The wait begins

[John Truitt]

I recently sent off my latest project gun:
#2 frame d grade top lever hammer gun to have its barrels sleeved to 34" in 12 gauge. She started life as a two barrel set, both 28" both 10 bores. I dont know where the second set of barrels are. Sure wish I did.

I have been told there is a good chance she will be back to me in time for the Southern. I sure hope so. It is so hard being patient.

[Russ Jackson]

John ,Good luck with your project ,at the speed time is traveling these days ,it will be back in no time ! Remember ," Good Things Come To Those Who Wait ", Russ

[Bill Murphy]

John, who is doing the sleeving? I have a similar project in mind. Email me if you don't want to post the information here. wilmrph@verizon.net Bill Murphy

[John Truitt]

Mr. Murphy,

Briley is doing the work for me. They have sleeved other guns for me in the past and I have been extremely pleased with their work to date. As far as I know they are the only ones around with 34" tubes readily available.

I am not having them blue this set of barrels. They have instructions to return them to me in the white.

Steve Powers is my contact guy there.

[Keith Lembo]

If the original barrels are 28", and the new tubes 34", the rib would be 6" short when re-laid. How is this handled? Does Briley fabricate a new rib section to extend the old? Does it match well? I know sleeving to a longer barrel length is done, but I've never quite understood how the rib issue is handled. Seems it wouldn't be too hard with a smooth rib as found on some British game guns, but matching to a Parker rib doesn't sound like an easy task.

[Bill Murphy]

John, does Briley ship them off the Kirk Merrington or do they do the sleeving in their own shop? Would you consider bringing one of your Briley sleeved guns to the Southern for us to look at? Thanks.

[Dean Romig]

John, is your D from Alaska?

[John Truitt]

Mr. Lembo,

You are correct the rib is an issue. You can take an existing rib and splice it from others, have a new one made (like you said smooth ribs are easy), or get lucky and have one from another set of barrels that will work.

Mr. Murphy,

Hopefully this gun will be at the Southern and will be laying the Smith hammer shooters to waste. You are always welcome to examine it. If it is not ready I will try my best to remember to bring one of the others.

Yes the gun is from Alaska. It seems everyone has figured that out.

[John Truitt]

Mr. Romig,

Yes the gun is from Alaska. You and several others have been able to figure that one out.

The existing barrels are way unsafe. They mike out at 18 thousandths, still pitted, etc.

[John Truitt]

Mr. Murphy,

I dont know how to answer your question definitely. Briley insists that they have an in house man who trained under Kirk and he is doing all of their sleeving in house. However, I have heard from several people that I trust that they are sending them out to Kirk who is contracted by Briley.
Never the less, they have had awesome turnover times for me and their work has been great. I have been pleased so far and hope these barrels turn out as good as the last set and pattern just as good.

[John Liles]

Hopefully this gun will be at the Southern and will be laying the Smith hammer shooters to waste.

Why, that's enough to cause a Smitty to go out and borrow a hammer-gun! Sounds a little like how Mrs.Coakley did......about a month ago!:)

[John Truitt]

Hey good buddy its all in good fun, you know that. Hope to see you guys soon,
John

[John Liles]

No worries Mate! Are we planning another informal Challenge event prior to this years Southern? Had occasion to speak with Mr. Conrad on Saturday and the subject came up. Now, shouldn't you be studying!
JL

[John Truitt]

We should definitely do that again.
I am going into withdrawls at this point. I am so tired of studying and Jenny is tired to books and articles being scattered all over the house. We are both ready for it to be over with. Just a few more weeks.
We will talk once it is all over with in Feb.
John