Interested in what folks are doing, I have one last delivery for the year and I'll close the books.  With that, I get to spend the rest of the year on gun builds... you all?   

Of course there's a couple days  out with some travel and a shoot but it's the thought that counts...  The gun time may extend a day into the new year.

I have the mill set up to cut some octagons on barrel blanks, almost enough to keep me in builds for half the year...

Merry Christmas Bob. The Pope Ballard you just acquired, is that drilled and tapped? Did it come with mounts and a scope? Forend have a horn tip? 

If its the rifle I am thinking of I watched it sell in October at a farm/gun auction where I came home with my Ballard Pacific 45/100. I saw it again for sale in Tulsa at the November show along with a half dozen Pacifics from same sale. Just Curious.

Jordan

My year end project is taking delivery of a beautiful 38-50 Hepburn that has been in limbo for several different reasons. Right now it is stuck at a FedEx warehouse 40 miles from my doorstep. I have NEVER had so much trouble purchasing a firearm. It is no fault of either the seller or me. It is the fact now everything must go through a FFL to be shipped or received and the postal service who was so late with my check to the seller I panicked and had another one issued sending it certified mail. The seller received my second check and like two days later the first one arrived. This is definitely my last gun purchase. You can never have enough but I think I personally have enough. Got more than I will ever shoot now. 


JMH

I'll be striving to finish a couple Ballard projects in the new year - a .40-65 on a Pacific receiver and a.32-40 on an unknown model forged receiver. Next up, a .32 S&W liner for a cast receiver project gun. Not a single shot, but a 1903 Springfield NRA Sporter creation using a .22 Hornet barrel and a righteous National Match action has waited patiently for far too long. They're all gonna get finished this year. Honestly, maybe, I hope.....

I'm building up three low walls simultaneously.  Two of the are based on the Model 87 training rifle and the other is on a basic flat side receiver.  Those rifles will wear a 1 and 2 sized barrels that will be relined.  The one other will have a 3 1/2 GM 22LR full octagon barrel I plan to finish initially at 32".

Got all three actions working mechanically.  That was not an easy task since parts are a combination or original, MVA, and C Sharps.   
Had to set the #1 barrel back one turn, weld up the rear of the dovetail and reçut same.  Mostly draw filing and polishing ahead.

I will be finishing (3) more breechseat barrels this winter. All (3) for the same Stevens 44 1/2. Recently finished except for rust blueing, is a 33/30 Maynard on a BRC 15twist. This is a 35/30 Maynard necked down to 33 cal. I made form dies and cut the chamber via taper boring. Neck and throat done with a N&T reamer that I had Manson modify to a .3620” neck. Next will be a 28/35 on another 32” BRC barrel blank. Again, I had Manson modify a neck and throater to suit. Remaining is a 25 cal bank that will likely become a 25/35Win. My shooting lane is a mess. I get snow cleared off to get it frozen down and we get more warm weather.

My object is to make cartridges for an Allen-and-Wheelock “lip-fire” pistol.  This was an early (i860) attempt to evade S&W’s patent on “cylinders bored through”.  The pistol is a husky 44 about the size of an old COLT or similar, but the cartridge itself is essentially a “rimless rimfire”.  Only 250 of the pistols were made, and there was no supply of ammo, so there must be pretty few survivors..... In 50 years, I have never seen another until this spring.

CHRIS

The Allen Wheelock revolver I have came through my son’s Sporting goods store a few years ago. Only one I’ve actually seen other than yours here. Mine is also the .44 caliber but I have never shot it because of the lipfire ammo problem. The serial number is 15 and is stamped on all the major parts.