Blasphemy! <or> Utilitarian?

[Kharn]

Double Rifle - Stainless Steel x Synthetic

(this image is photoshopped)

 

[mark-hunter]

Considering what people are doing with Mauser safari rifles, putting various plastic stocks on them, this is just a modern utility. This is just a new normal.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Well, hopefully the stock won’t crack. It could be hydro dipped in wood grain film

 

[Kharn]

Well, hopefully the stock won’t crack. It could be hydro dipped in wood grain film

3D printing can produce incredibly strong plastics that are also very light, in fact you can basically design how you want the plastic to be structurally.

 

[Philip Glass]

It could be good for a Bongo hunt

 

[deewayne2003]

I like it, although I would prefer cerakote on the metal.

 

[skydiver386]

A dark French gray on the metal and woodgrain dip on the stock and it would fit right in, or as others have posted, a black coating over the stainless.

Even some fine shotguns have a film dip over the real wood to add character to the grain, so doing it over synthetic wouldn't be a bad thing as long as it appears real.

Most of us love fine wood and metalwork with a rust blue finish, but hate seeing that same gun in poor condition after a few years of rough hunting.

So what's the answer? Maybe something like this that could be built to have a classic look, but made with modern materials that withstand rough hunting. It's hard to have your cake and eat it too.

 

[93marlin]

This why a classic era double rifle will ALWAYS be desirable.

 

[Kharn]

This why a classic era double rifle will ALWAYS be desirable.

From Africa to Alaska & everywhere in between!

 

[WI-2021]

It is, of course, hideous, but has some practical appeal in terms of cost and weather resistance. I floated the idea in the $10k double thread a while back and I don't think anyone commented on my blasphemy at the time.

I agree with those saying that the metal should be blackened in some way, probably a coating, at least on the barrels, since nitride and solder would not get along. The action and small parts could probably be nitrided.

If one can get past the looks, a synthetic stock would reduce the cost of a double by a fair bit. Make mine fiberglass though, not injection molded tupperware. Real engraving would also be out for cost control, but some simple laser engraving would add minimal cost and increase the curb appeal, at least to me. The handwork involved in regulation would still make it an expensive firearm, but maybe palatable for some that otherwise would never purchase a double.

While I'm certainly no PH, I could see this appealing to some of them if the cost was reasonable enough. While not attractive it would certainly very utilitarian for their uses.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Wear on a classic rifle shows it collected memories. I have plastic on my hunting shotgun simply because the design of A5 is faulty and prone to destroying wood. My designated deer/elk/moose/plains game Springfield 03A3 has had numerous face-lifts over the last sixty years but I have chosen to retain the battle scars as much as possible. I did reblue it a few years ago but necessary after changing the corroded military barrel. The stock was replaced once after being totaled in a 1981 horse wreck. I have refinished it at least three times since.

Someone will have a hard time convincing me painted or dipped plastic stocks show wear less than wood. The plastic used guns I see on the store racks that have stories to tell look rougher than the wood ones.

 

[TnKen]

If the price was right, I would consider it. I would not leave it like that. I would cerekote the steel a blue color, and dip the stocks woodgrain. I would then have a “classic “ look and not worry about scratching or damaging it with hard use.

 

[Rifleman97]

I like it, although I would prefer cerakote on the metal.

I wouldn’t. I have had 2 cerakoted rifles and when you use them heavily the cerekote really starts to look hideous fast.

The part of the receiver that the brass hits during ejection on my Winchester xpr is dinged to all hell, looks pretty bad. I don’t mind it since it was a cheap gun I kinda use as a beater for Iowa deer season (often raining, sleeting, or snowing during deer season) but I certainly wouldn’t choose to have it on a gun compared to a nice looking stainless which wears much nicer.

 

[Rifleman97]

If the price was right, I would consider it. I would not leave it like that. I would cerekote the steel a blue color, and dip the stocks woodgrain. I would then have a “classic “ look and not worry about scratching or damaging it with hard use.

I’d skip the cerakote for reasons listed in my last comment, but if you’re worried about the “look” you could consider nitriding. Makes it like a really black blueing, actually hardens the metal to resist more scratches, and can even increase barrel life by a bit. I’m having a 416 rigby built that will be fully nitrided for use in all weather situations, and I’m using waterproof boat epoxy for the wood stock finish to prevent issues with the stock warping in extreme weather as well, with minimal changes from a traditional magazine rifle in terms of appearance.

 

[1dirthawker]

that rifle is built to function. i like it!! built to resist corrosion and destruction.

 

[mark-hunter]

Not to mention the difference between high-grade wood and some composite material.

 

[crackerman]

Double Rifle - Stainless Steel x Synthetic
View attachment 704152
(this image is photoshopped)

How do we do a poll for banishing a user?

I am sure there is some utility here but I romanticize doubles to much to buy one.

I do wish I had bought a Remington/Bikal years ago before they wanted $2000 on gunbroker for some ratty examples.

 

[Altitude sickness]

There one for sale here in the classifieds

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

I would be absolutely okay with stainless steel on a double... BUT... For the cost and effort that goes into a double i find the plastic stock heresy. I get that it makes sense to stock the rifle with something as immune to the elements as stainless, but plastic ain't it. Were I to commission something like this, I would still use walnut, but would have the walnut resin injected and stabilized. That way you could have the beauty of walnut, with the stability of fibreglass.

But that green plastic stock is pure dog vomit on a double rifle.

 

[Kharn]

Wear on a rifle shows it collected memories.

This ^
Engravings would detract from the damage the weapon receives that are present to tell the story of the firearm.