I've often daydreamed about having a really "custom" rifle of some kind or other... More and more, I find myself thinking that it's not as far out of reach as it used to be. I know more about doing some of the work myself.. I am more aware of some truely excellent wood and metal workers in the trade today than I ever have been before.. and I have a little more money to devote than in years past (or maybe I'm just more willing to make something like this a priority...) I have a Winchester Low Wall, a Stevens 44, and have a couple other things I could use.. (also have my eye on a Stevens Favorite in "rebuild-able" shape.. maybe for my niece. ). I'm trying to wrap my brain around the order of operations for a long-term custom rifle project. See if I get this more or less right;' 1) Major mechanical and metal work... Rebarreling or relining, if necessary, rough polish to remove any pits, dings, etc. Make flat parts flat. Round parts Round. etc. make the innnards work flawlessly. Make any new screws, springs, pins, or whatever. 2) Inlet and fit new wood, leaving a tiny bit of extra wood above the metal for later. Put wood aside in safe ding-free place. these next two steps I'm not sure which order they go in! 3) Send metal off for engraving. Pace anxiously. Don't bother the nice engraver. Lie awake nights thinking about making "just one phone call". Get metal back from engraver, wet self with joy. (that last part is optional...). 4) Send metal for finishing. Color case the reciever, block, and lever... Carbona blue the trigger, hammer, nitre blue the screws. Develop bleeding ulcer nervously waiting for the parts to come back. 5) Assemble, FINAL careful fitting of wood. Finishing wood. 6) First shots on paper... 2-3 years after starting. Kill the first person that dings it! So I'm wondering... Do I have this more or less right? Particularly steps 3 & 4? Budget, of course, is also partly unknown to me at the moment... I've been estimating that each step (except the ones I can do myself... most of 1 and most of 5) would cost between $300-500... Naturally, this depends entirely on the level of work... Now I just have to work myself up to choosing a rifle, a design, a set of specs, and pouring dollars into it like tipping a generously endowed stripper with dimples "just so"... (can I use that metaphor on this forum?). Paul F.
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