Another of my addictions
 

I've often stated on the forums that I do gun stock work.

Last year I bought a custom '03 Springfield rifle from a gentleman in Virginia. During the course of the transaction he mentioned that he had a pre-64 Mod. 70 Winchester that needed to be re-shaped from the bench configuration stock to a sporting configuration. I told him that I would do it for him.

I'm shipping it back to him today, and thought that I would put my money where my mouth is. I don't charge much to do the work(not enough), but I love doing it.

His "Before" photos

My "After" photos...

I made the grip cap and rear swivel inlay from ebony. My checkering abilities are passable at best ( I don't have the patience required), so he will have the checkering done by a professional in Virginia.

A walnut blank with this beautiful grain would cost $500-$600+ today. I love it when the first coat of finish is applied, and that wood grain jumps out.

Beautiful job! Love the detail in the grip cap. And, man wouldn't I love to have a truckload of that figured walnut.

"And, man wouldn't I love to have a truckload of that figured walnut."

Hi Ron,

Funny that you would mention that. I know where there is literally, a 7 ton truck full of walnut stock blanks. Plus another half that many in a warehouse. If I had the money I would make him an offer on most of them.

The grip cap was very time consuming, but fun to make.The walnut inlay is from the slab of fore end that I had to cut off with a Jigsaw.

Thanks...

Ron

Ron, Excellent! Very high deffinition detail. Quite the transformation...Good Job!

Jerry Burney

BEAUTIFUL! Both the wood and the workmanship!

FN

Hi Jerry,

Thanks! I was going to get into holster repair and restoration, but they gave the job to some guy in Colorado.:thumbup:

Ron

Congratulations, Ron, it's a beautiful job. You're clearly a man of many parts. Regards, Norm

Hi Fred and Norm,

Thanks! I have a passion for Classic German Sporters. They are very expensive when found and, like Lugers, not something that you want to drag around in the woods.

So, I decided to build one that I could use and hunt with. I bought a "semi" sporterized '98 Mauser with a Bishop "fence post" stock similar to the before stock on the Model 70, and re-designed it.

Now I have a Classic Mauser Sporter that I don't have to worry about shooting and hunting with.

"You're clearly a man of many parts. Regards, Norm "

Norm, The problem is that most of them are getting squeaky and rusty.

Ron

WOW! Ron very impressive work, especially for a river rat bilge diver.

Nice to see you're more than just a pretty face.
Tom

Hey Tom,

How you be? Yeah, never cared much for Subs. They got no windows.:confused:

Ron

I be good, thank you.
Just watched a show on, I believe, NatGeo about the U boats in the Atlantic. They had a 75% loss rate due to RADAR and breaking their code. Glad I wasn't on one of those; they might as well of had windows.
Tom

Yup! The trouble is that they're already sunk. Ya just have to poke a hole and let the water in.

Ron

Beautiful wood and workmanship Ron, just excellent.


Ed

Ron,

Excellent work! I'll have to show you more respect now. :D

Thanks guys,

It's the way I maintain what little sanity I have left, and "Aligns my Chi". My "Chi" gets out of alignment more and more these days.:cheers:

Ron

I like it!!!!

Neil

Hi Ron, I'm not sure I know what Chi is, but I sure hope I don't catch it. Regards, Norm

Wow Ron... great work. Just who is your checkering pro in Virginia, and how far is he from me? (Winchester)

I believe I can recommend him to a few friends here if you are impressed with his work. I know you are not easily impressed. :D

Hi John,

I'm don't know who the checkering pro is. It's someone that was recommended to the man I did the work for.

We have a lady in the Portland area who does outstanding freehand checkering. She use to work for Ruger before they went to machine checkering.

I will ask him, when he gets back to me after the rifle arrives.

Ron