BSA Martini Schuetzen

[otterone]

Hi Folks,
 I'm a custom stock maker who has been specializing in T/C contenders. I recently bought a Stevens Walnut Hill 418  22LR ( best shooting rifle I've had) which I'm restocking as a Schuetzen. I like like the looks of the Martini action and have found a number of BSA Martini 1215's in great condition online for resonable prices. I think is would be fun to restock one of these as a Schuetzen. Any opintions?

 Cheers,
 John Cook
 aka otter
 otter Contender Stocks

[Curt Dawson]

Start with a really large piece of maple.Inlet the stock to fit.Carve to basic perch belly outline.Install intended sights.Then carefully trim stock  so that when your face rest comfortably in it the sights are dead on with the pupil of your shooting eye.It is a very long process,but the results are  a rfle that is an extension of your body.

[otterone]

Thanks for your comments Curt,
  I plan to go about the Schuetzen Stock for the Stevens Walnut Hill in exactly the manner you discribed (Stevens Model 52 style). Still deciding if I want to use some Tiger Claro or some wildly spalded Mable for the Stevens Stock. I figure it out by the time my Schuetzen buttplate and new tang sight arrive,
  I think I'll Buy a BSA Martini 12/15 next month mosttly for the fun of making and fitting a Schuetzen stock as well as for the fun of having another single shot falling block 22

 Cheers,
 otter

[marlinman93]

 Sounds like a wonderful idea, and the Martini is a great format for a schuetzen! Afterall, there were many Martini action schuetzen rifles made in Europe in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
 Is that Stevens a model 52 Schuetzen Jr? Or a 47 Schuetzen? Just sold a 47 this morning with a very similar stock.

[Curt Dawson]

Otterone,back when I was in high school my shooting coach on rare occasions allow me the privledge of shooting his pre-war lefthanded BSA martini actioned international model.It had the butt stock scooped out so that you could lay your face down into it and your eye would be directly inline with the Lyman 20x Targetspot scope.That is one rifle and one great coach I will always cherish in my heart and mind.

[otterone]

The Photo I posted was lifted from the CPA rifles websight as an example of a Stevens Model 52.
  I'm afraid that Schuetzen stock making could become an addiction for me ... I've been having a big fun the past year making custom Stocks For T/C contenders, The real fun is matching the customers ideas of what they would like to a finished piece that fits them as perfectly as possable, its very satisfying,and then theres times when the inletting goes all wrong and a chunk of nice walnut tossed in the scrap box. I have a number of interests and so far the single shot rifle folks I've met ( customers included) are the nicest, most enthusiastic and respectful bunch one would care to meet.

  Stevens Stock First, Then I think I will shop for a Martini for the next project. I'll post with photos when stocks are made.

 Cheers,
 otter

[Brithunter]

Hi Curt Dawson  ,

Otterone,back when I was in high school my shooting coach on rare occasions allow me the privledge of shooting his pre-war lefthanded BSA martini actioned international model.It had the butt stock scooped out so that you could lay your face down into it and your eye would be directly inline with the Lyman 20x Targetspot scope.That is one rifle and one great coach I will always cherish in my heart and mind.

    Sorry to inform you that if your talking about WW2 then there were no BSA Martini Internationals ever made. That model theInternational Mk1 did not come into production until 1950. The International has a different trigger design and a spring loaded extractor which the older Small framed Martinis by BSA did not have. The rifle you are refering to if it's Pre WW2 is most probably a Centurion which is the better Model 15 and was guarenteed to give a group size of 1 1/2" at 100 yards.