Originally Posted By: Bayou City BoyFor me, a full custom rifle has always meant pure American Classic styling: A straight no comb stock with very little drop if any at all; a very open pistol grip; French Walnut; 22+ LPI intircate checkering, appropriate metal checkering and modest engraving on case hardened receivers.
A Pre-64 Win action or a good Mauser action fully worked over by a good metal smith for a bolt rifle is a must
If you're building on a Ruger #1, a very functional custom feature is to get rid of the long safety and have a new safety button built from scratch that is shorter and not in the way.
-BCB
BCB:
I hear you about the classic American sporting rifle. It is certainly a wonderful way to go with a custom. In addition to Messrs. Miller and Crum, I really enjoy the work of James Tucker. He did a 270 custom that is profiled in Steven Dodd Hughes' book; "Custom Rifles in Black & White". He used a 1909 Mauser action and it is a work of art - total elegance in its most simplistic form. My Dad has a pre-64 M70 that would be perfect for such a project.
