One of the original long range guns.
- Thread starter Bob Wright
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Bob Wright
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So here is an update on some of the final machining on the receiver.
I had to cut a ramp for the firing pin anvil to fit into when the hammer drops it in the breech block.
I poured over my old drafting, reverse engineering from 25 years ago. It was one of those that are unexplained missed dimensions.
So I had to set this up in the vise and measure the breech block components with a 6" scale, color up the anvil, smack it with a brass rod and leave a witness mark. It worked, in which the timing of this component would retract the firing pin as soon as the lever moved to extract a fired round.
All of the assembly parts were all filed to get a smooth fit: extractor from a 74 Sharp's and the little ear on the anvil. Guess it was like they had to do it 148 years ago.
Special screws to be made next. My buddy has a nice engine lathe...
I had to cut a ramp for the firing pin anvil to fit into when the hammer drops it in the breech block.
I poured over my old drafting, reverse engineering from 25 years ago. It was one of those that are unexplained missed dimensions.
So I had to set this up in the vise and measure the breech block components with a 6" scale, color up the anvil, smack it with a brass rod and leave a witness mark. It worked, in which the timing of this component would retract the firing pin as soon as the lever moved to extract a fired round.
All of the assembly parts were all filed to get a smooth fit: extractor from a 74 Sharp's and the little ear on the anvil. Guess it was like they had to do it 148 years ago.
Special screws to be made next. My buddy has a nice engine lathe...
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epoletna
Well-Known Member
Still following with great interest!
ntsqd
Well-Known Member
Is that a thin mill head riser on top of what I think is the much more common thicker riser? I can't recall having ever seen that before. Am jealous of either riser as mine lacks one and I've not taken the time to try track one down.
Building an action like that is just amazing to me. I think that I have a pretty good idea of just how much work that is. The fixturing alone is a major project all by itself.
Building an action like that is just amazing to me. I think that I have a pretty good idea of just how much work that is. The fixturing alone is a major project all by itself.
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
The fixtures are sitting in a box now. I had to make 5 or 6. Mostly for the rotary table to generate the exterior contour. One weld jig to join the rear tang to the action.
A Wire EDM would have made quick work out of this thing. As easy as I found the guy to do the rectangular interior, it was way past all the milling I did by then.
Now I discover Color Case Hardening is another full heat treat that I don't want to risk. This one was done at an Aerospace supplier under controlled circumstances to Rockwell C 37, 186KPSI. This one will be polished more, engraved a bit and stay in the white....
xsn10s
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Would you just keep the steel well oiled? Rust probably isn't much of a problem in Arizona anyways.
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
Yes, it came with a 6" riser. I didn't realize it when I picked it up. I think this one came from one of the big coastal Aerospace companies like Northrop, ect..
I believe it was a tool room machine.
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
Yes, or wax. All the time it sat in the safe in the garage, there is nary a spot of rust. 4340 has some chrome in it so that helps hold back rust.
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
Here are the photos from waaay back when. Sawing the individual blanks, some of the many drawings, the 63 conversion carbine I reverse engineered some dimensions. The rest I had to research and or create for the 77 action contours. This was around 1994.
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8x68s
Well-Known Member
One can see, from all this time, money and effort you have put into this rifle, why Mr Sharp might have gone out of business building a $50 rifle back in the day. Congratulations on your effort and the results!!
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
I was reading the article I showed in the photos above. The fancy ones went for $100 back then. Back in the 1990's reproduction ones with engraving would put you in the $10k + range. Nowadays, the basic rifles are falling in price as new, as the affect of "Quigley" has worn down a bit. That engraving was by the late Lynton Mckenzie who was very famous during his time. He was a modern Nimschke type engraver of at least the Winchester fame...
I had the honor of speaking to Lynton only once over the phone about this project. He passed away about 6 months later of cancer.
8x68s
Well-Known Member
Great story! I recognize that name (Nimschke) from my Winchester Book reference. Nimschke's work was my favorite style. I wonder if anyone is still out there following the style of Nimschke and McKenzie? Would hate to see that treasure trove of skill disappear.
Bob Wright
Well-Known Member
I have that Winchester book as well.
I'm going to see if a lady in Prescott is still doing it. She teaches at Yavapai College as part of their armorers /gunsmith certification. Her name is Rachel. Wonderful person and very good at it. Wish I had the age, time and equipment. I don't think I have enough time left to be "ok" at it, lol.
I do love the work they do.
