"And then there is Chuck Blenders Miller"

That reminded me of the first time I saw Blenders rifle on the line.

It was between relays, sitting on the bench in the rests, action opened and cleared.

I saw a pipe nipple hanging off the end of the barrel, and what looked like scrap wood stuck on the butt end of the action, all chopped up and bondo, no finish, Just a pitiful thing.
I thought it was a joke or somebody was going for a prize I wasn't aware of, Ugliest rifle at the match.

I didn't even think it was for shooting, just show, but I watched when the relay started and he started shooting it. OK must be part of the joke.

I looked at his backer thru the scope and ALL his targets were match targets, for score....... 

And they were damned good targets.

So I asked guys I knew well that were at the shoot, they told me  Yes that is his real rifle.

Talking to chuck later that evening he said he would fit the stock to his cheek, shoulder etc using a hatchet and when he got the stock to where it was just right he'd use it as a pattern to make a nice butt.

Years later it was the same stock.....guess it is still a work in progress.

I think he shot like a 2200 or 2300 or somewhere in that area with it that weekend.

Marty Stenback has a butt that has like 24 different pieces of wood glued to his rifle for the same reason, he shoots real well too. No plumbing though.

Gentlemen,

One of the hardest things I've ever done was boxing up a nice Ballard to ship to Chuck Blender. I felt like I was leading a lamb to slaughter. When the rifle saw the name on the box it kept trying to crawl out.

Chuck's targets more than make up for his rifle's "fit and finish"...

Steve

Ten-X,  from conversations with CC Johnson's grandson, Jerry, and from other contemporary accounts (and Johnson's own shop records) it seems safe to say that Charley did very little stock work for his customers.  It was not that he couldn't do it, it was just that he seems to have preferred to do the metal work for which he was justifiably famous and leave the wood work to those who specialized in that aspect of gun building.  Unfortunately, some of the CC Johnson high quality metalwork was offset or even overcome by the low quality, poorly thought out stock work that was done on his rifles by others (after they left his shop.)  Finding a rifle with Johnson's fine metal work that has a good, well thought out stock or one with the original wood conserved as part of the job is a real plus.  JMHO, of course, but I have owned one or two examples and have spent time talking with Jerry and reviewing the literature for various articles and projects.

Regards,
Froggie

Boats, SPG, etc.,

The only guns I've seen that actually came apart were 44 Stevens actions. One time a bunch of us were out shooting at Brea Range in California, Ray Day was shooting a very nice 44 Stevens in 32-40, and suddenly the gun exploded, luckily everything went downward, I think Ray only got a few nicks on his arm, as I recall the breech block had cracked. A friend of mine has double charged his favorite Ballard several times (a Marlin action) and although it needs some attention each time, he's still shooting it.

Bob

Interesting, Blown up was too strong a phrase.  I suspect any of the modern reproductions will stand charges far higher than we use.   
Good to know if you do double charge one it's not going to cost you any fingers,

On Chuck, I watch his scores in ISSA.  If he shot bench rest at all no doubt would have won overall at that match at least once.  Asked him about it one time. He said offhand was the only thing he wants to shoot and suffers when the match has a bench leg


Boats

I once had a Hi Wall in .22 Hornet, with both CC Johnson and Buhmiller's names on the barrel. It had some beautiful custom stocks, done in the typical 1950's varmint style, and wonderfully checkered.
I believe I would still have that gun had it not been for one glaring issue I just couldn't get past. Somebody cut the right side of the receiver down to aid in chambering and removing spent rounds! I often thought about having a piece welded in and restoring the action, but in the end I just traded it away, and let somebody else worry about it.

Another of the complete rifle. The scope blocks and tang base were added by me for milling parts when purchaced.

Flatlander is the wood Winchester as from the Factory ? I don't know them well enough to tell from the photo. That could be the signifigant factor.  Figure the gun is 1/3 action 1/3 barrel and 1/3 stock then consider originality and condition for each part.   

To my eye your rifle has potential, lots of it, and the Johnson Barrel adds large to the appeal. But personaly would not pick it up off a sellers table in it's current conditon.  Of course everybodys eye is different. If it was mine it would go for a complete re-stock and finish preserving the barrel and markings.  It would be a real nice Schuetzen remodled, well worth investing the money.  It would also sell easy if you wanted too.   

Boats