A new life for....

Questions and tips about taking care of the weapons we collect and shoot.

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Aughnanure
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A new life for....

Post by Aughnanure » Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:22 am

.... a severly "Sporterized" BSA Martini Cadet and to make a useful and handy carbine

It has had the treatment and every bit of it, except the internals has suffered.

The barrel had a sporting ramp foresight electrically welded to it and the barrel had been removed and replaced using a Stilson Pipe Wrench.

The forend is missing but the butt is there and useable after the extended comb was removed.

Image
With the barrel shortened and a No I foresight block fitted.

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Showing the mods to the body, wrench marks on the barrel and vyce jaw impression on the butt stock.

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Close up of the body, the holes were to mount a scope base and will be utilized to mount an aperture sight.
The action retaining pin hole has been drilled ahd there was a bolt holding things together.

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Rere of the body shewing the off centre and downward slanting hole that was drilled to allow cleaning from the back. :lol:

Image
Off centre hole that had a leather thong tied through it (sorry the focus is off).

Image
The stock butt had had a raised comb added.
The butt is useable but will need filling and a butt plate fitted.

The bore, surprisingly is very good but the electric welding had affected accuracy.

I will make a new forend out of a bit of scrap or I might laminate one out of plywood,
Self Defence is not only a Right, it is an Obligation.

Eoin.
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DuncaninFrance
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Re: A new life for....

Post by DuncaninFrance » Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:59 pm

A great project Eoin, I look forward to your progress images. As for the arsehole who buggered it up in the first place......needs a good buggering about if you ask me :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
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Aughnanure
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Re: A new life for....

Post by Aughnanure » Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:37 pm

A few pictures of progress, the bottom will be sawn off the blank and a piece of harder timber glued on; this will close the bottom of the hole for the lump.
halves of forend blank
halves of forend blank
Cuts for barrel lump
Cuts for barrel lump
Glued and clamped.
Glued and clamped.
Forend blank
Forend blank
Left the glue out overnight, open!!
Left the glue out overnight, open!!
Rough sketch of proposed sight, utilizing two of the 'convenient' holes.
Rough sketch of proposed sight, utilizing two of the 'convenient' holes.
the huge countersink on the inner side of the lever.
the huge countersink on the inner side of the lever.
Self Defence is not only a Right, it is an Obligation.

Eoin.
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Re: A new life for....

Post by joseyclosey » Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:04 am

I will be following this thread with interest Eoin, good project.

Joe
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Re: A new life for....

Post by Niner » Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:41 am

I'm watching too. I.m interested in seeing the finished product with some wood in place.
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Re: A new life for....

Post by dhtaxi » Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:13 pm

Interesting keep it coming.
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Re: A new life for....

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:08 am

I wonder what makes people bugger up a perfectly good gun like this?

Answers on a postcard to......................................
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
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Re: A new life for....

Post by Aughnanure » Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:07 am

Progress,

Image

Newly adapted armourer's vyce, moving back jaw so that the front face of the job is always constant; adapted from a cheap wood vyce.
The black ply forms the front jaw and the mounting piece, the back jaw was used as a template for drilling.

Image

Top view, showing the wood on the back jaw and the piece of ply on which the jaw slides.

Image

The leather soft jaws, wet shaped and in place.

Image

Armourer's horse, although this one is really a pony as its smaller than the norm (which is governed by the size of the vyce).
The leather bit is, of course, the saddle.

Image

The Cadet Carbine in the vyce and the barrel resting on the horse. The forend at rere.
The horse swings and depending on the length of the saddle can accommodate most barrels, if needed other holes can be drilled in the bench top for the pivot pin.

The forend has now been bedded, rather roughly but this ain't no target rifle :lol:
Self Defence is not only a Right, it is an Obligation.

Eoin.
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Aughnanure
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Re: A new life for....

Post by Aughnanure » Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:58 am

Progress has been slow, lots of more pressing things to do around the house but some progress has been made:

Image

Forend roughly shaped and the wood plugs around the pin are the size that they are and off centre because of an embarrassing tendency of drills to wander in soft wood'

That's my excuse anyway. :bigsmile:
Self Defence is not only a Right, it is an Obligation.

Eoin.
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Re: A new life for....

Post by DuncaninFrance » Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:16 am

Interesting, thanks Eoin. I am envious of your skills :bigsmile:

I have just cleared out my shed ( a whole 750kg traitor of gash to the tip!) and added a saw table which I acquired from a friend moving back to the UK. More tools to come ( Angle Saw, Pillar Drill, various sanders, Chain Saw, Brush Gutter, Hedge trimmer, Compressor ) as the move gets nearer but a least I can swing a cat in there now..
He has also given me a MIG welder with bottles of gas, plenty of wire and a VCR Video on how to do it :shock: . That is going to be a challenge as I have never welded anything in my life!
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
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