Restoring a sporterized P13... My turn to play

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Originally Posted by Salt Flat

Tatou, Intriguing work you are doing. What process was used to make the rear sight parts? My guess is they are a 3D printed sintered part-- ?? Thanks

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I agree and i wish i could have been there to see the whole process happening.
It's not 3D printed.
It's a Pattern 1914 sight modified and re-scribed to look like the early Pattern 1913 sight.
The later sights were very close in appearance so that made it possible.
I posted pictures of some of the work in post #56, just above.
Both the P14 and M1917 sights were too long.
The leaf was shortened and laser or micro welded in place and the welds filed down.
The peep holes also received welds and remade to look like the P13s
The inscriptions and slide texture were filed off and a new graduation was laser engraved.

You can see in the picture above, a P14 sight (in black) and the ''new'' P13 sight... it's a tiny bit shorter.
That was needed as to not interfere while loading with chargers.

I can't wait to see the range report!

I wouldn't hold my breath too long if i was you :surrender:

Still a ton of wood work to do and for now that's on hold.
Add covid into the mix and a trip to the range with this one is still far away.
I must confess that this does not botter me much as i am more into the collecting aspect than into shooting.
Don't get me wrong, i love a good range session but to me it comes second to the historical aspect.

The fabricator test fired it after installing the new barrel and said she runs great.
So that's great to know.
She's in 303 so I expect to get similar results as any good Pattern 1914
I had him erase the old P14 serial number on the barrel but i asked that any other proof marks, etc. to be left there.
Original P13 barrels were not blued except for the last front part but since it will be covered by the stock, i had him do the whole length.
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Well i couldn't help myself and went ahead and played in walnut dust a bit... will see how it goes.

Had a feeling when i first made the splice that i might have went too fast since the barrel was going to be change.... i hate being right.
I never said it was going to be easy... so anyway, after checking things i saw the barrel was rubbing on the right side of the channel so i went ahead and started to remove some wood.
Obviously the more i removed wood the more the barrel started to straighten ... and the more concerned i got.
I'm now at the point where i wont probably have enough wood on the left side for final shaping....

So the solution will be to remove the splice..again... without causing any damages and to re cut the matting surface at a very small angle to try to pull the splice to the left a bit.
A bit of a step back but i think it should work.

Oh and i did fit the rear handguard. It needed to be relieve on the inside, it was rubbing on the top of the new barrel. It's now sitting down perfectly.
Final outside shaping will have to wait until the forend is fixed.

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Too bad to hear that you have some extra work, but sure you can fix this! Will you maintain the .303 barrel or have plans to get a barrel in the original caliber being made?

It should be a straight forward fix. I've changed the splice already when i first started this stock so 3rd times a charm, they say ?

Yes i will be keeping the 303 barrel on. This is the replacement, i kept the one that was on there.
It was a quick and cheap fix to the barrel issue.
I'm not closing the door at ever having one made but it wont be for the close future... but you never know.

Btw, i haven't heard anything about the sight yet Promo... i'll get back to you when i do.

Well after what can easily be guesstimated at an easy 50 years +, the old girl is now dressed again.
Far from being over, there's still a ton of filling, sanding and tweaking to do but complete (sorta)...

The nosecap has been 90% fitted, so are the handguards.
This was necessary to be able to center and redo the splice for the forend... which will be the next step.
ALOT of ''meant'' remains but that will be an easy task, later on..
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Very nice. Looks very promising.

Thanks Jim.
It's a work in progress.

Still lot of meat on the bones but slowly getting there.
More pics
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The remaining work is clear but this too shall pass. Soon you'll show us an as new '13.