Finally finished after 30 years

[tshrcav8r]

I bought this kit in the mid 70's, it just took me this long to finish. I have built a couple of rifles in the mid 70's, a H&A Minuteman and CVA Mountain rifle. This is my first real kit. It is a Green Moutain Forge Astorian. It has a walnut stock, Haddaway lock and TC triggers. I don't know who supplied the barrel for the kit, it is unmarked. If you have any ideas who the supplier might be, I would love know.

The stock has been stained with Jim Klein's reddish brown stain and finished with LMF's Permalyn. The metal was browned using RE Davis' browning solution.

Any comments suggestions and comments would be appreciated.

 

[mazo kid]

Nice job! I haven't seen a Doc Haddaway lock in many moons. Sorry, can't help with the barrel maker. Emery

 

[Rogue River]

That is sweet, I'm envious! :thumbsup:

 

[agill]

Very nice! :thumbsup:

 

[Photog]

That is a beauty! Great Job

 

[50cal.cliff]

Real nice! :thumbsup:

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Better late than never! Good job. :thumbsup:

 

[tdamico]

Very nice! I love the color of the stock.

 

[BillinOregon]

TS: Very nice work! That rifle just reeks of quality and history. What a good fit for the "shining times." Can't wait to hear how she shoots. What caliber and twist?

 

[tshrcav8r]

50 cal, I think it's 1 in 66, 9 lands and 9 grooves...Tim

 

[mazo kid]

And here I thought I was the only long time procrastinator! About 1980 I bought a Trade Gun pistol kit from Curly Gostomsky to go with my left hand Curly 20 ga trade gun. My wife at the time said "why are you getting that, you'll never finish it". We later divorced and have both remarried. A couple of years ago I was poking around in the basement and came across the box. I said "by gosh I'm gonna just show her" and finished up the kit, 24 years later! But....I did it!

 

[Mulebrain]

Welcome to the forum, and that looks like real fine craftsmanship :thumbsup:

30 yrs! Maybe I should pass on building a kit! :grin:

 

[Goldhunter]

Very well done! :hatsoff:

 

[tshrcav8r]

Thanks for all your kind remarks. This one is prep for a Chamber's Mark Silver Virginia rifle that is going to be next. This one was to try and get grip on the basics of wood and metal finish. The list of things that I did wrong was a lot longer than the list of things that I did right, but I got alot of experience. Drilling and tapping the holes to attach the underrib, filing the flats on the thimber and underrib and sweating them together. I hope to have the next one done sometime next year...need to work on carving.

Thanks again, Tim