New Custom SVT-40 Upper Handguard! :D

[Travis Bickle]

My SVT-40 I received by mail a few years back came with a pretty f**ked up tip on the wooden upper handguard. It was not replaced during refurb. The wood was damaged so badly that there was insufficient pressure on the band to keep the whole assembly together during regular firing.
My brother is a skilled woodworker and I challenged him to fabricate me a replacement at my expense for labour and material.
He shocked me with this today

The one in the center is the original

He made them out Birch to be as true to original as possible and stained them to match the rifles age.
The Red Soviet Star embedded into it was an awesome touch!
He even put the brass reinforcement rods in.
We agreed on the circle cooling holes prior to him starting for ease of fabrication.
I'll get some pics with them on the rifle when I get a chance

 

[machman]

Wow...that's a labour of love.

 

[haretrigger]

Is the wood stained or is it shellac?

 

[Travis Bickle]

Is the wood stained or is it shellac?

Stained.
I actually re-finished the stock on this SVT-40. The shellacfinish was literally destroyed.

 

[Until the Angels Fall]

Bad-####ing ass!!!

 

[skirsons]

Too bad he couldn't get the cooling slots right. Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect. Now instead of being restored the rifle is "sportered" or "customized".

 

[Until the Angels Fall]

Too bad he couldn't get the cooling slots right. Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect. Now instead of being restored the rifle is "sportered" or "customized".

Really...REALLY...?!?! Get over yourself. Holes instead of slots, yupp its a total sporterized POS for sure!!!

People like you make me wanna hack up a K98 and take a black can of Kylon to it...

 

[Until the Angels Fall]

Too bad he couldn't get the cooling slots right. Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect. Now instead of being restored the rifle is "sportered" or "customized".

Really...REALLY...?!?! Get over yourself. Holes instead of slots, yupp its a total sporterized POS for sure!!!

People like you make me wanna hack up a K98 and take a black can of Kylon to it...

 

[cainesy]

I think that is very impressive work, did you buy your bro a cold one for his hard work. I bet it will look and function ok once its in place. The real test will be its baptism under fire, hope it turns out well. Cheers.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Too bad he couldn't get the cooling slots right. Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect. Now instead of being restored the rifle is "sportered" or "customized".

It was NOT an easy project. He is a very skilled wood worker as you can see.
He makes custom cabinets and furniture for professionals in Montreal out of wood thats worth more than my education. He said this was one of the more challenging projects he ever worked on.
He said he could have done the slots to spec, but I wanted to try something different and have a piece that was 100% unique.

 

[Travis Bickle]

I think that is very impressive work, did you buy your bro a cold one for his hard work. I bet it will look and function ok once its in place. The real test will be its baptism under fire, hope it turns out well. Cheers.

lol No I'm paying him for materials and standard price/work hour that he would charge anyone else. I insisted
I'm trying to talk him into branching out and advertising for custom gun/rifle stock work.

 

[dakotamar]

looks like a good job. you will have to keep pushing him to do some gun stocks on the side. I am sure there are a lot of milsurps that could use some new stocks.

 

[CanadianAR]

Too bad he couldn't get the cooling slots right. Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect. Now instead of being restored the rifle is "sportered" or "customized".

Its not spec, but he has the original he could put back on to be Correct. He wants one that doesnt come off when shooting. So customized.....maybe but at least it works now. So for a functional replacement I think his bro did great quality work.

you make me wanna hack up a K98 and take a black can of Kylon to it...

Don't do anything rash. lol

 

[Chumlee Bumsnag]

Making a handguard is a relatively easy project but that would have really made the project perfect.

Is that so! Care to whip one up in your spare time and post some pics? I admit that I would like to see the original slots as well, but I don't have the gall to disrespect fine workmanship like this.

 

[svt1940]

lol No I'm paying him for materials and standard price/work hour that he would charge anyone else. I insisted
I'm trying to talk him into branching out and advertising for custom gun/rifle stock work.

Your bro did a great job! Hope that pics i sent to you where hepful a bit
Jocelyn

 

[Travis Bickle]

Your bro did a great job! Hope that pics i sent to you where hepful a bit
Jocelyn

They most certainly were
Thanks again.
I'll post some pics when I get a spare second with it on the rifle.

 

[kjohn]

Very nice indeed!

 

[sergey96]

Nice !!!

 

[skirsons]

Is that so! Care to whip one up in your spare time and post some pics? I admit that I would like to see the original slots as well, but I don't have the gall to disrespect fine workmanship like this.

I have lots of pictures of full stocks I've made and also handguards on my website. Think before you open your mouth.

 

[Chumlee Bumsnag]

My apologies for doubting your woodworking skills. Your work is very impressive as is Travis's new handguard.