Hi Jens

I decided on 9.3 x 62 after using a PH called Leon's one in SA last year. I was impressed with it and its modest recoil for the performance. Also given the age of the doner it seemed to fit well.
I think that the next I build will be in .404

All Best

Chapuisarmes.

Thank you for the kind words, however, I am afraid that every piece of work that you see apart from the small milling job on the latch is entirley hand done, even the checkering on the latch is file cut. With files, stones and grinders etc.
There are no drawings in existence as the dimensions of all the parts were made up as I went along to suit the rifle in question, the stock blank that I had, ball bearings, springs for latches, etc.

Having completed the project the following thoughts strike me.
It would be perfectly possible to make the metal work and supply it fitted and indexed to a re-barreled action with the catch detached but index pinned into the correct position. A stockmaker could then fit the woodwork to the action without too much trouble and file the edges of the mating plates to suit, because the latch is located for fitting on its front pin relative to the slot in the plates, or the whole thing could be finished and blued but the stockmaker would have to be good,. This would be effectivly a "Takedown kit" sans woodwork. The rifle could be prooved without its woodwork.
This would not be extremly expensive. In fact It would proberbly be less than assembling all the kit necesary to carry out the various tasks. As far as I know there are no restrictions in exporting sporting rifles or components to Aus. A lot of the costs here are in fitting and finishing the woodwork.
If you are interested in a costing them please feel free to PM me.

Regards