Milsurp After Hours

I just won this in an on line auction, puts a Francotte back a bit but looks in excellent condition. We shall see

Good for you, Duncan. I take it nobody outbid you from last weekend's chat and your last bid from several days ago was enough?

Not quite, the seller said he thought it was worth more than I bid and I agreed so he accepted my bid but only for the rifle and not the 2 bayonets Bayonets I can get anytime but that looks like a very clean rifle.........

All's well that ends well. Congrats.

Very nice rifle Duncan, I have one I acquired from my Dad about 20 years ago, ( he bought it in the late 60's) along with 30 rounds of ammo. He shot it when he 1st got it , but since it has been relegated to wall hanger status by both him and I. The ammo is quite pricey when found, and recently G&A ran an article on how to reload for these. I will see if I can find the article and post a link to it.

Thank's Walt.
My new M-H is a Mk: IV which appears to be a Pattern A First Class Reserve Rifle. I will learn more when it arrives and I can check the stampings.

I have all the reloading kit, Dies, Mould and Magtech 24G Brass reformed to .577 / 450 by Martyn Robinson at X-Ring Services in Spokane Valley WA.

I have now had a chance to strip down and photograph the new Mk: IV and the pictures speak for themselves.

I could perhaps make repairs to the woodwork but these would not be historic! The cracks in the forend wood need to be addressed and I was thinking that wood glue inserted by a syringe and then bound with some tape to slightly compress the cracks until the glue is dry would improve things plus wood dowel glued into the two pin holes, stained and then the holes re-drilled for the pins.



















Photographs of the stampings will follow in a short while...............

FIRST PART STRIP DOWN SHOWING STAMPINGS AND BARREL RIFLING.

Well, at last I have found some time to work on the repairs that this old girl needs!



I have removed the old wood patch and found that it was rather poorly fitted with putty underneath so have taken it back to sound wood with my Dremmel.
I am going to make an Oak piece to replace it. I have opened the crack up and drizzled glue inside then clamped it. I will give it 48 hours before taking the clamp off.

Crack now glued and the damaged area cleaned up . I am going to undercut the rear 'wings' and then introduce a new piece with a rear dovetail very slowly, trimming the front till it just fits (I hope!)