Building a Classic Sporting rifle

[gaff]

sent them to Evenguy he can post them in he wishes.

 

[Evanguy]

sent them to Evenguy he can post them in he wishes.

Thanks for the pics. Wowie that is one fine rifle you have there Sir!!

I'll post some of the pics to show the parts I'm mimicking. Mag, tang safety, rear sight, barrel rib. And of course 1 or 2 of the rifle. He send a load of awesome pics.

 

[Neilm]

There are both a Lee speed and a Ross porter in 280 on an auction site . crendeavots has them.

Nice gun

Always wanted a nice Lee speed and Ross sporter pair. All things in time. I was eyeing up that gun at great north but I’m trying to be good and stick to my “plan” for the gun safe

Love the classics but some perfectionist part of me wants the “factory bore” of modern rifles. That’s why this build appeals to me so much maybe?

Would love to see more info on the tang safety

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Just found this thread. VERY nice work. Looking forward to the finished product.

 

[DGY]

Yeah a Ross in 280 Ross would be sweet!!

 

[Rob]

Where are the pictures?...I had to go back 5 pages to find any.

 

[Evanguy]

Where are the pictures?...I had to go back 5 pages to find any.

Do you mean of Gaff's rifle or the one this thread is about.

Ill post the pics of Gaff's soon and the rifle this thread is about is 6000kms away getting the wood finished up. So I can't post pics of that until it's back.

 

[mctrigger]

What finish are you putting on? A proper red oil would be amazing, but it seems to hide some finer character.

 

[Evanguy]

I'm not sure what finish will be on it. That's a good question. I do want it to look very shiny and polished with a good look of depth to it.

I'm not going to stain the wood so it will be a lot lighter then this pic. But this pic shows the surface finish I want

 

[DGY]

That looks fantastic! I like oil finish that achieved that level of sheen/glossiness, I also like somewhat darker wood my self!
Man, like many other here, can’t wait to see the finished rifle!!

 

[Decker9]

I haven’t looked back at all, maybe you already mentioned Evan, are you doing the finishing yourself?

If you’re interested at all, I have some spare Alkenet root here if you’d like to play with any finishes. Also have a couple brews of my own I’d be happy to strain some from and send your way if you’re interested.

I’m eager to see how your rifle turns out here!!

 

[Evanguy]

I haven’t looked back at all, maybe you already mentioned Evan, are you doing the finishing yourself?

If you’re interested at all, I have some spare Alkenet root here if you’d like to play with any finishes. Also have a couple brews of my own I’d be happy to strain some from and send your way if you’re interested.

I’m eager to see how your rifle turns out here!!

Thanks for the offer but Wayne is going to do the finish work. At this point in the build I'd hate to some how mess up the finish on it. I'm not sure what he will be using but he did say he doesn't like to use stain on nice contrast wood like this rifle has so I have a feeling it will be fairly light in color, probably a little darker/reder then it shows in the last few pics of it.

 

[Ardent]

You’re going to love this thing. Been playing with the one I picked up, wasn’t aware how intuitive the Lee Speed style safety was until I used it, it’s brilliant. Tang’s prettier, for sure however.

Things I love,

-Build quality is right up there with Oberndorfs.
-Sights are fantastic.
-That safety. Flicks on and off brilliantly with the thumb.
-Mag is a lot more tactile and sharp clicking in and out than wartime LE’s I’ve had.
-Points extraordinarily well.
-Action’s shielded to debris.

Things I’m not thrilled on,

-#### on closing. I still prefer the Mauser system, but I can say this was the equal of the Mauser sporting rifles in quality, and superior in volume of fire.

-303, I never became an adherent.

 

[Evanguy]

That warms my heart hahaha.

Yeah Im with you on the #### on open thing. I prefer it too. But the #### on close was purposely developed for a reason and it the way to do the " mad minute" you need an easy lift to do it and the way you hold the bolt it's easier to put the force on it while it closes, and then your middle finger fires the trigger as the bolt closes

 

[Ardent]

I’m looking forward to your handling assessment, I prefer higher, straighter combs modern style like your stock lines. Also respect you’re not following the pack on Mausers in a nice custom, will be a generational heirloom type gun.

 

[Evanguy]

thanks, I've built a few Mausers but non to anything near this level of class or cost, really though I have wanted a real nice lee speed (similar to yours) for so long I finally just decided to build one as I can pay for it over time and not all at once. im excited to handle it after i get it back, I hope it points and feels just like I think it will.



ok so to update this thread, i am slacking at this right now, i still need to get the initial plate/stock oval finished. i have the silver and have it marked out i just need to shape it on my belt sander, im not sure why didn't do that yet.


but in the meantime I bought my self a benchtop milling machine, (I know I could have bought a used Bridgeport for the same price, but living on this island and not having a car on the mainland (its on the sunshine coast) it would be hard for me to get over and inspect any mill I was going to buy, then also id have to get a currier company to pick it up and ship it to a marina then also to get it here I need to setup a barge and get it barged over if I cant lift it on my boat, a barge is $1800 so i went this brand new mill that i could get delivered to the marina on the same day there is a barge already leaving from there)

also when I move back to Nova Scotia I have to think of getting this back off the island and shipped across the country

anyway its not ideal but it works.


I'm excited to have a lathe setup and also my mill here now, I have been missing having machines to do work on,


so with that I used it to mill the rib off a barrel and then contour it for my lee speed barrel. pics below

 

[Ardent]

You’ve already got the nicest Lee Speed in the country. And it’s going to get even better. If you ever find yourself in need of a big mill or lathe, always welcome across the straits at my shop Evan.

 

[gaff]

looking good, were you able to contact the fellow about the sight?

 

[Evanguy]

Ardent, thanks man that's awesome.

And Gaff, yes I did. It's on the way to me right now. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Ardent]

Your rib is gonna be a beauty, I’d have saved the barrel for a rebore (had Bob Jury rebore the same Mauser barrel for me) but I respect the craft and plan. Next tool I need is a TIG.