1897 Project No. 1

[ssgross]

Got my bluing finished over the weekend. Wood had been in progress these last few weeks too, so it all came together...mostly. In my parts bin I noticed I was short the magazine plug screw. The company I bought the Norinco plugs from sent me the wrong screws (they were still in the bag) and I didn't catch back when I was scrounging. Oh well. not a show stopper. I also need a new felt spacer behind the large screw that locks the forend onto the slide tube so it times correctly as well as sits tight.

I had to fiddle with the trigger screw as the hammer wasn't falling unless I was pressing up on the carrier. It's perfect now. Carrier locks very tight behind the bolt. Everything cycles with ease. Wood came together nice. Can't even my splinter repair on the wrist (5th pic, right lower side). I may go back in and push the shoulder on the butt back a touch to make sure it doest split somewhere else what with 100 yrs of shrinkage. Next stop then is to get it outdoors and pull the trigger with a string from a safe distance on a few hot-load factory shells. I'm confident all is well, but have thought twice about putting my face next to something after I filed grooves in the barrel. No harm in a safety check. Im in no hurry.