Restoring a sporterized P13... My turn to play

[tatou]

Truly amazing work. You should be incredibly proud!

Thank you
So far all i have is shots of all the individual work... it's gonna be weird (in a good way) to see everything together.

Please remember, when reproducting the rear sight for the P.13 rifle, please do two of them. I'd be in need for one of those and I'm happy to of course pay for it

I haven't forgotten about you Promo .... we are entering the stage of the reproduction of the sight at this time. I'll let you know how it goes.

[tatou]

Well Santa came early for me... last friday to be exact.
The P13 is back from the restorer/metal fabricator shop.
To say that i'm pleased would be an understatement.

I had not posted updates in a while...well simply because i had nothing to post lol
He was so busy that he wasn't sending pics in the updates. It's ok i had complete confidence in him.

Other than rebuilding the ''ears'', the rear sight was probably the more challenging part to replicate.
(i think i'll have to repost all my other pics )

[Agambard1990]

Wow that's looks amazing. You must be quite pleased!

[browningautorifle]

(I think I'll have to repost all my other pics )

Absolutely, yes.

[Promo]

Thanks for the update. Looks great so far. Which tasks are left for the full restoration now?

@Badger: any chance to rescue the previously uploaded files by the OP? It seems they are somehow gone, the attachement links lead nowhere.

[tatou]

Thank you guys. Yes i am proud so far of the work that has been done.
Like i've said many times, i don't plan on fooling anyone that this is a restoration and not has valuable as an all original... but to me it is valuable in the sense of hostory.
Not many were made and they all deserve to be preserve.

Promo do not worry as i still have all my pictures and plan on re uploade them soon... i just have been very busy and not at 100% of health.
Thankfully nothing major... just this damn skin condition, urticaria. Somedays my hands hitch like hell.
The metal work is done, all i have left to do now that i have it back is to finish shaping the stock and handguards.
Unfortunately with this thing i got, playing in walnut dust might not be the best idea at the moment.

Here's a top view side by side pic of the reproduction sight, for you promo.
The one on the left is the original.

[Promo]

That sight looks excellent. Only thing I had noticed was the original one has rounded edges on top, and the 19 is lacking the second setting line. The spring held lever is also a bit of a different radius, but amazing excellent done. Did he mill that from a full part and laser engraved it, or was it 3D printed?

[tatou]

That sight looks excellent. Only thing I had noticed was the original one has rounded edges on top, and the 19 is lacking the second setting line. The spring held lever is also a bit of a different radius, but amazing excellent done. Did he mill that from a full part and laser engraved it, or was it 3D printed?

Yes those are small differences that i had noticed too and are more obvious with a side by side comparaison.
The top rounded edges could be very easily fixed with a small file.
I'm assuming the extra line next to the 19 is a small oversight by the engraver but it doesn't look out of place and i can live with that.
As for the leaver, it was way simpler to convert an existing P14 or M1917 sight than build one from scratch... so some leeway was more than acceptable.
That leaver is tiny and i hate to think of the work it would take to make an exact replica.
Trust me, the time adds up very fast on this kind of work.

If one was to make a second one, this could serve to point out those small differences. The 2nd try is often better than the 1st in this kind of work.
The next pics are some of the work that was done.

The leaf was shortened, the peep holes filled in and re made to get the proper look.
The old inscriptions removed and new one laser engraved.
The slide also had the texture smoothed.

[tatou]

Here's a couple more side by side shots of the front sight band and the front volley sight.
Left is the originals (like we can't tell)... right reproduction.
Again the easiest way was to use a Pattern 1914 Sight band and dial plate, the pointer is SMLE like on originals.



I just noticed the marking on my pointer is BSA... the original was probably EFD on all Pattern 1913.
And yeah the finish on the pivot screw is different but that's an easy fix.
Somethings i never noticed before. Oh well... i hope i can sleep tonight

[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