I Sporterized Something Important ....

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Jessesky

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That’s right I created a sporter, AND on a rather rare historically significant rifle as well. *gasp!*

Another members thread about projects in limbo got me motivated to finish up some long lived projects.

A year or two ago I purchased a basket case of a rifle which either bubba, or Hannibal Lechter had gotten his hands on. I couldn’t decide who was worse.

The rifle was an 1879 Second model Hotchkiss. There was rust, the stock was obliterated in the wrist, wire wrapped with copper and tin solder, hobnails in the stock, and the barrel chopped to 16”.
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I broke down the rifle which was neat being such an interesting design. (For those of you who don’t know this is a tube fed, five shot bolt action chambered in 45-70. The tube runs through the buttstock.It got pretty far in trials to replace the trapdoor, but ultimately no manufacturers received a contract and we stayed with the trapdoor.) I then cleaned all the parts vigorously.
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Even if the project was a failure I got to have quite a few excellent conversations with Jim Curlovic at Cody firearms museum. Arguably the worlds best Hotchkiss expert. Tons of knowledge from him.
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I did repair the original stock but being the barrel was 16” I sourced a carbine stock which had the forend broken. Perfect for me since I’d be reshaping it, and I wouldn’t do that to a good original.
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I wanted to create a historically fictional interpretation of a stalking rifle as a buffalo gun. Being that this rifle was a five shot tube fed 45-70 used in the West during the Indian wars it seemed somewhat appropriate.

The sight hood is an 1884 trapdoor carbine sight hood, the rear sight is from an 1896 Krag, I grinded the cocking sear so it would stay cocked when out of the guide rails, I added an ebony forend tip to the stock, reinforced the wrist with a metal rod, reshaped the stock and finished with Tung oil, and filled the saddle ring inlet with pewter to have as a tag for your engraved initials like shotguns do.

If restoring it to the original configuration were possible, I would have done so. I don’t normally sporterize, but I hope I brought life into something that would have been lost in the wrong hands otherwise.
 
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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In this case, the lemonade may be shaken, not stirred.

Seriously, it is a nice looking little carbine. It should be interesting with black powder pressure loads...

Question: Did you re-work the muzzle crown when you did the front sight?
 
If you really want it to be a buffalo rifle. Add brass tacks in the stock and/or a raw hide wrap with decorations on it.
 
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In this case, the lemonade may be shaken, not stirred.

Seriously, it is a nice looking little carbine. It should be interesting with black powder pressure loads...

Question: Did you re-work the muzzle crown when you did the front sight?
I did. My smith did it as a favor because I don’t have a lathe.
 
Really disappointing. You brought something back from the dead and turned it into a hideous monstrosity. You should be ashamed of yourself for disgracing the craftsmanship originally put into that fine firearm.


Now I want one. I totally dig it.
 
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