The .22 I wanted didn't exist, so I made it

Ardent

Ardent

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Northern BC, Coastal BC, or Africa. Depends on the
For quite some time I've wanted a small, light, single shot .22, garnished with beautiful walnut. I had a few prerequisites; it had to weigh about 3lbs, the action had to be #### on opening, it needed fine peep sights, and it had to have a 16" barrel as I see little use for anything longer on a field .22. Well, my gun didn't really exist outside of a custom, so a custom it became, but of my doing. And in the end this avenue cost me only about $300 total.

Started with a gun that fit my specs perfect, AND it's made in Canada. :cool: The Stevens Cub youth trainer. 16" barrel, smooth #### on opening single shot action, and fine peep sights right from the factory. Perfect except for the wood, which even if passable sports an 11" LOP. So I tooled around, found some nice walnut, and ordered a Stevens Cub. Two weeks of cutting and sanding, hand inletting, and finishing later I almost have the completed product. I still need to make the stacked leather butt I have planned, and will likely up the stock's finish another notch before I call it a day, but she's together. I'll probably also glass bed it come to think of it... but this stuff will take time.

So, here she is as she stands today, about 3lbs, free floated barrel, super fine walnut, and a inletting job so tight on the action it needed to be tapped in with a rubber mallet.

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Have to admit. I kind of wondered why you would have a WTB post for the "Stevens Cub youth trainer". Makes sense now.

Nice project. The stock looks great. :D
 
Nice job. Has anybody else seen all of those Swedish .22's up on Trade-Ex? I wonder if those actions would fit the bill for a project like this as well?
 
Nice Job Ardent!! Now you have me wodering if I should embark on a similar project. I bought a 581 Remington that has been beautifully miniaturized by a fellow gunnut, but has the original wood (cut down of course) which is Birch, or possibly Maple. It is nice, but plain. I bought it for my son, who is now 6, and he's anxious to get out shooting with dad. But a new classy piece of lumber would really be nice. Hmmmm, I have a Bird's eye maple blank.... could work, and would be very pretty. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Thanks guys, and no sorry skeetgunner I never took any work in progress photos... kind of kicked myself for it. The wood didn't look like much to start with, a very dry light straw colour but it hinted there was some figure underneath, so I bought it. All the initial sanding and contouring was done on a belt and disc sander, then by hand, starting at 120 grit and actually going all the way up to 1500 grit for the final buff. The inletting was done principally with some tools I made, such as emery cloth superglued to wooden dowel of various diameters. Used a Dremel as well, for jobs like the trigger opening and hogging out clearance for the safety.
 
Super nice Ardent!!!
At one time, I made a stock from scratch with maple wood for a cooey bolt action tube fed. It was for my grand father. It's now with me because it had a condition: when you pass away, it belong to me; this is the only thing I want.
Now she's in my safe and everytime I look at her, I always say: "I don't believe I was so patient to do this; it took my about 120 hours of work"
I must say I did a real good job but now, with 2 kids, my patience is needed elsewhere!!

Again, NICE JOB Ardent

By the way, at that time (about 14 years ago) no chisel were used; a dremel and kitchen knifes!!!!
 
Nice looking project Ardent. Tell us the story on the wood. Where did you get it? Turned out really nice.
 
I wish I had talent like that. It's one thing to buy a beautiful gun, whole other thing to make one like that!
 
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