back to db page
Blued Parts
Enjoy ...
It starts here .... with completed,
machined, heat treated, detailed, clean parts ...
You see a set trigger housing, cocking
lever with components, cocking wheel, and front barrel clamp.
All machined from steel. In fact - there's four different steels
used in just the parts you see here. I don't mean different sizes
... different "alloys". Chosen for different purposes.
Thru a long nasty process, the parts are boiled
in strong cleaner, rinsed, boiled in a super saturated salt solution,
rinsed again, boiled in clean water, soaked in water displacing
oil, cleaned, and then hand rubbed. Simple.
A bunch of you liked the cocking wheel with
it's detail work. Here's the pic I promised. It turned out very
nicely I think. ;?)
I've also had alot of requests for
the side view of this recent Bison project.
I'm glad you enjoy the detail. One
of my waiting Bison owners calls this look ... "Barnes Backwoods
Baroque". I like that. When the trigger components, barrel,
cocking assembly, hammer, wheel, etc., are installed, it will
all come to life.
Here's a "many times actual size"
- up close look around.
(Forgive the paper towel dust fragments
from wiping off the oil...)
Anything you see here, is NOT by accident.
Every line, squiggle, flute, recess, and detail ... each are carved
into the solid steel by hand held tools.
This might be a good moment for one
of those "Coffee Brief" thought moments ... ;?)
Can you appreciate why it's necessary
to "celebrate" various "phases" of the construction
of projects such as this? I mean ... if myself (and the client)
could ONLY be happy when the shipping crate were screwed shut
and I waved good-bye at the post office ... it would be a very,
VERY long and miserable time in between those moments. Doing this
sort of work requires you put your soul into it. It requires that
you can have moments of "satisfaction" within the process
as well.
I know it's stressful to wait for
work to be completed. I hope readers can put themselves in my
place as well. I have to feel "good" to do this sort
of work. Not simply physically, but also mentally. That's why
it's appreciated (and more effective) when folks write and pleasantly
chat about odds and ends. Some of my oldest orders are with folks
who exchange friendly e-mails, without even mentioning their order.
They haven't forgotten. I haven't forgotten. I've gotten out of
bed, every morning for the last thirty two + years, and realized
that a whole group of people wanted their projects yesterday.
;?) I can't live in a perpetual state of agitated frustration,
and do this sort of work. I have to take it as it comes. Knowing
it will be done (and stay done) when it's correct.
So ... yippie!!!! This stuff is
blued!!! Whoopie, this deserves a big ole cuppa coffee!!! ;?)
End Coffee Brief ... haha
And these tubes and barrels are also
done. Zzzzowl-wheeeie!!! All machined, detailed, and now blued.
Several folk's projects there as well.
Found I'd prepared this pic too - alittle
different view.
I'll keep you posted. We'll assemble
this beast soon and make the stocks.
