My Francotte Martini from Nepal is 95% done! All that remains is to give the wood another sanding and stain with minwax until it matches. No more cut-n-try!
What a struggle! When I got it, I thought it would be a few easy fixes, but boy was I ever too idealistic! The metal was pretty much okay - like yak fat ( really!) has to be one of the best metal presertives ever - but the more I looked the stock & fore arm over, the more rotten, soft wood I found. So I cut & drilled out old wood - then cut & fit replacement pieces which were glued in place with 2 part epoxy. ( 60 minute epoxy is the best - the quick stuff is junk!)
As received, it lacked the original brass butt plate. During both world wars, the Nepali armories were looted of brass for Hiz Majesty's needs. By chance, I had an old Win model 97 steel butt plate that was a close fit. I drilled out the old screw holes, glued in dowel fillers and cut flat. I had a chunk missing at the heel & that was a real pain. Had to cut off a bigger piece so I could glue and contour fresh walnut. But it worked out.
Then it was saw saw saw - file file file - grind grind grind... it fits like a champ!
Now the butt stock fits tightly to the receiver with no wobble - the fore arm also no longer wobbles. Had to drill through a barrel lug and make a hardened pin for that. All that was due to the rotten wood under the barrel. Rust flat ruins wood!
The lever retaining cup under the butt stock now retains the lever. I had to remove that - soak in oil and free up the spring so the heel of the lever will pop in & out like it's supposed to when you eject a cartridge & load another.
"First rank... FIRE! Second rank... FIRE! etc & so forth!
Is it pretty? Heck no. Is it functional and ready to be fired? Yep! Is it for sale? Maybe.
Thus endeth my last yak fat special. Well, I have that Pattern 1841 musket... with a shattered stock that was held together with yak fat glue. Might be a while on that one.
Now I can order that flint grinder pistol stuff with a happy heart.
SW
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