Armisport (Chiappa) Conversion To N-SSA Tolerances

[PvtGreg]

Hi All,

This will be a quick post, but I could not resist posting these pictures.  

1) Is a picture of the blank I purchased from S&S.



2) Is a picture of the blank and the repro forearm side by side - note cheesy duct tape I needed to shim the barrel bands.



3) Is a picture of the finished sans finish.  The barrel bands fit perfectly, the end cap is fitted and best of all all the position of all bands as well as the forearm OAL are within .2" of the original.  The bands are within .1" and the forearm OAL is with in .2".



My hands are raw meat and my arms are sore, but 43 hours of hand sanding and scraping and this is the result.  I don't want to offend anyone, but I think I did a damn good job.

Now I have a question - I need to match the forearm to the stock - how should I finish it to match?  Any input would be very very appreciated.

Pvt Greg

[Jobe Holiday]

You've done a very nice job indeed!

J.

[PvtGreg]

Hi All,

All fitting finished, forearm screw and band springs installed.  Now I have to finish it.  One more sanding and going over with steel wool.







Pvt. Greg

[Bead Swinger]

Beautiful!

[Arizona Trooper]

Very nice work. To finish, strip the varnish off the buttstock, or what ever it is that they put on there. Stain both the butt and forestock with SolarLux Walnut or Cherry stain. It is available on line from several woodworking suppliers. Do not use Minwax or most of the other lumber yard stains! They are pigment based and the pigments do not hold up. SolarLux is dye based and soaks into the wood. It lasts forever. Once the stain has dried (overnight at least) start applying boiled linseed oil. The first coats soak in like crazy. Put on a couple coats every evening and in a week you will have a beautiful, authentic stock finish. Good luck with it! And, post pictures!

[PvtGreg]

Thanks to you all for the comments and advice.

Arizona  Trooper - sadly I had already started the staining with Minwax.  I got some advice from the Chiappa people on what stain to use to match the stock - its actually called Gunstock.  Two coats and it matches very well.  They used True Oil as well so since I've gone down that road already I figure to finish with it.

If its a disaster I'll take your advice though.

Thanks again

[Arizona Trooper]

Pvt. Gregg, sounds like Chiappa has been down this road before. I'm sure it will turn out well. I want to see it at the Spring National!

[PvtGreg]

...And Done!


                                       (Photo Added by Two Flints)

[Arizona Trooper]

Beautiful! How does the buttstock match up?

[PvtGreg]

Perfect - the lower forearm is the old Chiappa forearm.  

I was very surprised how close it was.  I took the assembled weapon out side in the sun and the only real difference is the butt stock is dirtier.  After I cleaned it up with some balsoil they matched perfectly.

The really nice thing about this new forearm is that the rings fit perfectly and I don't have to shim anything like I did with the Chiappa forearm.

Now I have to get the sight moved and I should be good!

[PvtGreg]

Hope this is a better pic of the completed weapon (minus moving the front sight).