L42 Style Build

[tbonesmith]

Hi Guys,

I got some good quality Sutton taps and managed that part of it finally. I then got the pads soldered on and the scope alignment is not perfect but a few clicks and I'll be on the mark.

I got the metal parts bead blasted today and put the first application of rust bluing solution. This is time consuming, but the bead blasting and prep are the longest leg. And I should knock the bluing over in the next couple of days in a couple of 1.5 hour sessions. I use 3 applications and get a finish that I'm very happy with.

So I will make sure that the wood is ready to fit on Friday, and I should have a rifle to shoot on Saturday. We'll see

[CINDERS]

That's a real credit to your skill and patience tbonesmith to be putting this all together a hearty congrats to you hope you get to the range on Saturday

[xa-coupe]

I was going to say the same as Cinders. This is a quality build. I'll be very interested to see how it shoots.

[Gil Boyd]

Yes very well done, and must make you feel that you have really achieved something.
I would be interested, and love to see a video of its end game if you have the time on completion
Not sure of the progress through our UK firearms departments on change of round size and barrel etc unless you were a manufacturer here of course.
Do you have just as tight regs there?

[tbonesmith]

Cheers guys,

Firearms laws are pretty restrictive here and to do a build such as this one needs a Firearms Dealers Licence, which is the same as that for a gunsmith or manufacturer, which I have got. All barrel changes are reportable too, and there is a requirement for marking work. No proof laws though, but I only build 7.62 rifles on (No4)bodies that have a 7.62 proof stamp from previous conversion, while not a law it is a requirement for use on NRA ranges.

I would love to do a little video on completion, I hanvn't done one before, but why not.

[bigduke6]

Not sure of the progress through our UKicon firearms departments on change of round size and barrel etc unless you were a manufacturer here of course.
Do you have just as tight regs there?

Very similar here Gil, but the catch 22 is: Rifle No AL2222 comes to me as a .303, its on the national register as that and on my books as that, I re barrel rifle No AL2222 so it it is now a .22 RF noted on my books, I need to proof it before I could sell it, but could transfer to another dealer with no proof, after this the other dealer may proof it then sell it, he then sends in the paper work that Rifle AL2222 .22 RF has been sold to..... etc etc, only problem now there is 2 x AL2222 one in .303 and another in .22 RF on the national register..... but only one AL2222 !!.


Just an example but I know of a few examples that may have been on a dealers books for some time or have been from dealer to dealer that are not on the national register, ( obvious never been sold on to a FAC holder when the the register came in)

And before I forget, nice work tbone

[tbonesmith]

Hi Guys,

I completed the bluing this morning and I am very happy with the result. The job is nice and even, dark and satin. Everything is a bit oily for the next 24 hours, but it will more or less look freshly refinished, because it is! I didn't bother with any polishing or anything, as I think they look just fine bead blasted and any burrs neatly filed back.

So she should be ready to assemble tomorrow.

Cheers

[CINDERS]

Outstanding workmanship TBone it will look really good I reckon when it all comes together just in case you like reds!

[Peter Laidler]

I agree with you about bluing over a sand/bead blasted finish. Looks workmanlike. Do you have phosphating facilities Tom

[tbonesmith]

Not yet Peter, the reason I use the bluing method I use is that I can do it in my limited space and it is versatile enough to be used on everything, more or less. The labour is a killer though.