45-100 Wesson no.1 long range.

[GARD72977]

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Gun came in today. I was like a kid waiting on Christmas day heading to the gun store.

I get there and my buddy has the gun still in the bubble wrap on the counter. I start cutting the bubble wrap off ond my heart sank. The wood to reciever fit was crap! I finished unwrapping it thinking what a mistake I had made. I picked the gun up and felt the forearm was loose. Pushed back on it and the gap at the reciever went away! That was the best feeling i have had for a while.

Pics arent the best. The gun has has a higher level of craftsmanship than any thing else I own. Its going to have to wait a littke while for dies, brass, and rear sight. My gun budget is in the negative right now!

The Steve Eral action is a work of art. Hurst did the engraving. The checkering is simply stunning. I would not have picked the silver finish or Maple stock but the look great on the gun. I could not be happier with the purchase (unless it was cheaper).

I tell myself im slowing down on the single shots for now.

As as answer to the thread "Why do you love single shots". This is why

[GARD72977]

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These pics show wood and engraving better.

You can see a small gap in the wood finish in the first pic. It was a little worse than that when I first picked it up today. Fit after tightening forend is great

[JimB..]

That’s nice!
Don’t store it in that case.

[smithnframe]

Is this a custom gun or is it a Pedersoli?

[Chill Wills]

Action by Steve Earl of Maryland
Crosno had a pattern for the stock - Gard, can you tell us who stocked it? Was it Pam?

[GARD72977]

I dont know who did the stock. The Barrel has Glenn Fewless on it.

[GARD72977]

After some research the tang sight base is a Kelley. The choices are Kelley or Steve Earle original style sight without windage (700.00).

How good is the Kelley sight? This gun is for casual long range target shooting.

[single shot jimmy]

Wow!

[Chill Wills]

After some research the tang sight base is a Kelley. The choices are Kelley or Steve Earle original style sight without windage (700.00).

How good is the Kelley sight? This gun is for casual long range target shooting.

I have not owned one but they were priced with the top makers. Are they still made?

[semtav]

Looks really nice !!!!
I've got one very similiar.
Let us know how you get along with it.

[GARD72977]

Black powder is not my strong point. Hoping this goes well.

[semtav]

After some research the tang sight base is a Kelley. The choices are Kelley or Steve Earle original style sight without windage (700.00).

.

My sight is a Baldwin. Don't show anything that says the base is Kelly but one never knows

[GARD72977]

Will you post a picture of your gun and a pic of sight on the gun

[onelight]

Beautiful !

[Old-Win]

I dont know who did the stock. The Barrel has Glenn Fewless on it.

If your rifle has Glenn Fewless on it, you can rest assured that it was barreled properly as he is an excellent gunsmith from Wisconsin. Chances are, that your rifle was stocked by Bernie Harrel, as Glenn, Bernie and Ken worked closely with Steve Earl on these rifles. Don't worry about the little gap as it is probably intentional as many shooters feel that a small gap is necessary to keep from losing accuracy as the rifle heats up. Just snug up the screw in the forearm and leave a gap about the width of a business card. Both Ken and Bernie are no longer with us.

[Bent Ramrod]

That’s a fantastic rifle. I’m not a fan of French Gray, but that one makes it look good.

I think Glenn Fewless lives in Wisconsin. Last I heard he was making Daniel Frazier sidelever actions. Didn’t know he made barrels. Maybe he put the whole works together; if so, he’s certainly a master gunsmith.

A charge of Swiss 1F sufficient to hold a 1/16” card wad against the base of a Paul Jones Creedmoor, an Ideal 457125 or an Ideal 457132 boolit without compression should be a good starting point for your .45-2.6”. It used to be 77 gr in my Pedersoli Sharps; probably a couple grains less of the fluffy product they now produce.

[Chill Wills]

Gard, you may know this but if you are willing to change sight bases, Baldwin and other top end makers can provide a sight and base that fits your rifle. It sounds like you are not going to be shooting Creedmoor matches so one of the high quality shorter staff sights will meet your needs. The shorter the staff = the less cost. Same high quality.

You have a very nice rifle.

One of the guys here just got back his Wesson. Dave and Pam made and stocked it for him. He sold it back to them in a period of hard times. Dave's son then had it and just now sold it back to Michael. It went full circle. It shoots very well so far. His is scoped. No iron sights.

[Chill Wills]

If your rifle has Glenn Fewless on it, you can rest assured that it was barreled properly as he is an excellent gunsmith from Wisconsin.

I agree. Glenn Fewless = high quality.

[GARD72977]

I sent MVA a message and got a response. I need to get her the hole spacing. I will pay a little extra for a big sight. It should look right at home on this gun. I can shoot out to 600yd local. I would like to shoot out to distance sometime. I have a few 45-70s but this is my only big boomer.

[GARD72977]

Im not a fan of french gray myself. Im also not a fan of maple stocks. I amost didnt buy it because of this.

In person its a really nice rifle. Im very happy with it. I need a little variety. All my rifles cant look the same.

[Old-Win]

Bent Ramrod. Glenn only made a couple of barrels for himself and Steve Earle makes the actions.

[marlinman93]

The assorted people involved in making your Wesson is about as fine a group of Guild gunsmiths as there is today. Glenn Fewless is one of the best in the world these days. The late Ken Hurst was one of America's finest engravers. Steve Earle's Wesson actions are also extremely high quality. I'm sure if you contacted Glenn Fewless he could tell you who did the stocks if he didn't do them.
The finish on the receiver is likely Metalife as Ken was a big fan of their process on guns he engraved. The gap between forearm and action is not bad workmanship, but rather intentional. A tiny gap was done on purpose as the forearm not touching the action makes a more accurate shooting rifle on single shots with two piece stocks.
Gorgeous rifle, with fantastic provenance in it's builders.

[Win94ae]

Very cool! Beautiful!

[semtav]

Will you post a picture of your gun and a pic of sight on the gunThe base does gave a curve to ithttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210425/811044c7d475ba81accc60642520f521.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210425/c5c0a3f3e866654c34fc585926c0ebf2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210425/42fdb53e692bf0269eea89c7911f2a41.jpg

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[GARD72977]

Thanks for the pictures. That sight would be fine with me. I just think the Kelley would look out of place with the bronze adjustment knobs.

[GARD72977]

Im thinking about putting a sight on it and buying a Lee Shaver 22lr adapter. I have a couple other guns I could use it in also.

Its going to be a little bit of a chore for me to start loading black powder. I may wait until later this summer for that. Im doing some trainning for my job at work. We are 24hrs a day and im moving my schedule a lot right now. Keeping me from doing everything I need to do around the house.

[semtav]

You might find that the Wesson action is not the most user friendly action going. Little more labor intensive. Fun gun but in a fast moving match, mistakes can be made pretty easily.

[marlinman93]

You might find that the Wesson action is not the most user friendly action going. Little more labor intensive. Fun gun but in a fast moving match, mistakes can be made pretty easily.

If guys can shoot a Sharps 74 without a problem, I can't see how a Wesson would be a problem? I have to really keep my mind on returning the '74 Sharps to half cock prior to opening, and then after loading pull it to full cock to fire. The Wesson has fewer steps I believe.

[semtav]

I consider the Wesson to have all the steps the Shiloh does plus, to drop the block you have to push the button to release the lever-first extra step, then to close the action you have to push the button in to close. (You don't want to slam it shut) - second extra step, then you have to verify it is in fact locked after shutting it. ( Failure to do do results in the block dropping when fired) - 3rd extra step. Plus the hammer is taller and the tunnel is narrower requiring just a little more time to get the shell in and out .

Like I said, it is a fun rifle to shoot but takes a lot more practice to shoot quickly

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[marlinman93]

Pushing the release as you open the lever is pretty automatic to me. It's situated where you really push it as you push to open the lever. Haven't shot one a lot, but shot a friend's and never was told to push the button on closing? He simply closes the lever and it latches, so I did the same.