Ranson Refurbishment

[Vairochana]

Gday-I got hold of an old Ranson caplock for hunting/bushbashing.
I wasn't really happy so I thought I would dress it up a bit. It isn't quite finished yet but you can see what a bit more polish will do.

 

[windwalker_au]

did you use a flame to do the stock or wood stain,looks good.
bernie :grin:

 

[captgary]

Looks very nice I like it. How did you do the stripes. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Claude Mathis]

You even refinished the floor! :grin:

Seriously, the rifle looks great. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Nice job Widow's Son :thumbsup:

 

[jeepwj992002]

Nice job! :hatsoff:

 

[BRUN]

Totaly different look.Looks great!!

 

[Goldhunter]

Very nice I like it alot. Please tell us how you did the stripes!!

And I do like the floor. :grin:

 

[reddogge]

You pulled the floor boards up and ran them perpendicular, didn't you?

Nice effect on the stock.

 

[Vairochana]

Thanks guys.
I got the idea from one of Two Bellie's posts about putting false stripes on a stock using copper wire and a torch.
I wanted something a bit different so I got a small butane torch (runs off a lighter)and after sanding bach the old rather dodgy finish applied the torch guesstimating the distances- I was going for a "tiger stripe" natural look rather than a planned pattern.
What worked well also is that the oil in the wood changed colour giving the lighter effect between the dark stripes and the remaining wood colour.
I then sanded back and applied raw linseed oil-repeated a few times and am in the process of finishing it with furniture oil, I thought about Tung Oil but decided to go this way.
The original stock was covered in an odd laquer and had some orange glue or something from where a previous owner had added a cheek pad, I think that this finish while a bit unconventional adds a lot of character.
This has gone from a gun I was pretty unenthusiastic about to one which I can't wait to shoot.

Cheers

 

[Smokey in Oz]

Looks good.
How does she shoot?
Smokey.

 

[reddogge]

The only suggestion I would make is to use some alcohol dye to darken the lighter colors a little to make the dark stripes more subtle. It can be applied over your oil finish easily. I like the overall effect though.

 

[Vairochana]

Shoots pretty well- just trying to get a good zero at the moment-at 50m.
Got some good comments at the range today also. :grin:

 

[Smokey in Oz]

Widows Son,
what's the chance of taking a close-up pic of the rear sight for me? I have the same rifle & am told my rear sight has been replaced with one off a Gervarm. This may be the case as I have no height adjustment without attacking the sight with a file. I just want to see what the original looks like.
Smokey. :hmm:

 

[shmrck1]

Great job on the stock. Very nice work.
snake-eyes :hatsoff:

 

[howdydoit]

very nice. Oh two bellys knows what hes talking about.

 

[Vairochana]

Gday Smokey-will do. just give me a day or so to get the camera back :grin:
my rear sight is adjustable with a screw with "clicks" not sure how much per click.
I would say it is the original sight, Windwalker seems to have the same on his.
I have come across one or two Ranson owners but they all seem to be here in Oz-does anyone from Outremere (overseas) own one?

 

[howdydoit]

What kind of wood did she start out with. Only asking cause might have to do the same with a cva I have.

 

[Vairochana]

Gday- I don't know what sort of wood.
it had a light stain as you can see and it was fairly soft-I did a little custom rasp work on the comb.
I think these were made in Spain or Italy (Interarms) in the early 70's-do they use beech?
As you can see I do not have a lot of hard info, sorry.
And I agree, Two Bellies does have some good tips and has made some nice things from what I have seen here.

 

[crgabel]

Widows Son?
Hmmmm, I've heard reference to that in the past . The stock wasn't made from lumber that came from Lebanon.
Based on the quality of your work, I would have to say that you are past the apprentice step, and maybe even a master. :hmm:
Craig