1897 Project No. 1

[browningautorifle]

I swallowed it Jim

It's the easy way and the taste will soon fade.

been looking at one of those cheap bench top things from China

Don't go too cheap, you'll always regret it. Buy one you can do anything on and the through bore will accommodate your regular gun barrels. Too small and it presents difficulties.

I noticed a dip a few inches ahead of the chamber.

Is it possible there was a bulge and someone had it rolled out?

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[ssgross]

Is it possible there was a bulge and someone had it rolled out?

Possible, but I don't think so. the inward push was no where near uniform all around - was more pronounced on two sides like more of a squeeze. In fact, shining a light through with my swage in place showed it was slightly squashed with daylight on either side, and the bow in the barrel did not coincide either parallel or perpendicular to this area. I think bubba tried to refinish this one. The bolt had clearly been re-blued (over top of the hammer/punch marks on the face), same with the carrier and the receiver too. I think he clamped it too tight in a metal barrel vise, busted the extension (which had the correct serial on it) and bent the barrel getting it on or off (or otherwise), and set the whole project aside to rust into the condition I found it in. Given the level of bubba's sophistication elsewhere, I don't think rolling out a bulge would be in his wheel house.

Don't go too cheap, you'll always regret it. Buy one you can do anything on and the through bore will accommodate your regular gun barrels. Too small and it presents difficulties.

I've had my eye on what I want for a long time. But that will have to wait until I have a proper shop on the other side of city limits. Every day it seems I talk myself in and out of getting something just to tinker on.

[browningautorifle]

I think he clamped it too tight in a metal barrel vise, busted the extension (which had the correct serial on it) and bent the barrel getting it on or off

Sounds like maybe...