After re-bedding the barrel, it didn't shoot any better, so I decided to find a smith to cut an 11? target crown.

Before I took it to him, I re-parkerized the barrel and receiver, using a cut off drive shaft for a vat and two propane torches for a heat source. The result was good, but I decided I wanted to see what it looked like with black metal - so I grabbed a can of Rust-O-Leum satin black and went to work.

Then I installed Butler Creek lens covers and Uncle Mike's QD sling swivels. Next, had Ron Brown make a very nice M1907 replica sling and rubbed about 6 coats of bear grease into it.

I like the black and the sling, but those dinky swivels are going real soon - to be replaced by inletted, original M1903 milled swivels. Then I'll sand blast all the metal and parkerize it again - black - with manganese dioxide. But first, I'll take it to the range and see how it shoots with the new crown:







This rifle might be ready by deer season. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Frank