H barrel "complete"

[Ridolpho]

Posted about this sporterized H barrel some time ago. Just about finished putting it back in original trim but still a month or two before a range visit. Original "peddle scheme" rifle has very good condition H barrel with bright, shiny grooves and sharp rifling.

Had wanted to put it in a coachwood forend but nothing came along so bought this one cheap. I suspect it's a repro in-spite of Enfield stamp. In any case it seems to have been accurately milled as it presented no problems. I think I colour matched the forend (which was originally dark walnut stain) to the original butt and handguards fairly well. The upper handguard is a splice of the piece from the sporter and a piece I had lying around.

After much review of old threads, decided to take Son's advice and fully floated it ("I will always recommend floating a barrel to everyone except the most diehard purists", 2010). As I got well into it I could see that the alternate styles would have exceeded my talents (remember Homer Simpson's spice rack?). I also made the command decision to use the original copper blocks in the draws. Two reasons: first I have two extremely good shooting Lithgows that use them and have proven long lasting, and secondly, the necessary removal of wood for use of the blocks allowed me to easily test fit the barreled action as I proceded to reduce the forend barrel channel. Basically, it boiled down to chiseling out the channel until the barrel tip was just dropping below the opening in the nosecap and then building up the bedding point under the barrel shank with a little walnut veneer. I found the biggest challenge was finding all the spots where the body touched the forend and deflected the barrel tip from the centerline. It sure doesn't take much!

I have a Central sight setup I'm going to add to it but here she is- my first desporterization.

Ridolpho

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