renegadecow Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Making something a bit unique for local WWII reenactments, I decided on making myself a Philippine Constabulary Krag. These are one of the rarer configurations of the US Krag and pretty much none of them made it back stateside (lots of fakes though) when the M1903 Springfield was formally adopted. 40 years obsolete when the Japanese invaded, plenty were still used as training rifles and probably equally as many were in the hands of civilians for hunting which would have undoubtedly been used again by resistance fighters. I bought a JG M70 as base, an econo BAR-10 since I'll be butchering practically everything on it anyway. The "plastic" trigger box was my biggest concern but it turns out to be made of fairly robust nylon. I honestly have more faith in that part surviving than the pot metal 1st sear. Everything's drawn out already so now it's down to actual work. Originally I wanted to make the loading gate functional by having a removable magazine in it and have a long captive line of bbs always in the gun like the TM Gindan pistols and M40A5, but decided to make a working rifle as quickly as possible to use immediately and just make another with that feature with no rush. Link to post Share on other sites
Gunmane Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 You made an sks, I figured you probably had 10 Krags hidden somewhere. Don't even know if Ian from Forgotten Weapons has mentioned this type of one before. Link to post Share on other sites
Murdoc Posted February 9, 2017 Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 So that's an ex-US Philippine Mauser :D I'm about collecting RS parts for my Mannlicher, straight pull rifle, so really curious about your project. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted February 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2017 I wanted to get real parts for this too, but since I haven't used my SMLE parts which I've had for years I couldn't justify spending on more RS bits and bobs. Will just be fabricating everything instead and already started by chopping and grafting on a new outer barrel. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted February 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2017 Work on the Americano cigarillo dispenser continues. Epoxied aluminum panels on the receiver to square the sides up as well as bring the ejector port up and lengthened. Took the whole damn day on account of not having a mill. I've started on the magazine assembly which is bolted on the receiver (covered by the gate when closed) for ease of assembly when I get to the stock. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Now have most of the loading gate done. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2017 Woodwork begins. Stock split into two giant boards instead of three puny ones. Link to post Share on other sites
Murdoc Posted March 4, 2017 Report Share Posted March 4, 2017 Nice! Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Action now bedded. Link to post Share on other sites
tquilha Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Looking great RC. :) Link to post Share on other sites
DarkLite Posted March 10, 2017 Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Nice work, as always. What wood are you using? Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2017 Thanks! It's locally called Tanguile, the most common kind of Philippine mahogany though not nearly as dense as what most would call a "true" mahogany. The grain is usually pretty plain most of the time but I got lucky picking out that huge board. Link to post Share on other sites
Kalashnikov_kid Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 Nice stock working there. +1 internet cookie! Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 Sparing no expense when it comes to stock inletting. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Barrel bands mostly done. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Handguard done. Link to post Share on other sites
Corbeau Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 You're too good Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 loading gate pin side cover upper handguard Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 loading gate pin side cover upper handguard Link to post Share on other sites
DarkLite Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I take it you're working in Aluminium and not steel, judging by the shiny! I was just thinking to myself that making those barrel bands by hand in steel must have been a total bastard. Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Yup, aluminum salvaged from extrusions. For complex bits like the front band pieces are lumiwelded together then filled in with steel epoxy. Link to post Share on other sites
DarkLite Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Cool beans. How are you finding the lumiweld? Easy to use? Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Pretty easy actually. Larger butane torches work best as work pieces, even small ones, soak up a lot of heat in a vice. I'm currently stuck using a smaller pen torch on account of the last large can of butane I got won't burn so takes forever to reach temp and allows an oxide layer to form which welds won't stick to. Link to post Share on other sites
paranoiddroid Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Looks gorgeous and I'm just... Every piece of your work i see gets better Link to post Share on other sites
renegadecow Posted April 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 In agony while waiting for paint to fully dry. Managed to take this shot without ruining anything though. Link to post Share on other sites
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