Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

marlinman93

I have one handgun I want a silencer for, simply because it's already threaded for one! But the issue is it has iron sights and the silencer needs to be built with the bore offset so it sits low enough to not block the sights. When my handgun was built in the early 1900's Maxim made them especially ...

marlinman93

But when I run a finger over the portion just over the saddle ring. The pictures tell me a different story. I think the French Gray finish is either in need of polishing, or it's been flaking off. I would try some Flitz Metal Polish before doing anything else. Rub it on with your fingertips, or a r...

marlinman93

Congratulations on two great hunts, with great old rifles!

marlinman93

I love it when some snowflake refers to someone carrying all the time as the person being afraid. If it's said to me it's usually, "What are you afraid of"? My reply is always the same, "I'm not afraid, but I would be if I wasn't armed". I follow up by telling them if they're not...

marlinman93

With the wood removed to protect it, I wouldn't bother tearing the whole action apart. I'd get a can of acetone and a coarse cloth like lightweight canvas and dip it in acetone and rub the metal surfaces. It's going to take some time and have to work fast as the acetone evaporates quickly. Might als...

marlinman93

I prefer the .38-40 over the .44-40 just because I like the .40 caliber bullets the .38-40 uses better. When I started hunting with my old 1800's rifles I took my 1889 Marlin in .38-40 for mule deer hunt and shot a big 200 lb. mule deer at about 80 yds. with it. I've never before or since seen a dee...

marlinman93

only problem with the old manuals is a lot of the powders listed are no longer available. True, but a lot of powders listed in newer manuals have also gone away. So an older manual likely still shows powders that are, even if not all of them. Heck I have loading manuals from before WWII I still use...

marlinman93

Both buttplates done fairly close now. Not attached in these two pictures, just sitting in position. I like both, but leaning towards the single prong brass buttplate a little.

marlinman93

I saw this Beauty today and thought maybe Vall could give us a History Lesson :D . https://shop.joesalter.com/Custom-Ballard-Heavy-Barrel-Target-Rifle-40-70-Sharps-Necked-Antique From what I can tell it's of course a restored Ballard. The closest I could say to determine which model is it's a #4 Pe...

marlinman93

Personally I'd recommend you dig out your 25 year old manuals and use them instead of buying new. The data is still relevant and likely as good as anything new. I've often found myself digging through ancient reloading manuals to find good quality loads, especially for cast bullet loads. The old man...

marlinman93

I have everything to reload 9mm including molds to cast bullets for 9mm too. I started out reloading them early on, then ammo got down to around $4.00 a box for bulk so I quit. When it took a sudden jump about 5 years ago and I either couldn't find it, or it was insanely priced, I dug everything out...

marlinman93

Some years back Chuck Schumer criticized Trump for not doing anything about the president of Venezuela, now he's criticizing him for doing something about him. These hypocrites can't make up their mind, or even keep it straight about what they've previously said. Anymore, I simply believe that anyt...

marlinman93

GunnyMack wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 12:44 pm I figured he posted the wrong pic...

I wondered if he posted the wrong picture, or he was tumbling bullets before he powder coated them?

marlinman93

45-70 brass are the only cases I have ever had peening issues with. My fears were unfounded, and next time I will run them for the full time as this batch wasn't as clean as I am used to. 20260105_113552.jpg I will powder coat these, sized them and lube them so I can load a mess of 32-20, coyote br...

marlinman93

Some years back Chuck Schumer criticized Trump for not doing anything about the president of Venezuela, now he's criticizing him for doing something about him. These hypocrites can't make up their mind, or even keep it straight about what they've previously said.

marlinman93

Griff wrote: ↑Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:12 pm It appears to be coming along nicely... oughta be a real beauty when done!

Thanks. I hope it looks good, and shoots excellent too!

marlinman93

Got the call from Al this morning, and he's got my parts and already starting on them! He'll anneal them today and then touch up the polishing and color case them this week.

marlinman93

Oderless mineral spirits don't have all the toxic chemicals that older regular mineral spirits had, so not nearly as nasty. If you were doing this on a regular basis they might still have some harm, but occasionally to clean your hands off, and wash your hands with soap and water soon after I doubt ...

marlinman93

Always fun to find a .22 rifle that's a good shooter, and in nice shape!

marlinman93

I shoot and clean lots of .32-20 as it's a favorite for me. But I use a wet tumbler with ceramic media and never had any issues with deformed brass.

marlinman93

I shoot and clean lots of .32-20 as it's a favorite for me. But I use a wet tumbler with ceramic media and never had any issues with deformed brass.

marlinman93

GunnyMack wrote: ↑Fri Jan 02, 2026 7:56 pm I gotcha, just a thought.
Horn is really tough stuff to work, after all it's a buffalos weapons and gotta be durable!

Yes, considering how much force they can exert against each other in a fight it's gotta be very hard.

marlinman93

Since my reloading bench does double duty as my gunsmithing bench, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up the wood chips, and dust from my forearm work for my Ballard. Still need to reorganize tools, and get all the woodworking tools off the bench and back in the cupboards!

marlinman93

Squeaking and squealing, move the part you are filing closer to the vise and or lower. Is that real buffalo horn? Yes, it's real buffalo horn. Moving is limited since I can't really clamp the forearm itself or risk cracking it if I clamp it tight enough to not wiggle. It's screwed through the mount...

marlinman93

The absolute best tool made for chopping off a lot of excess brass is the Harbor Freight Mini Chop Saw! It has a 2" cutting wheel that chops brass of fast and easy! I've been using one for a long time, and amazed how well it works. I clamp a piece of wood to the table to set length for my cut a...

marlinman93

Not sure if it's the best revolver S&W ever made, but they are the finest .22 revolver anyone ever made! I have a tough time figuring out which S&W revolver I like best as they made so many great ones back long ago! For a CF I love my .38/44 Heavy Duty in .38 Special made in 1952.

marlinman93

Got the height of the insert cut down, and then worked the horn down with a mill file. Man that horn is hard as heck! It literally squeals when I run the file across it each pass. Had to put my ear muffs on while I worked it down flush! I sanded it using a hard backer for the 320 paper as it would b...

marlinman93

Got the forearm cut out and the vee horn inlay done. Needs to cure the epoxy for 24 hrs. and then it can be cut down with a jeweler's saw, and filed/sanded smooth.

marlinman93

Rough sanded the forearm with 60 grit, then switched to 320 grit once it was close. Got it ready for finish and applied one coat to the raw channel, and one wet sanded coat to the exterior to help fill any pores. This is really tight walnut and wont need much wet sanding as no pores showing up so fa...

marlinman93

Have you ever tried a spokeshave? I just recently purchased one and tinkered with it, my first thought was this would be great for forearms! No I've never owned a spoke shave. I think it would work well, just haven't owned one. I do like the fact that a small plane keeps the surface flat since they...

marlinman93

Rough shaped forearm.

Probably be another 1/8" off all over by the time I have it ready to begin applying finish.
Parts headed to Al Springer this morning, so just hoping they make it there without any issues!

marlinman93

Spent some quality time on the bulbous forearm yesterday using my #4 Stanley block plane to put it on a diet. I grabbed a chunk of 1"x1.5" wood and after removing the forearm screw bezel I ran a wood screw into the stick of wood so I could clamp that in my vise and plane the excess wood do...

marlinman93

I was pretty disappointed as I have multiple case color projects needing done . I guess it will have to be Turnbull, Wyoming Armory, or John Carroll I think it was those particular parts he doesn't color case anymore. I just got off the phone with Al and he said he's still doing it, and my parts wi...

marlinman93

Pat C wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:52 am Pre polished parts is what I wanted to send , he wasn't interested in mine .

Sorry to hear that. Maybe it's just Ruger handguns he's decided not to do anymore?

marlinman93

It was Ruger single action frames and parts. Might want to call and see as he made it sound like he had more currently than he could do . .I was pretty disappointed. Its easier to do revolver frames and parts than rifle actions. They'll never be anouther like Donald Menk of Color Case Co. RIP Don A...

marlinman93

Got the Schoyen .40-50SS barrel fitted and the breech block also fitted. https://i.imgur.com/OXxaQFOl.jpg Change of plans on the buttstock. The stock isn't really going to be as nice as this Ballard deserves. It needed something higher grade, and after digging through my box full of old donor stocks...

marlinman93

Pat C wrote: ↑Fri Dec 26, 2025 1:10 pm I talked to Al Springer via email other day on a Ruger project I want color cased . Unfortunately he told me he was no longer accepting that work.

I'd assume he meant Ruger No. 1 work to color case. I know he's still doing color case as a friend just got his parts back from Al a couple days ago.

marlinman93

Nice bit of work Val- you know my hacksaw comment was in jest! :D Im guessing these Ballards were all hand fit and having a source for parts is a boon for you. Sure makes things easier getting these ol irons back in order. Well done! Yes, every Ballard was all hand fit, so some parts wont fit witho...

marlinman93

Way too uncomfortable to wear a handgun while sleeping. I change from one side to the other at night, and can't imagine that working. I keep my .45 under the pillow where it wont interfere with good sleep.

marlinman93

Got the Ballard all fitted now. The extractor was for a .38-55, but I happened to have one for a .40-63 that fit the extractor cut. The breech block locked up perfect until I installed the extractor and it was rubbing somewhere on the barrel and made a mark on the face of the breech block on the lef...

marlinman93

Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Wed Dec 24, 2025 8:55 am You still have your golden touch, Vall!

Thanks Bill! It is coming together as good as I could hope for.

marlinman93

That's great! Hacksawing probably put enough heat in the right place to get it to let go . You'll be shooting it in no time. Considering the amount of heat I put on it three times with my Mapp gas torch I doubt the hacksawing added any heat. It wasn't even lukewarm once I finished. I think it was s...

marlinman93

Tactical leverguns are just plain fugly.

marlinman93

Yippee!!! Really great news! I am not patient, so I put the barreled action in my padded bench vise and used a hacksaw to make a 1/8" deep relief cut in the barrel as close to the action as possible. Less than 1/16" left right next to the action. When I finished a few minutes ago I put it ...

marlinman93

Are you using dedicated octagon barrel vice insert ? If not you need to , I wouldn't ruin the barrel somebody may need a reline candidate. I'm using dedicated oak wood V blocks that came with my barrel vise, and now switched to some ironwood V blocks I built myself for tough or stubborn barrels. I ...

marlinman93

I started looking online for the 40-50ss, just to have an idea of the cartridge, saw a place that had loaded ammo available, I think it was $128/50. I also saw it can be made from 303 brass. Easy enough. Yes, it's one of the easiest obsolete cartridges I have to make ammo for Did a few things on th...

marlinman93

Val, I think your idea of putting that 40-50ss barrel is the way to go. I have to look that one up! I make .40-50SS cases by blowing out .30-40 Krag or .303 British cases to .40 caliber, then trim them to 1o 1.88" long. Very simple, and very cheap to make. It was a short range cartridge in BP ...

marlinman93

Nothing about hunting makes me happier than to see someone take their first deer! Very cool!

marlinman93

Ive often found even if bore was pitted if rifling was throughout it generally would spin bullet just fine. But often required several hours of cleaning, J.B. Bore paste lapping , and even lead or fire lapping at end. Then the bore needs to be seasoned with lead to fill pits back. The key is gettin...

marlinman93

BRC never closed, nd simply stopped making new Sharps Borchardt rifles. They continued to make parts, and work on numerous antique rifles, just nothing modern that requires a gunsmith to have an FFL. Al is still alive, but he mostly oversees the work done by his small staff. BRC is making some wonde...

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