hammerforged

I will be sure and post a picture when it is all done.

Thanks William - I thought about checkering but the customer does not want any. The wood has been stabilized so they should hold up pretty well despite Maple being a fairly soft wood.

Old man Murphy just has to rear his ugly mug every now and then, most always at the most inopportune times. I feel your pain.

I have been tasked with making a set of custom grips for a .45. I have never done anything like this before and I do not have the weapon here to use for fit - only a set of spare grips from the weapon to use as reference. I have finished the right side and have pictured it here. The left side is close. I would really appreciate some constructive criticism here, these are being made from some of that 100+ year old Tiger Maple I salvaged when they tore down the Pacolet Textile Mill here in Pacolet, SC.

The rain has returned here and it is miserable - although the weather man says Sunday it will be in the mid 70's and in the high 50's and mid 60's this next week. Hopefully I will be able to get somewhat caught up in the shop before I leave for Texas in a few weeks.

Welcome back - beautiful bull right there. Still waiting on my KY Elk tag but I ain't holding my breath ?

Still raining here, so tired of all this. Waste of time to fire up the forge, too much moisture in the air to get anything to weld properly. Getting ready for two events back to back in the Austin, Texas area in early April. One benefitting Honor Flight and another benefitting the Children's Hospital then hopefully going to give an Axis or two a dirt nap. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Congratulations - great looking property. Best of luck - Safe Hunting - Good Harvest.

Loading up the truck getting ready to make my annual trip to west Texas to try and reduce some of the Quail population. Looks like we will have to deal with some rain this year but temps should be in the mid 50s. Will be meeting with the landowner whose property I will be Axis hunting in April while I am out there. Hoping for a safe trip and successful and safe hunt.

Going to spend Saturday checking my gear and getting ready for my trip to west Texas to try and reduce the Quail population some and then work on a few of the honey do items on my list.

Sorry for your loss - been there a few times myself. New pup looks like she fits right in.

Working on a few orders and hoping to get in some range time - calling for some rain off and on, so don't know about the range time. Wife's Birthday is next week so will probably go out for dinner Saturday. Had some sleet yesterday but it didn't stick around, thank goodness. Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Not yet - headed to Oak Ridge this next weekend for that very thing.

Finally got my rifle and scope together. Ruger American Predator in .223 - Tract Optics Tekoa HD 2.5 10x42 scope. Got out to the range to dial in the optics. Remington Premier Match 77 grain - 100 yards - 3 shot group easily covered with a quarter. I know I will need to re zero when I get to Texas in April but I am confident that I will come home with an Axis or two.

Merry CHRISTmas everyone - I hope the New Year brings each of you everything you desire and deserve.

Have 4 more orders to get buttoned up and delivered before Monday. Christmas program at church Sunday evening. My wife's Chili for Christmas Eve and then everyone over for chocolate chip pancakes Christmas morning and Christmas dinner at our oldest daughter's place. Hoping to get to the range Saturday to dial in the new glass for the Ruger Predator - got an Aoudad hunt in Texas in February.

So sorry for your loss - as others have said your memories will let him live on in your hearts.

Love hunting in Texas, have only hunted Doves and Quail with a few Javalena over the years but hope to add an Axis this February and maybe an Aoudad. Thanks for sharing Anthony.

I shoot Trap twice a week and Sporting Clays to tune up for Pheasant and Quail hunting. My favorite Trap game is Blackout - shot at night with the machine throwing white clays. A wicked challenge.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

When it rains, it pours - I feel your pain. Hang in there it has to get better.

Another update - think I have finally sourced the issue/issues with the Stevens - As stated above the lifter assembly had been installed upside down at some point, also discovered it needed to be moved ever so slightly forward - I'm talking about a 1/16 of an inch to keep it in the right position. Everything seems to be working right now, cleaned her all up and will be heading to the range later today to test her out. Now- my neighbor has offered me my choice of this Stevens Model 87a or a Glenfield/Marlin Model 60 for my work on getting this Stevens going again. Decisions, decisions - with the Stevens my grandson would have the option of shooting shorts, longs and long rifle cartridges with the Glenfield he would be grounded to only long rifle. I would appreciate the group's thoughts as I have no experience with either of these. I've still got the Winchester lever 22 my Dad got me when I was 8.

Update, figured out that the lifter assembly had been installed upside down at some point, still won't cycle right, noticed a worn spot on the face of the bolt that I think is allowing the lifter assembly to drop locking the bolt in the closed position. Can the face of the bolt be safely mig welded and resurfaced?

A neighbor has a Stevens Model 87A that we cannot get the bolt to cycle on. If I take the gun apart and work the round loading lever I can get the bolt to cycle fine but with the gun together it will not cycle no matter how hard you pull on the charging handle.. I know this gun should cycle whether there are rounds loaded in the tube or not but cannot get it to do so. Is there a you tube video someone can point me to that can shed some light on this? He also has a Glenfield Model 60 that he says will no longer fire - I suspect a firing pin issue on this one but have not had a chance to take it apart yet to see, it cycles just fine. Many thanks in advance - If this is in the wrong place please feel free to move it to the correct location.