Putting together a Heavy framed 12g. Waterfowler.

[B. Dudley]

This all started with just a grade 3 top action hammer gun action in a 3 frame size.

IMG_2930.jpg

IMG_2928.jpg

IMG_2929.jpg

The project is to build a heavy framed 12g. gun by monoblocking a 10g. barrel. Kirk Merrington will be doing the Sleeving work for this project. The barrels will be 30" 12g. chamered in 3" and choked for shooting modern steel shot.

I prepped everything for Merrington to start the work. This involved taking apart a set of 10g. barrels that I was able to locate and fit up the monoblock to the frame. The donor barrels actually closed up pretty nice and tight on the frame, but it was still a little off face. I removed the original roll joint in the frame and swapped in a brand new one from the parts bin. This was a roll from a hammerless gun that was left over NOS Parker parts inventory. The new joint gave me the additional material to be able to do the work needed to the barrel hook and breech face to get a good tight on face fit. It was also a lot easier with the rib extention off the monoblock.

IMG_3109.jpg

For those who may not know, the Parker rib extention is not only soldered on but also screwed on. The screw is hidden by being dressed down with the rib and then matted over or engraved over. This was the point of the flower engraved on unmatted ribs. In order to remove the rib extensions the screw head has to be drilled out and then the solder melted to get it free.

The original rib extension from the monoblock was baddly pitted and beat up. So I used another one that fit the frame well. I put a new stepped hole in the rib extention that was a little larger than the original one and I re-drilled and tapped out the hole in the monoblock. And made up a new screw for holding the rib extention on.

IMG_3103.jpg

IMG_3104.jpg

IMG_3105.jpg

IMG_3107.jpg

IMG_3108.jpg

IMG_3111.jpg

One issue with this monoblock was that the check hook tip was broken off! This is the first time I had seen this on a top action hammer gun. So, I had to build that area up with weld and shape a new check hook.

IMG_3112.jpg

IMG_3114.jpg

Then I roughly polished out the monoblock to remove pitting and to fit it up to the barrels to the frame on the outside.

IMG_3110.jpg

And... off to Merrington's shop.