours from bone charcoal case hardening have been thought of as a decorative finish. Previously it had been regarded merely as a by product of the only practical way to induce a degree of hardness into the surface of gun parts (and other items) made from low carbon steel. This surface hardness combined with a soft or ductile core is ideal to resist wear and sudden shocks as found in firearms applications. It is unfortunate that in some custom gun circles (primarily in the US) the colours have become more important than the degree of surface hardness. It has been a triumph of decoration over utility, hence we see things such as colour hardened trigger guards, scope mounts etc . Hope this answers your query, Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayhenselen@q.com Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 wow, I cannot say anything more than has been offered already. I wish you to immediately move your shop and family to the US, specifically Utah and I will then be able to order a dozen guns make like this one. I am stunned. I have not appreciated work like this in the states at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted May 12, 2013 Report Share Posted May 12, 2013 all i can say is one day i hope i can own and use some thing like that, very very stunning......even private ryan would be proud of that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 13, 2013 Report Share Posted May 13, 2013 I would seriously love to learn that, issue is letting them go could be hell and I should end up a very poor but happy collector. Its hard to believe that is the same stock the grain has been highlighted so much though you can trace it in the before and after photos. It seems so much more respectful to stalk the highlands etc with such a gun, though heather scars on that stock might make me cry and as for blood getting on that metalwork.... Sometimes I wonder were the practical side to a stalking gun should finish and the heart or soul of it should start. Nobody ever seems to comment adversely on that which we choose to use to shoot our most noble quarry yet turn up to shoot driven chickens with a cammo semi auto and all hell breaks loose I never really understood why someone might colour case harden scope rings, trigger guards etc. at it certainly quickly slips from class to chav once over done, you explained it perfectly. Thanks for the pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.jpg.0972b4e2bdf0b5a4109eb96f2b1b62ad.jpg)
(200x135).jpg.0fd0a94f065c6cb243fdff1b40e0819a.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.