But now "two" Rolling Block projects are active in my workshop. I thought I'd post some pictures of how it goes for both of them as they progress from where they started to what they end up to be. I just hope they finish as well as I'm anticipating.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
The first is the No. 4 22 LR Rolling Block boy's rifle (click for link) that I had posted about recently. That one will get the butt and receiver case-colored, the wood restored (but not refinished), the action parts brightened/reblued, and I'll also attempt to do a "DIY" reline of the shot-out bore. I found that I can buy the 22 liner and rent the chamber reamer and a piloted drill for the liner all for about $120 (which is lots less than sending it all out). I'll do that work at my brother-in-law's machine shop, as he's interested in this project too.
The second is known as "The Beast", a 12.4 pound No. 1 45-70 Schuetzen Rolling Block (click for link) that I acquired last summer. The bore on that one is fine and the action is very tight and has passed all my gunsmith's tests. I'll clean up a few spots on the nicely figured wood stocks, replace the awful hex screws on the action, replace the tang sight (as it's cheap and has a lot of slop) and then will case-color the Swiss butt, a plate that I added to the forearm for a palm rest and the trigger guard & receiver.
I was told by the shop to prep all the metal parts for case-color by using a 300-grit purple 3M pad and all that work is now done. I will admit that I found a 300-grit Dremel brush to use and that sped up the prep on all the curved surfaces. I did back the 3M pad with a wood block on all the flats, but I can easily tell a prior owner of the old No. 1 hadn't done that when they cleaned it up many years ago.
Here's what those parts look like now; they're all set to be carefully wrapped and packed up to be sent out for color:
Not sure when I'll post the next update, as spring and the boating & fishing (and turkey) seasons are almost upon us, but these 2 projects should give me plenty to do whenever I do get down into the cellar.
Tight groups.
Old No7