Rafter3c, thanks for reminding me of Al and his great work.  I had the pleasure of spending a weekend at the NRA meetings with Al the year he donated one of his rifles to ASSRA for the Single Shot Classic.  That rifle was an absolute joy to see and hold, and the "standard" model he sent me to review was just as sweet if not as fancy.  That .45-70 was very difficult for me to send back after the article was written!    Al is one of the good guys and his work is absolutely top drawer.

Charlie Shaeff
Green Frog

I have been hearing of Al Story and his action castings for many years but had not seen either him or any samples of his work. Now I have pictures of both. No wonder he keeps a low profile. From the appearance at least he has a quality product. Cannot believe he would put that much effort into the outside without doing the same inside. Now I have another want item on my list. An Al Story Borchardt. Thanks for the post. Regards, FITZ.

FITZ wrote on Dec 1^st, 2008 at 12:59pm:


Hello FITZ,

I think you have got the 'Handles' mixed up. (your by no means the only one to get confused, been there, done that myself. lol).   

Al Story of the Borchardt Rifle Co. Silver City, N.M. is not the same person as Rodney Storie, who manufactures a number of single shot rifle action kits, made from castings, which are marketed by Wes Stanley, under the Trade Name of Frontier Arms.

To the best of my knowledge, Al Story machines all his parts from metal bars, no castings being involved. I know a lot of his machining work is done using CNC machines, I have nothing against that, I wish I knew more about CNC work, (I'm an old fashioned milling machine handle cranker myself, that's the way I was trained, oh, so many years ago).

From what I have seen in pictures of Al Story's (machined from solid steel stock) rifles, they are very faithfull to the original Sharps 1878 design.

A look at the pictures of Rodney Storie's 'Sharps Borchardt' casting kit and the supposedly 'finished action' (on the Frontier Arms web page) 

See:- (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

reveals a number of 'errors' that would not help the first time 'home build gunsmith enthusiast' one little bit. Having some 80% of a home made Borchardt Action completed by myself from plans (that were not particularly accurate to start off with). I know a little of what I am talking about. See:- (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)


Harry

Al is one top shelf guy, and one heck of a gunsmith.


Bar none.

Before everyone starts hammering on me. Those are awesome!!
Is Al Story and Rodney Story related?
Thanks 
ACE

Froggie, I am sure you are right!! I didn't  look at the spelling!! I am just so amazed at all the talent there is out there  that build custom rifles! i guess the reason i didn't get that talent, is that I would have to live in a shop with the machines, because i would spend all my time and money making guns for my self!! and maybe if I would of been talented I wouldn't have blown out my back!There are so many of the old Falling block actions, and I love them all!
thanks for clearing that up!!
ACE

    Ken

      Glad we're still pals !   That was a wonderful bull Elk from New Mexico.  I usually hunt the four corners in Colorado ... in the San Juan National Forest.   Maybe the N.M. and Arz. pressures will move some of those big boys up to us.

    Webb