BSA model 15 project... Success!!

[mikeystew]

Done! Hand rubbed oil finish, fresh cut checkering, slow rust blued, new crown and loading height adjusted. What a difference, this rifle hasn't looked this good in 80 years! I'll take better pics later, but here's what I've got for now.
Before,

After,

Unfortunately there were a couple ugly spots under the forestock where the sling swivel was moved around at some point. It was to fragile and shallow under the barrel recess to risk fixing, so I'm looking for a new blank.

I'm very happy with the slow rust blue! I'll never touch another cold blue product again! This blue method is the bees knees and actually quite easy though requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. And is it ever tough! It holds up to a wire wheel, can't say that about a cold blue!

 

[lpel]

Very, very nice job. Please tell me more........

what is this slow rust process and how do you do it?

What did you use on your stock? It turned out great.

 

[yodave]

Slow cold blue, follow the link.
You have to be retired to do it though takes more time then you would think

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-give-your-gun-slow-rust-blue-gun-metal-look-390778/

Awesome job, hows it shoot now?

 

[Wham-O]

Looks Great!!!

 

[mikeystew]

Slow rust blue is a process of rusting the metal with acid and then boiling the parts in rainwater to turn the rust black, it's then carded with steel wool and the whole process is repeated in my case 7 times until the depth of color I wanted was achieved. It was then slathered in Used motor oil and baked at 300 deg for one hour to seal the rust finish. Google will turn up more details on the process.

The stock was hand rubbed with tung oil, 4 sanded filler coats and 5 finishing coats. Also google gas lots of info on how that is done properly!

 

[mikeystew]

Slow cold blue, follow the link.
You have to be retired to do it though takes more time then you would think

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-give-your-gun-slow-rust-blue-gun-metal-look-390778/

Awesome job, hows it shoot now?

I shot a 96, a 99, and a 100 at yesterdays match. So like a hot damn!

 

[yodave]

I shot a 96, a 99, and a 100 at yesterdays match. So like a hot damn!

what was the match format?

 

[kbks]

Amazing job!
I was reading about the rust bluing process a while ago and found it interesting. Although I'm not quite retired yet and actually a very impatient person, the process certainly seems to yield great results!
This looks better-than-factory!

 

[mikeystew]

what was the match format?

Open sight 50m benchrest. Two 10 shot slow fire that I scored the 96&99, and two combined 5 shot rapid fire groups which was the 100 score.

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

F#cking Nomnomnom.......beautiful!

 

[yodave]

Open sight 50m benchrest. Two 10 shot slow fire that I scored the 96&99, and two combined 5 shot rapid fire groups which was the 100 score.

Your like me, shoot better when you take less time to think about it, unless of course they give you a bigger target for rapid fire
looks better then most of the BSA's I see around here, If I had a piee of walnut here big enough for your front stock it would have been thown on the wharf in the out going tide and on the way to you by now, checked the wood pile and its all full stock blanks right now. I am going to grab a slab for a new project burning at me, pm me some measurements and I'll keep me eyes out for a jewel, unless you have something lined up.

I tung oiled two stocks last winter, I don't have the patients for that nevermind the cold blueing, Might have to work on that in the future.

 

[mikeystew]

Your like me, shoot better when you take less time to think about it, unless of course they give you a bigger target for rapid fire
looks better then most of the BSA's I see around here, If I had a piee of walnut here big enough for your front stock it would have been thown on the wharf in the out going tide and on the way to you by now, checked the wood pile and its all full stock blanks right now. I am going to grab a slab for a new project burning at me, pm me some measurements and I'll keep me eyes out for a jewel, unless you have something lined up.

I tung oiled two stocks last winter, I don't have the patients for that nevermind the cold blueing, Might have to work on that in the future.

Sending PM shortly...
And yeah i shoot much better impulsively for some reason, one breath out is best. Usually by the time im a few breaths into the hold my eyes won't focus as clear or i'll pull the shot early or something stupid.

I think i might keep this one

 

[yodave]

want to rough out the forestock on a duplicator

 

[mikeystew]

Im probably going to yeah. I have acces to a suitable router for the barrel channel and dremel for the jig, but will have to make the actual duplicator jig out of a little craftiness and tinkering, unless you have one you are offering .

At least to rough it out... i'll use a lathed barrel duplicate wrapped in sandpaper to finish off the channel and likely epoxy bed it for perfect fit. It's going to be one mean lookin' shootin iron!

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

Ahhhh crap, now I want one too

 

[zywina]

Mike you got me thinking about Rust bluing my Lee Speed 357mag singleshot I made this past summer, and redoing my BSA model 12, but making a new stock like Ruger Alexender Henry style! Great workmanship, wish there were guys doing rust blue at the same price as a good high polish hot tank bluing!Also good shooting! Dale Z!

 

[jjohnwm]

Congratulations on a fine job. That is a beautiful gun.

What do you mean by "loading height adjusted"?

 

[mmattockx]

Beautiful rifle. OP, do you have any overall pics to show off?

Mark

 

[jcbruno]

very nice

 

[CSIGuy67]

I have an old, old Remmington TargetMaster single shot that needs this treatment. It's a beautiful old gun, the steel looks just like your before photos, that rusty blue look, almost brown. Still shoots regularly and shoots well, just would like to make her look nice and new again is all...

I need to research this process and wait 12 years till I can retire!!