.280 AI build part 3

[Brithunter]

Proof marks after blacking:-








It was decided to just polish the bolt handle and not re-black it however as you can see the alloy trigger guard needs stripping off and re-blacking as does the magazine floor plate still.

It was also decided that the stock although looking quite good would need replacing as it's just too thin at the forestock. It should have chequered point pattern panels like so:-


That's a .243 majestic




and that's my first Majestic Featherweight of 59 vintage which is also a .270 Winchester.

Knibbs has some new original stocks and I was supposed to be going to view and select one for this 280 AI Rifle but then the hassles hit and it has all come to a halt. I still have a tray of sized formed cases that I was about the load some test loads in when the police descended on us.

[Rapier]

Brit,
What was the cause of and the outcome of this police raid on you "criminal" types?
Ed

[Brithunter]

My nephew visits during the day as is allowed by his bail conditions. He is awaiting a trial for a non violent offence and suddenly the Police didn't like this. They also tried to claim I was :-

Manufacturing guns.

Of course this came to nothing. They have refused to renew my licences and will not discuss it and we do not have the funds to fight this in the courts. The Police drag it out and run the costs up as high as possible and if you win you have to pay your own costs as it's very rare for costs to be awarded against the Police. However if you lose the Police always get their costs awarded.

We did try to get a lawyer to take it on but he renaged on the agreement of fixed costs and it then turned out the likely costs of winning would be aroung £6000 or $10,000 US if we lost then it would be probably double or more.

There is no NRA like you have here. The organisations like the BASC will only fight a case that is a sure fire winner and in the UK there are virtually no such cases. The police make it up as they go along like taking stuff that requires no licence or permits like the books and Bow yet it seems getting the stuff back is almost impossible.

Now if they would sort out the nephews case, it's been adjourned four times already, then perhaps we can get some closure on this whole thing. He never had access to my collection but hey what does that matter.

Velkom to da state Komrade.

[Rapier]

Once in a while we need a reminder of why we are here and you guys are where you are. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights are a direct response to such abuses of commonly held ethical conduct by one's government. It goes back to the laws of England specificly.

Sorry you are going through the problem, I hate abuse of citizens by any government, yours or ours.
Ed

[buckhunter]

Our rights, sure the ones that a slowly being picked away. Wait and see what happens when Nobama gets elected again, and he will, to our gun rights. Holder and Nobama are not our friends.

[Joe Boleo]

Sorry to hear about the police state tactics. Did they take your guns? Take care...
Joe

[Rapier]

Brit,
You refrence getting your 6mm back in the Over 500 section, and so I guess we can take it that the police seized your guns and now it is up to you to prove you are not a Gun Maker? If all of your metal work is being done by a licensed gunsmith how are you a gun maker?
Ed

[Brithunter]

Good point but I did the machining on this .280AI but did it under a dealers licence as his agent. Meant a lot of trips back and forth.

The other thing is that it seems the Police don't need proof they can just make the claim then it's up to the defendant to disprove the Police. We started down that route but it quickly became clear that we don't have the money to pursue the case.

So I am hoping to strike a deal with a dealer to set up a small workshop at his place and do the work to finish off my projects there and maybe do up a couple of rifles to sell take on some cleaning of rifles etc.

Have to explore all options to fight these thugs. Am back to the specialist at the hospital next Monday afternoon to see if there is still bleeding behind my left eye. That was the side rammed into the concrete path by the back door by the four "Police Offices" when I asked to make a phone cll to get the dealer out to collect the firearms. The dictators like Stalin, Mao, Mugabe, Saddam, and Hitler would be proud on them and their actions.

[Rapier]

Brit,
Man I am sorry for your troubles. Reading this should give any American a refresher on how and why we got where we are. We are presumed innocent by our laws. It is a big, big deal.

Now we have our government violating the law and trying to use their violations to pass more laws to reduce our rights. It makes no sense except to a very twisted mind.

It sounds to me like your finish messed up due to hunidity. Here in FL we have a humidity problem and any wood finish can turn bad in several ways from moisture. England has a lot of rain and I would think a good wood finish could be difficult without a drying cabinet to hang the stock in while it is drying. To get around this, I use a mixture of mineral spirits (about 33%) and stock finish oil plus a few drops of Japan Dryer in a pill bottle and shake it well. It will dry quickly and unless it is raining it does not crinkle or turn gray.
Ed

[Brithunter]

Well the good news is that the bleeding is healing and that the consultant discharged me. Don't need to go back. Now i can go ahead and get the specs made up. Held back on them until we had a decision due to not wanted to pay out for more than one pair.

The Finish on the 6mm is Yaht varnish. As it had the glossy plastic varnish look from the factory the ised was to restore it. The varnish had been in the shed unopened for a few years I think it's gone off. The idea will be to strip the varnish "again" then smooth the grain "again" then perhaps this time I used Tru-Oil in the spray form.. This is the first time that a finish has done that to me and have re-finished several stocks over the years.

Mean while we are going softly and slowly on the workshop bit. Feeling it out.

[wrenchman]

i hope all goes well i do like to see your posts