Joe I understand your sentiments completely, I've been a machinist since 1965, I was lucky enough to be a Machine shop Instructor for nine of those years, giving back to those students was the best part of my working life.

I was in the pole barn this afternoon digging through my walnut blanks stash box and may have some nicely grained wood to send to CPA to be machined to fit the 044 1/2, still want a 24 or 26" #1 full octagon barrel in Maynard 22 XL on the action, but the rest is now open to other possibilities after looking at those wonderful rifles.
Thanks again Joe, Mike



Originally Posted By: J.D.Steele
Originally Posted By: MJT
I have a Stevens 044 1/2 action that I paid WAY TOOOO much for, I have decided on the caliber for it to be 22 Maynard/5.75 Velo Dog and was looking to turn it into a light weight Squirrel/carry rifle. After seeing your rifle Brent and going though Steve's rifles in Black and White again, may have rethink the plain Jane hunting rifle route...

Mike, it takes just exactly as much work to do a highly-figured stock as to do a plain one, and any extra effort expended upon the metalwork will be WELL repaid by your future enjoyment! More inspiration, perhaps:


In addition, FirstShirt has a very nice Stevens 44 custom small game rifle that looks simply SUPER, maybe he'll chime in here...

BTW thanks for the good words! Like others here, my primary purpose is to pay forward some of the many favors done for me in the past by other smiths before me who were generous enough to share their hard-won knowledge. That, IMO, is one mark of a master craftsman, since a true craftsman knows that the secret of 'best' work is in the mind of the workman and not just in his knowledge.
Regards, Joe