Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Work in progress. Shane Thompson Mini Mauser project taking shape

That is a mighty impressive project you have! Wow!

cant wait to se the finished results, this guy seems to really know what he is doing.

Oh yes, James Anderson and Shane Thompson are both at the thier game.

Terry

yer killin me


I have a CZ 452 that has a gorgeous stock on it...but...oh crap..
hope I can get caught up enough, and ahead enough to have something along the lines of a stalking sqirrel rifle done, quarter shorties, 3 leaf- but something modernish? i can see with my eyes wedding band on the barrel, case colored skel grip cap and butt plate, case the swivels before sweating the barrel band on (tough job) light engraving, hood front, like a beech combo, but again, more modern, and ditch that God awful floor metal etc...sigh, so many ideas and so little money and time, LOL

Terry,

After seeing that CAD rendering, well let's just say it got me sweating a bit. As if it wasn't bad enough watching this thing slowly progress, you had to go n post that pic. God this rifle is gonna be beautiful. And I'd bet it'll shoot too. I've got a Mexican 1910 in the safe, which is a lot different, but I've got very similar plans for it. I really like the lines of your rifle.

I assume James makes those scope rings? I really like how stream-lined they are.

David

Shane Thompson did the rings and most of the barreled action. He used a set of those old Warne QD rings and went to work on them. Shane has an eye for detail that's remarkable. The only problem is Shane has a full time carrier and a very young family that's got bigger since this job was commissioned. He's a world class gunsmith with absolutely no time to do anything extra.

James Anderson will be doing the 3-postion safety, bolt handle, the stock and anything he see's that will make this an over all better rifle. He reworked the trigger last week and he never even spoke to me about it. He just saw it needed attention and did it. I have complete trust in James and know he will do what it takes to make this a first class rifle worthy of the cover of any magazine. The cool thing about dealing with James is he has a CNC and CAD. You can discuss something and he can show you what it's going to look like. Too cool. As you can see from what he's done so far, I'm in good hands.

BTW, James isn't backed up the next three years like most of the guild gunsmiths are. If you've got a rifle that needs built he would be an excellent choice.

Terry

I'm calling 'dibs' on this if something happens.....

Like you change your mind and take up hockey or cars or....

Now Terry, I've been telling everybody that James is 3 years behind. I need him available for my projects. If he would get done with your old doggie mini maybe he could get on my stock.
Your Buddy
Butch

I think you should case color all the metal now. (grin) My meaning is that you've got a mighty "swanky" project going there, can't wait to see the finished product.

From the CAD


To the 3D version


A few small details and it'll on it's way to me. It's inletted for a factory barreled action at the moment. Mainly because I have one just like it. I can put my factory barreled action in this "try" stock and fingure print it for a few day's while the other barreled action doesn't have to make the trip across the country. Then if anything needs changed James can do that before nice blank goes under the knife.

This is going to be a VERY nice Mini Mauser!

Terry

Just a few pics of the pattern coming together. This is what keeps me hooked






Terry

this is such a cool thread. some day, maybe i will be able to make one like it.

Terry, wow what a classy slab there. Love the lines of that stock.

I have two questions I just have to ask:

In picture #2, why is he using a end-mill in a drill chuck??

In picture #5, why is he using what appears to be a burr or rotary file and not an end-mill for that operation??

I was at Shane's today, one of the boys was crying, one was taking a nap, one was shooting hoops (in the house) & one was getting in the way of him working on 2 of my handguns! All 4 boys cling to him like lizards & he just keeps working away, I'd be a wild man, instead I'm just his dad keeping him away from more important projects. He just scowls when I show up with a pistol rug in my hands..... but in 3 weeks we will be gunning for bears again, that always puts a smile on his mug!

Dick

Anchorage99,
Are you talking about this page[14]? I can't see either of what you are talking about.
Butch

Shane said he knew the mill police would come after him for using the drill chuck in a milling operation . He say's it's absalutely fine for non critical metal removal and is much faster.

On #5 I honestly don't know the answer but I will say it's hard to argue with the results.

Terry

Anchorage99,

I understand it's not good milling practice however this wasn't meant as a how to of machine shop practice. I can't say I'll never do it again, but I can say I'll never post pictures of it again . I'm amazed at how this has been more interesting to some than the actual project. As for the carbide burr, I use them a lot when dressing down welds. I have a lot of them and they are cheaper than good endmills. It's pretty hard on endmills when dressing down welds, the hardspots where weld material meets original metal can beat them up pretty bad.

Shane Thompson

I'll second that on the endmills and welds.
Butch