Joel Russo
Well-Known Member
So... a good customer of mine, turned good friend, always seems to want to throw challenges my way.. At first I think no way, then after constant badgering, I accept his challenge to prove to me and him that it can be done..
He wanted me to build him a 6x47 Lapua on his BAT action, and stock it with a shotgun blank that he acquired from Turkey... Yep, a two piece blank...
After looking at the two piece blank for about 6 months, I decided to square them up and butt joint them together. Then I cut the blank apart with the band saw, and planed both inside surfaces.
He was easily talked into using a piece of jet black Gabon Ebony, $$$, as a spine board to offer structural integrity. I glued it all back together and ended up with a very serviceable blank.
Barreled action finished complete with custom mini brake, and Melonite treatment.
I used our, Curtis Custom, DBM bottom metal and 3 round billet mag for the build.
I made him a pattern stock, and sent it out for him to do a little sanding in the grip area. He wanted to make sure it fit his hand. After I got it back, I turned the Turkish blank into a stock. We decided not to put an Ebony forend tip of grip cap on it as it may have crossed the line with too much Ebony.
I applied a hand rubbed, satin tung oil finish to it, which brought out the figure nicely.
Mission completed, happy customer..
He wanted me to build him a 6x47 Lapua on his BAT action, and stock it with a shotgun blank that he acquired from Turkey... Yep, a two piece blank...
After looking at the two piece blank for about 6 months, I decided to square them up and butt joint them together. Then I cut the blank apart with the band saw, and planed both inside surfaces.
He was easily talked into using a piece of jet black Gabon Ebony, $$$, as a spine board to offer structural integrity. I glued it all back together and ended up with a very serviceable blank.
Barreled action finished complete with custom mini brake, and Melonite treatment.
I used our, Curtis Custom, DBM bottom metal and 3 round billet mag for the build.
I made him a pattern stock, and sent it out for him to do a little sanding in the grip area. He wanted to make sure it fit his hand. After I got it back, I turned the Turkish blank into a stock. We decided not to put an Ebony forend tip of grip cap on it as it may have crossed the line with too much Ebony.
I applied a hand rubbed, satin tung oil finish to it, which brought out the figure nicely.
Mission completed, happy customer..
