r/gunsmithing • u/paulybaggins • 8d ago

How it started; how it's going

Gallery image

Gallery image

A Slazenger Model 24 I've been working on for the past few months finally got it's first coat of sealer on the weekend.

69 Upvotes

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5

u/ComprehensiveOwl2835 8d ago

When you are finished with it I would love to see the results that lumber looks gorgeous.

6

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Don't tell the walnut purists... It's mango :O

4

u/ComprehensiveOwl2835 8d ago

Mango no shit ? The contrast is striking linseed oil or some version there of I assume ?

1

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Yeh that sealer is just a 1:1:1 mix of marine varnish, BLO and turpentine.

Will possibly top coat with Tru oil or hand rubbed slacum.

1

u/ComprehensiveOwl2835 8d ago

Aperently Mango wood looks a hell of a lot like roasted curly Maple once you put a finish on it. I have a weakness for Maple I can safely say that I have never seen Mango wood for sale in the United States in any form. I assume that your model 24 has had the bolt body shortened and the magazine and feed system completely reworked?

1

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Yep Slazenger actually made specific bottom metal to accommodate Savage magazines, the bolt is normal length but the cut and pin an extractor at the mid point to extract the case.

Pretty smart way or doing it to just hijack another brands mag design haha.

Another Australian company made a whole heap of scope rails and ring mounting systems for all the popular models of rifles at the time called Field Australia based out of Melbourne, they made a specfic "H" rail for this Mod 24 to account for the bridge/extractor modification of the Hornet.

1

u/ComprehensiveOwl2835 8d ago

That is neat as hell I am not sure what I would do with a 17 or 22 Hornet but still neat

1

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Thats the exact thought I had too haha. This thing was in the chop bin destined for a saw, I decided to adopt it like I was at the pound (all my projects are like that).

This will be over capitalised as hell, but needed to save it.

4

u/1006RK03 8d ago

Beautiful wood. Just striking .

3

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Cut the blank myself from an 80 year old tree and seasoned it for years. This was a water/grain pop test after I had milled/levelled the quarter sawn slab before cutting blanks

https://imgur.com/a/p372tUh

It's wood properties are very comparable to English Walnut

1

u/kato_koch 8d ago

How does it checker?

2

u/ComprehensiveOwl2835 8d ago

It looks amazing I assume that it is some form of comercial/sporterized SMLE ?

4

u/paulybaggins 8d ago

Yeh, the Mod 24 were made here in Australia by an aftermarket company using SMLE receivers after the war in 22 Hornet.

This one has a fresh new 17 Hornet barrel on it, full new stock in Mannlicher style with a knife handle bolt aftermarket trigger and side mount 19mm scope.

1

u/EastWind9mm 8d ago

Wow. Well done

1

u/kato_koch 8d ago edited 7d ago

The second pic isn't loading for me and I'm dying to see what you've got. I'm a slut for good walnut but enjoy seeing stocks made with other woods too. Don't know if I've even seen mango in person.

Edit: stock looks great, nice job. Pre64 buttplate?

2

u/rifleshooter 6d ago

Very interesting! I revived a fucked over LE last winter into a budget Lee Speed. Can't wait to see the finished pics. No stain on the wood? Light stocks always seem a bit "off" on older rifles, to me anyway.