Nearly there on this Outrider.

I decided to race the Sun - 6:15 PM and Sun setting.

As you note; the cocking Slot is missing, thus; the hammer stud too. The brass name place is missing. The Stock Mount Stud is not in. Etc. After you feel that the gun is finished, there are still a nearly endless list of this and that before it is simply DONE.

May be midnight before its done. But, I know everybody wants to see it. There has been truckloads of work done on the other 5. I've chosen which portions seem wise to show. What I have time to show. Chosen which procedures would benefit me to do in batches. So; I know this rifle has seemed to take forever. Take however long you feel it's been, and multiply that by 10X for me. However; when this is done (like the hundreds of others completed) it will "Stay Done".

Hope you enjoy seeing this fine rifle. This one is for Gary L. He has already sent his case here for shipping.

Thank you, sincerely; for reading.

Gary

BTW, the balance on this design is perfect.

If you palm the rifle right in front of the guard, it's perfect. That's where your hand falls to carry the gun - as when walking. It lays in your hand perfectly. Feels solid, not heavy. (I don't know).

Really a fine design. I'm very pleased with it. And, you realize this entire program was developed here at BPS. even though the shops are far, far from being finished. I developed the 50 caliber Barnes Barrel - along with its Projectiles. Designed the Outrider. Made all specific tooling. Prototyped the design. Have now made the first rifle from the total package of tooling.

A serious effort.

Gary

Simply gorgeous. Thanks for posting. I'm pretty sure that the owner of this beauty is already proud.Please keep up with the good work.

Rifle looks great! I hope Gary L. Can sleep nights as he waits for his rifle!

You have been working some incredible hours on these rifles. From previous posts sounds like you are doing fairly well with your physical health. Hope the aches and pains are minimal.

Thanks for sharing!

Pedro

Hi Pedro,

I had a large bank of bloodwork recently. Also had a rework of meds. A few days ago, I got the results. They were good. And, the Doc commented that I'm actually in good health. So; I'm grateful. It's much better to feel like crap in good health, then to feel like crap and be seriously ill.

Thanks for caring.

Gary

Gary,

Don't you feel so much better when a Doctor tells you what great shape you are in?

Larry

Looking great Gary. I think I can feel the anticipation force growing stronger!

Hah!

Yeah .... I've sort of .... sensed .... that Force too! Lots of Anticipation going around. Haha.

How ya been? Shooting any new art Pcs. recently? I was thinking of maybe a Mona Lisa in 32 Cal. .....



Gary

Hmmm,

Always thought you milled out the cocking slots, but then again, the stock is already shaped and finished. Clamping it rigidly in a steel vice at this point is probably contraindicated.

Just noticed this Sean.

Often do mill them. This stock moved ahead. Got rounded early. Besides - I want very precise placement of the stock slot.

And, you might think this is ineffecient. What you see here took me five minutes and is 85% complete. Ill finish it with air tools. I know that nobody believes me, but the stock is 5-10% of the work on a rifle. Doesn't mean the stock only takes a few min. But tries to show what I've never been able to break thru with. The Steel is the Art Form. It's Truely 95% of the value. The part that requires the experience. Bummer huh. Haha.

Of course, you have to know how to make the right chisel, and sharpen it way beyond razor sharp. And, if you slip, you could ruin the stock. Of course - same with the milling machine. Same all along the road with the steel parts. Same as I ruined that breech slide stop the other day. "Click". Nothing on earth would get it out of there. Done. You get numb to the risk of ruining parts. You just work. Wow ... Whattaguy! Hahaha.

Gary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2015 05:47AM by barnespneumatic.

Didnt want you to think I left it that way.



Gary

I suspected the finished product might have been somewhat more...refined...than that first pic. And I'd never underestimate what a chisel and a file can do in the right hands.

All those fancy shotguns and double rifles that you see selling for five or six figures have wood stocks fitted by hand, the old fashioned way. If a gunsmith from the 1840's walked into a time machine and came out in the modern Holland & Holland or Purdey shop, they could undoubtedly put him right to work fitting actions today. That part hasn't changed at all, it's skilled hand work with chisels and files.

There's also an entire category of replica "Khyber Pass guns" that were (and probably still are) entirely hand-made by gunsmith in that region, from Enfield copies to AKs, many virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Made from hunks of railroad track, scrap car parts, etc. in dirt-floored cottage shops, typicall with nothing but basic hand tools. Some are just as good as the originals, others might blow up in your face if you use regular full-pressure ammunition, the ultimate "buyer beware".

Didn't shoot any masterpieces today but did try some .250 ball from ballistic products. Can't claim good results. I'll have to site in with some Hornady ball and try again.

Hi Jerry,

If your 25 has power adjust ... try turning it way down. Can help. You can overdrive ball from our pellet barrels - which tend to be of faster pitch then a strict "Ball" Barrel would be.

Glad you are shooting.

I can give you the name of a great "Casting Service" if you want to try slugs. heheheh.



Gary

Hi Gary,

You should be proud of me; first thing I did after the first couple bad shots, was turn the power down to where I thought it was for the woods walk. More to do... Slugs you say?

Man oh man Gary , you make it look so easy .
Thank for sharing

Hi Kurt,

Just got my box of Engraved Brass Name Tags too!

Yay.



Gary