KWK,   It is true that the action hasn't been completed yet. I will be happy to comment about its quality but feel Steve D. could do a better job. Keep in touch with Steve and he can keep you up to date.  I also own a Redfied action with dbl set triggers built from casting made by Rodney --- very nice indeed.  Recently Glenn Fewless (HST) finished a Rodney S. cast Hepburn action for me. I must say "Without fear of contridiction", I would rather have this Hepburn . Glenn did what I can only call a masterful job of fitting, tuning and polishing this action --- all a man could ask for.  Look for an article about this action & cover shot on Journal in the next few issues.  I would also like to Highly recommend Glenns work as well as the stock work by "First Shirt" (Greg Pennell) --- both craftsmen are superb !!  Ken

KWK,    I would suggest you contact Rodney and get pictures of his Redfield action.  Green Frog has seen mine & indicated he would like to own one.  I think enough of mine to have engraved & gold inlayed Antelope & mule deer on it.  Good luck with your Cole if you buy one.  If you could buy a casting and send to Steve, he would be up to date on all the how to's step by step & etc.    Ken

If Steve doesn't want to work with casting, I suggest Glenn Fewless (HST) as he did my Hepburn. The hepburn was so well done that I'd take itover an old action --- better steel and better fit of parts !!!   It won't be cheap but, Glenn turns out only the finest work !!   Ken

Thanks again, Ken.  I had noticed in these forums praise for the work of Fewless from both you and others, and I have added this information to my notebook.   

The Redfield action is covered in de Haas's Potpourri... book, complete with a picture of a replica based on a Storie action.  It is a clever action, and from the drawing I imagine it is suitable for cartridges similar to those of a No. 5 rolling block.  However, hoping to chamber for a somewhat more powerful cartridge this time, I'm looking for a falling block.

   Karl

p.s. I just got off the phone with Frontier Armory, and I will be receiving their literature on Storie's actions before long.  The fellow mentioned Storie is working on moulds for new actions to be released later this year.

For those curious about the Cole action castings, I have an update which I hope Ken won't mind my posting...

I talked last week with Steve Durren, and he has run into some snags with the Storie castings.  From the sound of it, the action Storie worked from (if he was indeed able to find one) certainly wasn't set up for modern primers. The cocking cam doesn't move the hammer back soon enough to allow the firing pin to retract as the breech begins to drop. 

I recall de Haas writing that some old BP rifles had fairly blunt firing pins which could be dragged out of the indentation they made. Modern firing pins don't like this treatment.

Steve is mulling several options, and all the ones I could think of were already on his list.  I'll talk with him again in six months, to see what solution he selected.  Perhaps we'll read about this in a future issue of the Journal, where he has written several fine articles.

It's an intriguing action, and I look forward to hearing his comments.