[nextjoe]

My .416 Rigby is about 98% finished... It just needs the new custom trigger fitted and the sights cut.

Here's the latest picture. Bolt handle and action are slow rust blued, extractor is nitre blued, and bolt, follower, and extractor have been jewelled in a "worm track" pattern.

http://members.aol.com/nextjoe/nitre_wormtrk2a.jpg

http://members.aol.com/nextjoe/nitre_wormtrk1.jpg

I'm getting excited! :D

Best,
Joe

[DeBee]

Joe-

Some additional details on your project would be appreciated:

Is that a CZ? Are you doing the work??? Barrel maker? Taper? How did you work out the iron sight and scope mount combination relationship??? Are those serrations on the bottom of the action factory??? Providing traction for recoil absorption???

How are Worm Tracks applied- pretty interesting- a damn sight better than jeweling... Much like an old G&H...

Tell me, did you have a stock fitted to you for such a vigorous rifle or are you going with the factory stock??? Perhaps you are lucky and can get away with using a factory stock on a high energy rifle...

You wouldn't happen to know what formula was used for the rust blue would you??? ( I have an original 1925 Winchester 52 rusting in my shop right now... Mark Lee #3 Formula)

I'm sure it's gonna be nice. I am looking for a Mauser to build a .404 on...

[nextjoe]

DeBee-

That is a CZ 550. I kept the factory barrel, since it shoots into one ragged hole :D

Jack Belk is doing all the work, including fitting a laminated English-style stock from Jim Brockman. It's made for iron sights but should work alright with a scope, too. The scope is a Leupold 2.5x Compact in Talley lever QD rings. The serrations on the bottom of the action are factory, and like you said, they're apparently for bedding traction. This particular gun is throughly steelglassed, so it should hold up fine.

I'll give you a link to a post where Jack describes his "worm track" technique: click here (http://www.serveroptions.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=006260). Nitre bluing it after the worm tracks was my idea, but he's really happy with it, and so am I.

The stock was shaped from a semi-inlet to fit me, including some cast off. The factory stock was actually pleasant to shoot, but it was UGLY.

The rust blue is an interesting story. That gun was STUBBORN! It took 14 coats of Angiers C-13 Swiss Armory rust blue, and then another two coats of Laurel Forge after that. It came out really nice, but Jack sure earned his money on that job...

Good luck with your Mauser project. I'm looking for an '09 Peruvian for a .275 Rigby project right now. :cool:

Best,
Joe