Another of my addictions

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 09:56 AM

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

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 10:03 AM

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.

Ron Wood · 06-28-2010, 10:21 AM

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

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 10:31 AM

"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

lugerholsterrepair · 06-28-2010, 10:34 AM

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

Jerry Burney

Norme · 06-28-2010, 10:44 AM

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

FNorm · 06-28-2010, 10:38 AM

BEAUTIFUL! Both the wood and the workmanship!

FN

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 10:39 AM

Hi Jerry,

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

Ron

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 10:50 AM

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

Tomathvl · 06-28-2010, 10:57 AM

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

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

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 11:00 AM

Hey Tom,

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

Ron

Tomathvl · 06-28-2010, 11:09 AM

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

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 11:13 AM

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

Ron

Edward Tinker · 06-28-2010, 11:18 AM

Beautiful wood and workmanship Ron, just excellent.

Ed

Don M · 06-28-2010, 11:31 AM

Ron,

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

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 12:01 PM

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.

Ron

Neil Young · 06-28-2010, 12:06 PM

I like it!!!!

Neil

Norme · 06-28-2010, 12:09 PM

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

John Sabato · 06-28-2010, 12:30 PM

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.

Ron Smith · 06-28-2010, 12:39 PM

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

06-28-2010, 09:56 AM	#1
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	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 Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 10:03 AM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	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. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 10:21 AM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Beautiful job! Love the detail in the grip cap. And, man wouldn't I love to have a truckload of that figured walnut. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

06-28-2010, 10:31 AM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	"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 __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 10:34 AM	#5
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Ron, Excellent! Very high deffinition detail. Quite the transformation...Good Job! Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

06-28-2010, 10:44 AM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Congratulations, Ron, it's a beautiful job. You're clearly a man of many parts. Regards, Norm

06-28-2010, 10:38 AM	#7
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	BEAUTIFUL! Both the wood and the workmanship! FN

06-28-2010, 10:39 AM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Jerry, Thanks! I was going to get into holster repair and restoration, but they gave the job to some guy in Colorado. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 10:50 AM	#9
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	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 Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 10:57 AM	#10
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	WOW! Ron very impressive work, especially for a river rat bilge diver. Nice to see you're more than just a pretty face. Tom

06-28-2010, 11:00 AM	#11
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hey Tom, How you be? Yeah, never cared much for Subs. They got no windows. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 11:09 AM	#12
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	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

06-28-2010, 11:13 AM	#13
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Yup! The trouble is that they're already sunk. Ya just have to poke a hole and let the water in. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 11:18 AM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Beautiful wood and workmanship Ron, just excellent. Ed

06-28-2010, 11:31 AM	#15
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Ron, Excellent work! I'll have to show you more respect now. __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

06-28-2010, 12:01 PM	#16
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	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. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-28-2010, 12:06 PM	#17
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 548 Thanks: 566 Thanked 443 Times in 168 Posts	I like it!!!! Neil __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

06-28-2010, 12:09 PM	#18
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Ron, I'm not sure I know what Chi is, but I sure hope I don't catch it. Regards, Norm

06-28-2010, 12:30 PM	#19
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	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. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-28-2010, 12:39 PM	#20
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	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 __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...