A 1916 Erfurt Small Ring project

[Shootist43]

That is a nice piece of wood, I believe your words were "a superb piece of wood showed up today." How did you acquire it?
Blanks like that just don't "show up." What are the similarities & differences between this action and the action on a Swedish Mauser?

 

[nztimb]

A good friend of mine in the US aquired a retiring gunsmiths stock of blanks or about 9 of them anyway and he traded this one to me for making him a Lee Speed styled stock for his #1 Mk3 Lee Enfield so we both had a win. The Lee Speed stock is not generally available in the US but I make quite a few here in New Zealand and have sent 4 to the US so far.
This action is the same as the G33-40 and other small ring 98 actions in that it has the third lug on the bolt so in effect has the safety standards of all 98 actions but has the small ring but not the lightening cuts in the side rails.

 

[Shootist43]

It sounds like you have two projects going simultaneously, this one and the Mannlicher style stock. Is stock making your full time job, or just an avocation?

 

[nztimb]

I am a retired builder so this is just what I do to enjoy my retirement. It just happenned that a friend bought the precarve mannlicher stock at the same time that I got the action and blank for my 6.5.

 

[Shootist43]

Do you live in New Zealand or Australia?

 

[nztimb]

I am in New Zealand. If you would like to talk further on this my email is vongruff@gmail.com

 

[nztimb]

I got the left side extended flag safety and the talley qd rings in the mail this morning so mounted the scope to see how it looked. I had intended to fit a m8 6x Leupold but there was none available here so I bought a 3-9 Nikon instead. I have a few other Nikons and like them a lot and at just 13 ox the complete package weighs in at 7 1/2 lb so still a portable hill rifle. I can cycle the bolt with the lens covers on with good clearance, so getting the bolt fitted the way I did has worked a treat. It still has the oberndorf look I wanted but allows for the lowest Talley rings and no scollop out of the bolt handle to ugly things up..

 

[Shootist43]

Now that, is a nice looking rifle.

What is your next project?

 

[nztimb]

Nothing in the works at the moment. I have no plans for anything else for myself unless a nice little martini action comes knocking at my door so I can rebarrel for my 20 VarTarg that is at present on a Rem X R 100 action. A light walkabout rabbit rifle would be nice in the gun cabinet (and on the hill). There will probably be another mauser to do at some stage as I have a friends blank here for when he gets the urge to complete another of the projects he has sitting in wait. I really like doing the Lee Speed styled sporters but dont have any lined up for now.

 

[TallGrassHunter]

Very nice work Von Gruff. Would like to see what you do with the Mk 3 as well.

 

[nztimb]

Very nice work Von Gruff. Would like to see what you do with the Mk 3 as well.

If you are asking about the Lee Speed styled rifles I have only done one for the#1 Mk3 action and that went to the US. All the rest have been on the pre 1903 Long Lee action (Long Tom)
Here is a sampling of the ones I have done
Mine in 303

My 400 (slightly shortened 405 Win

This went to the US and is being rebored to 375

A # 1 Mk 3 pattern stock that went to the US

A 375 and the 400 starting out

The 375 finished

and a few more being worked on

 

[TallGrassHunter]

Exceptional, each and every one, classic lines. I really enjoy a gun that the builder has taken pride in finishing.

 

[DM Shooting]

Those Lee speeds are lovely I learnt to stalk with one wish I'd never let it go young and stupid I guess. Been looking for a replacement in the background for years.

Seriously spend a little time and you'll be able to chequer those stock with ease.

 

[nztimb]

While I am waiting for the metal work to be done I decided that I would need a couple of things to go with this rifle and the first of these is a cartridge holder that would also have a pocket to safely carry the aperture sight if it was off the rifle.
I didn't have enough leather to do it all out of the one colour and thickness but found a couple of pieces that would do the job.
Having cut out the pieces it is time to start.


I made a base and awl some time back that I can slip onto my Sinclair arbor press so I can use it as a mechanical awl to do all the holes


And after a bit of sewing it looks like it will perform the required tasks as expected.

 

[Clayton]

Very nice. You are a talented & skilled man. I've really enjoyed keeping up with this project.

 

[nztimb]

I still have a scope bag, a knife and a rifle case to do for it yet

 

[Clayton]

OK. I've got more to look forward to.

 

[nztimb]

I got an email fro the GS this afternoon so it will be at least another week I expect.


I have received the barrel from the engravers and was not that impressed with the calibre engraving, however I went ahead and blued it but it annoyed me so it is back at the engravers to have a Germanic font used for the calibre and I will reblue again.

 

[wislnwings]

That rifle is a thing of beauty. You are very talented and I hope to one day spend my retirement doing something similar.

 

[nztimb]

Just home from the gunsmith with my metalwork so tomorrow will see it all together in the stock. I have one small inlet to do so then I can get on to the case , the knife and the scope bag.
While I was at the GS I picked up the metalwork for a G33-40 I am doing a mannlicher stock for. I got in a few really nice bolt handle from Talleys, one of which went on my 6.5x57 and one replaced the badly bubba'd one n the G33-40
I did stop in at a couple friends on the way and picked up a BSA Hunter to restock and a lovely little BSA 22 with stock damage to rectify. Having a few more knives to do for family I dare say thata the next few weeks will be fairly busy