I am a big fan of the shade tree gunsmiths… but I’m smart about it. Some have taken Mickey Mouse gunsmith courses (cough cough Sonoran, HAKAFFFF!) … but a true gunsmith starts as a machinist. A real gunsmith can literally build a rifle from bar steel, and carve and inlet stocks, checker, finish, etc etc. He’ll have milling machines, metal lathes, and even CNC equipment.
The next step down from there are the Armourers. Those guys can diagnose common functioning problems, replace parts, maybe refurb existing stuff. Tiny does this all the time - but he knows his way around guns and the tools and his work on Enfields. These guys deserve respect too.
And of course, at the bottom of the barrel are guys like yours Truly - and some deserve the death penalty for the murderous “sporterizing” of pristine military surplus rifles they do. My advice to most is - unless you know what you’re doing… let a pro do it. Guys like Tiny will set you up with a charming milspec shooter or wall hanger. But to truly sporterize a rifle into something you can be proud of…? That takes lots of time, money, and skill. Most of us would be best served by just going out and getting a Tupperware Ruger American, or Savage Econ-O-Gun. But…if you DO have the Right Stuff… a well sporterized milsurp is a thing of beauty. I am curious though. .45-70? In a bolt gun…? Well…why not? You can have a lot of fun plinking with the 45-70 using cast lead and reduced loads. I’ll bet that bolt action will handle serious hunting loads too! Again…why not? I can’t wait until the job is done!
I like the content, the Mystery Parts Game Show, and the cheezy ads for Shop Beer that Merk does. If you like the builders and artisans as I do… the big beardo is definitely worth a like and a subscribe.
I think it was back in the 1970's that Interarms or similar outfit imported these large bolt actions into the U.S.. I think they only held three rounds ? But a lot of old hunters that parked their butts on stumps and waited for deer to show up thought highly of them. To my mind, pretty close to shooting a 12 gauge bolt slug rifle. Easier to find ammunition too.
ReplyDeleteI remember some company was converting Siamese mausers. I haven't heard about them in a long time.
ReplyDeletePaul J
I never heard or thought about such a creature until I landed in Tennessee. Then , perusing Armslist, Nashville, there was a 45.70 Siamese Mauser. Don't remember what they wanted for it, it seemed reasonable to me, but then, I'm a worshiper of most things Mauser. Though, I'm not a fan of rifles, I'm a carbine guy.
ReplyDeleteOf all the Mausers I've had and traded or sold (8 or 9), my current Swedish 1943, Husqvarna, M38, 6.5 carbine is my fave and the one I'll likely die with.
I've seen reasonably priced, sporterized Swedish Mausers (hauk! spit!) that were so well done, that I lusted after them. I couldn't justify any of them because I have too many "deer" rifles already, so I just admire from afar.