98 Mauser 425 Westley Richards

[hamibc]

1942 JP Sauer Action. I copied the stock design from a 1926 Stoeger Catalog, but opened up the grip (English style). Lothar Walther Barrel. Model 70 Safety, Griffen & Howe side scope mount, Lyman peep sight, NECG front & rear sights, swivels and sling. Custom bolt/ejector box, 1903 Springfield bottom metal, handmade butterknife bolt handle, German Silver initial plate, checkered rear swivel island, grip cap, cross-bolt accents are Cape Buffalo horn, rust blued. The pics don't do the wood justice - old piece of fancy Bastogne walnut.

[GMork]

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[hamibc]

I am a professional gunsmith. I learned gunsmithing from a Sudetenland Czech; stock building from a German, and I am mostly of German & Norwegian descent. Notice the side panels on the stock? Scope is a Leupold fixed 2.5 power, with heavy Duplex cross-hair. 410 grain Woodleigh  soft point and Barnes solid bullet @ 2427 fps.

[GMork]

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[eastman]

great work on the rifle. Finding a good gunsmith is a challenge now, AR part changers are far more common than master craftsmen.

That is classic.

[hamibc]

Thank you for the compliments - AR "Gunsmiths" are just Lego set builders, in my opinion.

The finish is hand rubbed oil, and I have over 3 months in that finish alone. checkering the Buffalo horn is very time consuming, because it is relatively soft. I would take a guess of 200 dedicated hours to complete the rifle from start to finish.

[eastman]

Once Criterion has them back in stock, I was planning to rebarrel a P-14 Enfield. I doubt I will find a gunsmith within 100 miles of here who will finish cutting the chamber and headspace the rifle.

[hamibc]

You can buy a Lothar Walther barrel that is finished and chambered - all you have to do is set it back to get final headspace - at least for a Mauser anyway.

[eastman]

You can buy a Lothar Walther barrel that is finished and chambered - all you have to do is set it back to get final headspace - at least for a Mauser anyway.

for the P-14 Enfield, Criterion makes the barrels so they will clock to put the dovetail for the front sight on top, but they cut the chamber 0.010" short to allow for the headspace adjustment. All of the barrel mounting and headspacing will be left to a professional (beyond my comfort zone). I am also looking for original P-14 barrels as another option.

By the time I am done restoring this rifle to original configuration, I will have more $$ into it than it is probably worth, but I think it is worth doing. If only a previous owner hadn't clipped the barrel back, none of the extra cost would be required.

[hamibc]

You can rent a Finish Reamer and Go, No-Go gauges from 4-D Reamer Rentals. It's not really that hard:
1. Put the barrel on tight - you will need a barrel wrench for this, so as not to mar the barrel (I use Rosin on the threads);
2. Check the headspace with your gauges in just to be sure;
3. Take a new case, and measure how far the rim is from being flush (I'm assuming you are chambering for .303);
4. Put the barreled action in a vise as Vertical as possible (Lets gravity help you);
5. Use a lot of cutting fluid, put the reamer in the barrel and use a long T handle to reach through the action;
6. Nice you are apprehensive (I don't blame you) turn the reamer 1/2 turn, remove reamer, blow out barrel and reamer with air;
7. Re-Perform until Go Gauge just fits, on a closed bolt;
8. Take your new case, and see if it chambers - I like to feel a LITTLE resistance when I close the bolt.

[jwc007]

Absolutely Gorgeous!!!    Very Fine Craftsmanship! 

[hamibc]

Thank you very much. Always nice to have your work appreciated.

[Artist]

You're somewhat akin to the great Japanese swordsmiths. Unless you pass on the wisdom and beauty of your craft to the younger generation, gunsmithing of your caliber could be lost forever, and that would truly be a sad day.