100% Build Single Shot

cold1

cold1

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This project started a little over 3 years ago. I had been doing research on home built rifles, most of what i found was Zip guns and crude built slam fire shotguns neither of which i was interested in. After months of on and off researching I came across an author/gunsmith from the 80s, Frank De Haas. He authored quite a few books on single shot rifles and he wrote a book about building your own single shots in the home shop. The book came with diagrams and detailed descriptions of 4 different actions to build. The simplest design being the Chicopee rifle that he designed. It is a swinging block action for low/medium powered cartridges. I tracked down the book and studied the design and drawings. I decided that i was going to give it try. No previous machining skills or equipment, no welding skills or equipment, gunsmithing experience, etc.. what could go wrong? Damn near everything! I have made each piece of this design multpile times because I didnt make it correct or i overshot a measurement and the part was undersized. Hole drilled in the wrong location, filed the wrong place.

Anyway, everything has finally started to come together. Im finally starting to see the end of the project. The stock and forearm are fitted and shaped. I cut the chamber this weekend, its in 38 Special. I tested the action by trying to fire a few primed cases. I got 1 out of three to fire due to light hammer strikes. If ordered spring packs from Wolff to see if i can fit a stronger hammer spring. I anticipate test firing it with in the next few weeks.

Here is a pic of what it started from, cold rolled plate.

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The templates cut and pasted to the steel before the parts are cut out.
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After being cut out and placed relative to each other
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Action Assembled with barrel and the stock roughed out.
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Closer view of the stock, action and roughed forearm
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Wider view showing the entire rifle prior to finishing the forearm and chambering.
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Impressive! I’d like to try that myself! Down the rabbit hole I go!


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Great project, esp. for a rookie! Looking forward to progress reports.
 
Very cool. Curious why 38spl? As opposed to 357 for example. Something more flexible. Not a strong enough action or something?
 
That is great. Can't wait to see the finished product and hear the range report.
 
Nice Rook rifle you're building, looking forward to more as you finish it.
 
bigfelipe said:
Very cool. Curious why 38spl? As opposed to 357 for example. Something more flexible. Not a strong enough action or something?
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I was originally going with 357, but when it came time to rent the reamer I chickened out. I'm sure the action can handle the pressure, I'm not sure my craftsmanship can. I still have the option of going with the 357 later, after I have tested the rifle out.
 
Without previous skills or equipment, what was your process for cutting/shaping the receiver pieces?
 
cold1 said:
I was originally going with 357, but when it came time to rent the reamer I chickened out. I'm sure the action can handle the pressure, I'm not sure my craftsmanship can. I still have the option of going with the 357 later, after I have tested the rifle out.
Click to expand...

Good idea. Test it out and go from there...
 
I'm impressed! Great job.
 
Very impressive and cool project. I love DIY challenges but idk that I would tackle that one. Interested to see how it performs in the end.
 
Another example of why all firearms restrictions are pointless. Awesome job.
 
BigWaylon said:
Without previous skills or equipment, what was your process for cutting/shaping the receiver pieces?
Click to expand...

I started out with hacksaw, side grinder and the trusty old set of Nicholson files.

95% of this design can be made with those 3 tools. Frank De Haas made this design to be easily made (relative) with hand tools and minimal machining. The templates are made at a 1 to 1 ratio and are meant to be printed out, cut and pasted to the steel. There are minimal measurements in the design and each part has to be hand fitted. I feel i have more in common with an 18th century gun maker than a 20th century machinist at this point.

I did do some horse trading and ended up with a small combo lathe/mill machine. It has been mostly used for drilling holes on this project.
 
The forearm has been shaped and bedded then it was time to figure out something for the sights. I have some eye problems that make iron sights very hard to use so I thought to give the red dot style a try.

I ordered a cheap dagger defense reflex style sight along with some picatinny rail sections. I had to drill an extra hole in the rail to get it to mount the way I wanted it to. Then I got my measurements and laid the holes out on the receiver. A little drilling and tapping and I was able to mount the rail section. Once it was secure, i mounted the optic on it. It feels nice and solid.

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This is really terrific, one of the best threads on this forum. Fantastic project, thanks for sharing it.
 
I wanted to try a different bluing than laurel mountain, so I bought Mark Lee's Express blue #1. It is a fast rust bluing compound. You heat the parts, wipe on the solution, it rusts immediately. 3 coats of solution and then boil. A weeks worth of slow rust in just a few minutes.

I needed a bigger boiler for the long parts. I have more long parts to do for other projects. So I built a tank, stand, and burner.

I did get my parts blued today, but no pics of them yet. But here is a pic of the boiler setup.

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Are you sure 4" square tube is strong enough to support 4" of bluing solution and the weight of the parts?
 
Windini said:
Are you sure 4" square tube is strong enough to support 4" of bluing solution and the weight of the parts?
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:p:D

I got a pile of the stuff for free. It is the thin wall stuff, something like 0.062.
 
20200307_095612.jpg 20200307_095714.jpg 20200307_095621.jpg 20200307_095828.jpg 20200307_095928.jpg FINISHED

A little over 3 years in the making, I think it's done. There are a lot of things I will do better on the next one. I think my skillset has improved since i started this project. It's been, frustrating, maddening, head scratching, disappointing, wonderous, amazing, satisfying, and most of all fun.

The bluing was finished last weekend and i spent this week finishing the wood. The bluing is not perfect, neither is the wood or its finish so dont look too closely. ;)
 
I am mightily impressed! (And that ain't easy to do.)
Well done on the build!
 
It's gorgeous! Love the May/December technological marriage!

Thanks for posting the project. Inspiring.
 
dude
it's awesome.
did you test with full cartridges yet?
maybe i missed it, but did you order a barrel blank or make one?

either way, it's awesome.
 
Great job! I don't have machining or fabricating skills. Give me a bunch of parts, and I can put them together, and that's about it. I'm sure the process was daunting, congrats on hanging in there and seeing it through!
 
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DrScaryGuy said:
dude
it's awesome.
did you test with full cartridges yet?
maybe i missed it, but did you order a barrel blank or make one?

either way, it's awesome.
Click to expand...

I did buy the barrel. It was an Ebay special.
Parts I purchased:
Barrel
Springs (I did try to make my own)
Optics
 
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