Project Mannlicher Custom is done!

[Jackal]

While I think a steel or stag/bone/ivory buttplate would have REALLY! melted my butter, I gotta say, well done. Thats a beautiful rifle and you did a wonderful job on it. Props to you sir.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

I registered at this site to respond to this thread/rifle, to say....

Wow
Amazing
Incredible
Artistry
I want

And I would NOT "shape" the forend (I agree with you that it looks great as resembling a schnabel fore end). However, polishing the antler might be nice.

Thanks for building & sharing.

 

[tahoe2]

Headoftheholler; Great Job! That one is as "Unique" as you! Very individual tastes throughout the build. Outstanding in every way !!
Myself, I am starting 9.3x62 Mannlicher build with a 21-1/2" barrel and a 98 action, I already have the walnut stock and barrel, need an action!

 

[headoftheholler]

Headoftheholler; Great Job! That one is as "Unique" as you! Very individual tastes throughout the build. Outstanding in every way !!
Myself, I am starting 9.3x62 Mannlicher build with a 21-1/2" barrel and a 98 action, I already have the walnut stock and barrel, need an action!

Excellent classic caliber choice! I would go with vz24 or 1909 action. I'm building a vz24 at the moment , little higher quality metallurgy than the older 98 actions and smooth as silk.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

ive seen a few swedes turned into carbines like that and i love them all. there is almost nothing you can do to a swede to make it shoot bad, short of a bad crown or a bad bedding job. the one thing i did to mine that really made it a tack driver was a BOLD trigger with side safety. the trigger pull is around 3lbs and the side safety really makes it a more modern gun.

the side safety does take a bit of inletting in the stock. not hard to do, maybe a 15 min job with the rite tools.

 

[armoredman]

That's beautiful. As it is artwork made to your tastes, change nothing. But be careful which kid you leave it to - it might end up in a museum somewhere.

 

[R H Clark]

It is a very nice rifle that anyone would be proud of. I will offer a few suggestions since that's what I look for when I show any knife I have made. If you are a perfectionist like me, you already see these and will endeavor to correct them on the next build.

I would like to see the inletting a bit sharper. I can also see your glue line on the antler tip. I precisely fit segments of a knife glue up by sanding pieces against a thick piece of glass. Perhaps a jig of some sort, and if sanded with a machine, a ceramic or glass backed platen would help insure a perfect mating surface.

Just as a matter of taste, I prefer a steel bolt knob and butt plate. I also prefer an oil rubbed stock finish. That antler will also pop when sanded to 600 grit and polished on a buffing wheel with green compound.

Please don't take any of these criticisms negatively. You have produced a stunning piece and it is incredibly hard to do this kind of work with zero imperfections. You have every right to be proud of what you have produced here, as should anyone.

 

[headoftheholler]

It is a very nice rifle that anyone would be proud of. I will offer a few suggestions since that's what I look for when I show any knife I have made. If you are a perfectionist like me, you already see these and will endeavor to correct them on the next build.

I would like to see the inletting a bit sharper. I can also see your glue line on the antler tip. I precisely fit segments of a knife glue up by sanding pieces against a thick piece of glass. Perhaps a jig of some sort, and if sanded with a machine, a ceramic or glass backed platen would help insure a perfect mating surface.

Just as a matter of taste, I prefer a steel bolt knob and butt plate. I also prefer an oil rubbed stock finish. That antler will also pop when sanded to 600 grit and polished on a buffing wheel with green compound.

Please don't take any of these criticisms negatively. You have produced a stunning piece and it is incredibly hard to do this kind of work with zero imperfections. You have every right to be proud of what you have produced here, as should anyone.

Nothing wrong with constructive criticism, I pride my self on my inletting, however this stock had most likely 2 or 3 prior owners, lol. The antler will most likely be a one time thing, I love the way it looks but I'd much rather work with wood than that stinking smelly antler when you are working it. Overall the entire build was an exercise in modifying a rifle stock in various ways, my future builds will be more traditional. Speaking of future builds the next two on the block are a 98 mauser , keeping the 8mm building in a traditional post war Bavarian or Austrian style with short forearm with Schnabel, Bavarian cheekpiece and side plates.
The other is VZ24 (so slick) based action I rebarreled to 30-06, nice figured stock I've already fit a Silvers orange pad with plugs to. Got a BRNO style handle for it already, still some planning to do.

 

[barnbwt]

Now, when you say "done" do you really mean it? Or are you planning on tweaking with it some more to get it just right (I always find it hard to commit to getting my projects all the way to where I would want them; half-assed is so much easier )

TCB

 

[R H Clark]

I look forward to seeing your next build. As to the antler, I think if one were to take a very large piece of Sambar stag, Sambar because they are solid except for a pin hole, and actually shape it into a schnable type fore end, highly polished, it would look even better. I have polished some before and they can look like glass with depth of grain inside. That polishing when after 600 grit, with green compound works wonders.

Let me know if you ever want to try. I might could find a piece in my stash big enough.

 

[headoftheholler]

Now, when you say "done" do you really mean it? Or are you planning on tweaking with it some more to get it just right (I always find it hard to commit to getting my projects all the way to where I would want them; half-assed is so much easier )

TCB

After 6 months to get it done I'm pretty sure no changes. Only thing I might do is cut the gloss on the stock down to a satin with some rottenstone, but I'm going to try it first on the next project so I have a side to side comparison.

 

[headoftheholler]

I look forward to seeing your next build. As to the antler, I think if one were to take a very large piece of Sambar stag, Sambar because they are solid except for a pin hole, and actually shape it into a schnable type fore end, highly polished, it would look even better. I have polished some before and they can look like glass with depth of grain inside. That polishing when after 600 grit, with green compound works wonders.

Let me know if you ever want to try. I might could find a piece in my stash big enough.

Much appreciated, but I would have to have another full length stock to try the sambar out on first. Sambar looks outstanding but the price is gone through the roof. I've thought about polishing the antler that's on it but all I have on hand is a one speed brench grinder that spins incredibly fast. I do have an adjustable speed dremel with extention wand that might work.
As for the antler that's on it I have a special reason to have put it on, I found matching sheds to an 8 point I shot the following year and I used the crown of one of the sheds for the tip.

 

[txcookie]

I keep coming back to this page. I have a 96 and a good friend who does really great work. I may forward him the link with the message "somthing like this" immitation is the highest form of flattery!

 

[gb6491]

Gorgeous rifle, well done sir!
Regards,
Greg

 

[gjkershul]

Wonderful! What game will you use it for?

 

[headoftheholler]

Wonderful! What game will you use it for?

Eastern KY whitetails.