[hellbender]

I inherited this from my grandfather (because my dad wouldn't touch it). I'm not quite sure what kind of time, energy, and especially money would be required to finish the project but I'm curious. Has any one here ever built a rifle like this? What kind of value does it hold? It's a heavy fluted barrel on a 1917 action. The stock was hand carved by my grandfather, it has been inleted for the action/ barrel. It needs a bolt, trigger, plus the metal and stock need finished.

 

[skube]

If it was my grandfather's, cost would mean nothing. It may take a couple of years but I would finish grandpa's build. Guess I'm just sentimental.
BTW that stock looks awesome.

 

[hellbender]

The stock is my favorite part. I understand finishing his project..I'm pretty sentimental too. Maybe it would entice my to shoot competitively like he did. Just not sure what I'm gettin myself into.

 

[OHaraTree]

Finish that gun. Your grandfather cant be around forever, but his memories, such as that rifle, can be.

 

[hellbender]

My problem is...where do I start

 

[huntnfish4life]

that stock is awesome. you may have to buy another gun for a bolt. could probably buy a beater and refinish the metal but your looking at doing that anyway. i have heard of a few people building decent guns off that action. id call a gunsmith and see what they say before buying anything. they might be able to hook you up.

 

[Trailcamologist]

I'd start by hitting Gunbroker and finding a complete bolt assembly for a 1917. I bought one a while back and paid around $100 for a nice complete bolt. Trigger wise I'd look into a Timney for a 1917 that will run about $50.00. I have a couple of 1917 builds, 2 that are finished and shoot very well, one that is still in the works..

After that I'd take the whole thing to a reputable gunsmith and see what they recommend. Have them check the headspace with your bolt and other such particulars. A good blue job and such should run somewhere in the neighborhood of $125-$175. Stock finishing can be done by yourself with a little reading and some time..

 

[deerhunter87]

i would agree with hunt n fish possibly touch base with a gunsmith see if he can give ya some direction and could come in handy with the parts you need yet. maybe one on here will surface for you. best of luck to ya stock looks great. have to put up finish pic when its done.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

I wish I had a stock that my Pap carved. I do have his Garand he carried in Korea. And to me that rifle is priceless. I would pay whatever was necessary to preserve and shoot his rifle. Tom.

 

[hellbender]

Bonzy it's funny you say that I was just checking gunbroker out.

I did just touch base with a local gunsmith for a repair on an old remington 58 12 gauge of "Pops". Maybe I'll see what he says when I pick that one up. Thanks for the info so far.

 

[hellbender]

Tom I have Pops '03 A3...2 of them actually. One full manlicker and another sporterized

 

[great white hunter]

Good luck with it!

 

[308Havoc]

hellebender, since you stated you are new to this. please DO NOT BUY JUST A BOLT and put it in that action. it is a very very high chance that the headspace will be different. take it to a smith to have him/her check and set the headspace or just buy a complete action. also rifle basix triggers are a little less expensive. i have heard good and bad things about it. you will have to do some searches for reviews. other than that you can redo the rifle for a few hundred if you utilized different resources...ie. websites, a smith....etc. good luck, post a pic when you are done.

 

[hellbender]

308havoc - thanks for that clarification. I knew I had to think about headspace but honestly I am not 100% sure what that means. I would like to keep the action because it has been customized for scope mounts...not sure but my grandfather may have done the metal work for that. Here is what it looks like...

As you probably know the rear used to look something like this

 

[Trailcamologist]

Headspace is basically the measurement from the bolt face to the place in the chamber that stops forward motion of the cartridge.

By all means have it checked by a 'Smith on whatever bolt you end up with..

 

[hellbender]

Ok I guess I did know. I thought there was more to it.
I plan on having the modification to the action checked out first any way.
Will they be able to give a measurement necessary for bolt length? If so could I modify a shorter/longer bolt to be functional in this action? How does that work?
Thanks