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View Full Version : 1879 D Grade Lifter


Austin Smith
04-29-2023, 11:20 PM
Been a work in progress for a while but worth the wait and time. The barrels were done by Breck Gorman and hammer screws from Dean Weber. I nitre blued the trigger guard and lifter button and action screw. The stock was in poor shape when I bought it but decided to keep the original stock, take the perch belly out, put a better finish on and fit a horn plate to it instead of having a skeleton buttplate fitted. Fitting a skeleton buttplate proved to be a difficult task to find someone willing to take on that work and doing so would likely reduce the LOP too much anyway. The other option would have been a total restock and since I like the figure in the original stock and the LOP is at about 14” with the horn buttplate, I decided against the restock rout. I recut the checkering as there were a few places on the ball grip that was absent of checkering as well as the forend. I hope the horn plate isn’t too naughty to everyone more privy to restoration than myself, versus the rubber buttpad someone installed long ago. Thanks for looking!

Before:

Austin Smith
04-29-2023, 11:27 PM
After:

Garry L Gordon
04-30-2023, 03:05 AM
It’s a wonderful re-birth for the old gun.

charlie cleveland
04-30-2023, 02:48 PM
just wow......charlie

Austin Smith
05-01-2023, 12:13 AM
Thank you Garry and Charlie!

Mills Morrison
05-01-2023, 10:42 AM
Great before and after pictures!

Austin Smith
05-02-2023, 12:35 AM
I appreciate it, Mills!

Daryl Corona
05-02-2023, 10:15 AM
Very nicely done. Looks to have shootable dimensions.

Brian Dudley
05-02-2023, 11:15 AM
Overall nicely done. And most importantly, not over done. It still looks like an old gun. I see a few things with the checkering that could have been better attended to. But that is all.

Austin Smith
05-02-2023, 11:33 PM
Very nicely done. Looks to have shootable dimensions.

I appreciate that, Daryl! The dimensions seem to fit me pretty well other than the LOP being slightly short, but still not too noticeable for me. The dimensions are 13 7/8 x 1 6/8 x 2 3/8.

Austin Smith
05-02-2023, 11:34 PM
Overall nicely done. And most importantly, not over done. It still looks like an old gun. I see a few things with the checkering that could have been better attended to. But that is all.

I really appreciate the kind words, Brian.

allen newell
06-19-2023, 03:39 PM
Austin, what did you use for your finish on the stock. Looks terrific.

Austin Smith
06-19-2023, 11:22 PM
Austin, what did you use for your finish on the stock. Looks terrific.

Hey Allen, I really appreciate that! I used Alkanet Root and craft grade Linseed Oil for some color and Timberluxe for the finish.

Travis Sims
06-26-2023, 12:14 PM
Very nice sir.

Austin Smith
07-01-2023, 10:47 AM
Very nice sir.

Thank you, Travis!

bruce a lyons
07-02-2023, 12:56 PM
Well Done!

Austin Smith
07-04-2023, 11:38 PM
Well Done!

Thank you, Bruce!