Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Work in progress. Shane Thompson Mini Mauser project taking shape

Here are a few pics of a mini Mauser Shane Thompson is building for me. Talk about making a silk purse out of a sows ear. This is the perfect example. When Shane is finished it's going to James Anderson for the stock work.

When this rifle is finished this will without a doubt be the nicest rifle in my safe. I know it seems a little strange to put so much effort into a walking varmint rifle, but my thinking was this will be the most used gun in the safe as I walk for song dogs much more than I hunt any other game. Besides I can use it on occasion during deer season too.

Shane is no doubt the most meticulous gunsmith I've ever dealt with. He ranks up there with the all time greats IMO. He's done things to the action functionally and cosmetically that I would have never even thought of. I feel very lucky to have him building this for me.

Here are the specs on the barreled action:
1. Charles Daly Mini Mauser action
2. Timney featherweight trigger
3. James Anderson custom bottom metal. Looks like Blackburn but scaled down to mini Mauser size.
4. Dakota 3 position safety.
5. Custom contoured Shilen select barrel Chambered in .223 20" long with a 1 in 9" twist.
6. Lot's of custom amenities. Custom bases, quarter rib, front sights and barrel swivel.
7. New bolt handle.

Here are a few pictures of the action being built. It;'s not finished and this is a work in progress. I thought some of you might enjoy them as it's something you don't see everyday. For a look at all the pictures I have an album set up. You're more than welcome to take a look at the entire set. They can be seen at:

http://imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii

I will be adding more as the project progresses.

Here are a few

Surface grinding the billboard off the action. This will straighten up all the surfaces.

After the srface grind is complete the left side is milled. A thumb cut is added and the side is milled to get that funky 45 degree bevel off and give it that G33/40 look. This is all cosmetic.


After affects. No more writting on the action and it looks great!

Next the tang is welded up ground off where the factory safety was. A 3-position safety will be added so this feature is no longer needed.



Next, the barrel is contoured. This is going to be a VERY petite rifle. The finished contoured barrel is sitting next a Shilen featherweight! Remember the quater rib part? It'll need the custom contour to look right.


[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0064.jpg[/img]

Now, the bottom of the action is milled level. This is one of those things that makes the man a 1%er
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0146.jpg[/img]

And finally we have the bases and rings. You can get a good idea of how scaled down this action is by looking at the rings on top. He takes care of that in the next set of pics.
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/IMG_0246.JPG[/img]
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/IMG_0248.JPG[/img]
The shaping of the bases and rings. What I can I add? It's just amazing! He didn't include many photo's of this happening. It may be a proprietary operation. "I could show you, but I'd have to kill you afterwards" . I wish I could have been there looking over his shoulder when he did these.
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0135.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0136.jpg[/img]

Notice how the rings have been recontoured. He even took some of the height off of them. He told in an email he had about 5 hours in the rings. He said the front ring is 0.030 wider and made that way on purpose. These are the old Kimber rings that tighten in opposite directions.

[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0142.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0149.jpg[/img]
[img]http://photos.imageevent.com/lucky/shanethompsonminimauserpartii/websize/100_0151.jpg[/img]

That's all I have for now. The bolt handle, safety and bolt release are next. Then the barrel and all of it's amenities. I'll post more as I get them.

Terry