Started work
The replica build can now start!
I have now aquired the doner, nice example, the system has been attended to by Dave Mercer, and a basic check and inspection has confirmed that it will require no attention.
The trigger will be modded as per the original, by the manufacture of a longer alloy link to bring the trigger back so that it can be set up to be reached by a small hand, and then the trigger guard will be skeletonised as the trigger on full movement will be very close to the back of the guard.
The stock shortening will be done as accutately to the original as possible, and fortunately I have a picture of the original and a standard 75 together so with careful measurement from the picture of both and with some maths I can determine the exact dimension!
The original did not have the black inserts in the stock cut outs, after a lot of research we think this was unique to the very first ones, and we know the original was early '77 and probably the first into the UK and supplied by Dykes specially. The donor has the black, and the lady on seeing the doner commented that hers did not, and that the doner was a much darker walnut. I removed the black plastic inserts and the walnut under is a more golden colour. Not wishing to refinish the stock I thought I'd just clean it, and scrubbed it with soapy water. When it dried out, WOW! what just looked like a darker walnut was 40 years of dirt and wax, it is now a stunning golden walnut with the walnut figuring more distinct and very decorative, just as I and she remembers Originals of the day and it looks stunning especialy with out the black tacky plastic inserts.
So I have accidentaly refinished the stock! Just a coat of boiled linseed soaked into the stippling, and a coat of bees wax, and most (if not all!) of the marks and dings have come out with the dirt and old wax and it looks like new!
The problem area will still be period stickers, I have a few but need more 1977 to 1980, even close up pictures will help as I can then replicate them.
If any one has one of the original 66 type machined black nylon butt spacer blocks I would desparately like one, I have the moulded one supplied with this 75 (and would swap it), but the original being early definately had the solid block type used on the 65 and 66's. Any one help?
The project will continue, unless the original appears out of the wood work!
Last edited by RobinC; 10-02-2017 at 12:23 PM.
Walther KK500 Alutec expert special - Barnard .223 "wilde" in a Walther KK500 Alutec stock, mmm...tasty!! - Keppeler 6 mmBR with Walther grip and wood! I may be a Walther-phile?
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