I started this gun from a blank over a year ago, 42" 7/8" rice barrel, deluxe siler lock. Made the trigger plate and trigger, nose cap, side plate. It is my first from a blank, made a few from precarved stocks, I must say I learned quite a bit from starting from a blank. I made some mistakes along the way but all in all I am satisfied with the way it turned out. Let me know what you guys would have done different, don't worry, you are not gonna upset me. thanks, chuck-ia