Author Topic: "remodeled" 45-70 Handi (Read 1483 times)

Buckwheat Jack · « **on:** August 07, 2009, 06:03:03 PM »

Just today got to the "finished for now"stage of redoing my 45-70. It has been fun. Swapped stocks with an old H&R 12-ga. Shaved off the pistol grip. Cut off trigger guard and installed KY style one from DGW. Inlet a large drawer pull into stock. Stripped stock and forearm and refinished with light oak stained poly, one coat only. Still some things to do: replace screws with some that are more attractive; get a ramp adjustable semi buckhorn rear sight.

maglvr44 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:43:12 AM »

Nice western flair! cool looking gun!
The beauty of these Handis is there isn't much you could do to ruin the value of one, seeing they have basically no value to begin with, makes them the perfect guns to customize!
I like the brass accents, really screams "OLD WEST"!!!
Happy shooting!!

zoner · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2009, 01:46:07 AM »

very cool my friend.....wonderin how it would look with the schnabel fore end....good job

shaner · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2009, 01:48:08 AM »

Quote from: Buckwheat Jack on August 07, 2009, 06:03:03 PM

Just today got to the "finished for now"stage of redoing my 45-70. It has been fun. Swapped stocks with an old H&R 12-ga. Shaved off the pistol grip. Cut off trigger guard and installed KY style one from DGW. Inlet a large drawer pull into stock. Stripped stock and forearm and refinished with light oak stained poly, one coat only. Still some things to do: replace screws with some that are more attractive; get a ramp adjustable semi buckhorn rear sight.

very unique i like it ,

Buckwheat Jack · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2009, 02:26:32 AM »

I was thinking of a brass nose cap and a crescent butt plate, but haven't decided if it would be worth the work. The star is not brass. I just ground off the paint and treated it with mayo overnight to give it an antique look. I have about decided the hard rubber butt plate with the H&R logo is good enough. Now if I can find a sight that will not cost more than the rifle, and that will mount into existing screw holes, I'll be happy.

zoner · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:32:45 AM »

maybe a Williams WGRS peep....it fits the scope base holes

Chas. · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:39:37 AM »

Jack, that looks great. I got one of the triggerguards that you mentioned, but I must have gotten the wrong one. It looks like I'm going to have to bend mine to get it to fit, and bending brass cast is tricky. But yours looks very handsome. Congrats, good work.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:46:58 AM »

Nice, good work Jack!!

Chas, heat it and be gentle, I've reworked cast brass that way.

Tim

Spanky · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2009, 05:09:07 AM »

Great looking rifle

Spanky

Buckwheat Jack · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2009, 08:02:43 AM »

Thanks for thee nice words. I did bend the trigger guard, but itwas soft enough to take a slight bend without heating it.

Chas. · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:43:27 PM »

Thanks for the info on bending cast brass. I thought it would probably be like cast iron - unbendable. I'll try it tonight.

Spanky · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2009, 02:42:11 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on August 08, 2009, 04:46:58 AM

Chas, heat it and be gentle, I've reworked cast brass that way.
Tim

How hot does the brass need to be to bend it. It seems like it would be easy to overheat it because it's soft.

Spanky

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:20:55 PM »

Just hot enough!!

The last one I worked on was the Moyers spacer, I used the kitchen stove burner, set it on the burner and after the burner was about as hot as it gets, I reshaped the spacer, it was fairly easy to bend, but wasn't anywhere near melting, dull cherry in color. A propane torch is plenty hot enough.

Tim

Chas. · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:51:08 PM »

I've since read a little about it on the net. The technique that I thought was interesting is the guy who heats it with a propane torch in his garage with the light off. He said when it just begins to glow cherry in the dark, he dunks it in a bucket of water.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2009, 07:39:00 PM »

Mighty handsome rifle ya got there. Very nice. DP

bart74 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:58:04 AM »

very nice looking rifle

BIGDAVE54 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:31:48 PM »

Very nice rifle!! You did a great job. Bet there are a few Texas Rangers looking at that pic ,rubbing their hands ,wanting to shoot it.

Buckwheat Jack · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2009, 11:37:59 AM »

Thanks for the nice words.
I cleverly didn't take any real close up pix. There are numerous defects you can't see in this one. Some of them I intend to work on as time goes on. better screws and maybe a really smooth polishing of the trigger guard.