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Custom
The uniqueness of a "one of a kind"
makes me happy. It doesn’t have to be my gun for me to
appreciate it. I enjoy seeing everyone else’s custom guns and
hearing their story. Some custom guns might not appeal to my
personal tastes, but I respect their distinctiveness and the
thought and effort that went into creating a firearm that stands
out from the crowd.
Mass produced, run-of-the-mill, factory
assembled firearms are okay for many, but customizing with
engraving, handsome finishes, better sight systems, fancy wood,
ivory, or antler stocks, and slicked up triggers combine to
create guns that give their owner pleasure beyond just
shooting.
Oftentimes custom guns becomes an heirlooms
to be passed on for generations.
"Signatures"
Nick Rukavina’s Gunblast article (December
2022) showcased what he termed "Signature Lever
Actions" and detailed the creation of several custom Marlin
lever actions. I had the pleasure of laying my hands on several
of them in person and they gratified my tastes as well.
"Stella" was Andy and Sheila Larsson’s (of Skinner
Sights) .44 Magnum
Marlin 1894 and "Spartacus" was Ed Head’s (our late,
great friend who was a legendary lawman and Gunsite instructor) version of
the same make, model, and caliber. I’d seen these two
handsomely color case hardened lever guns on social media, but
they were even more stunning in person, with the sun bouncing
off their gleaming steel. They lit a fire within me and I began
to consider a named, signature long gun of my own.
The very first gun I ever bought was a used
Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum at a gun show back in 1986. My summer
job earnings were earmarked for just such a purchase between my
junior and senior years of college. My dad cut that Marlin’s
barrel to 16-inches for me and I gently sanded the stock and
forearm before coating it with LinSpeed oil. I wanted a satin
finish, more like the lever guns made a hundred years prior. I
still have that treasured Marlin and I’ve since added several
more in various calibers, along with a couple Winchesters too.
Several of them have been customized…but they don’t have
names.
Part of the lever gun’s allure is due to
the requirement that we manipulate the action ourselves. We use
our hands and wrists and arms in unison to work that lever down
and back up for each shot and it inherently connects us to the
firearm. This "hands on" nature requires a little bit
of skill to be smooth and fast.
Bolt action rifles also provide the physical
effort of working the bolt handle and that contributes to the
bolt gun’s appeal as well. The same goes for single action and
double action revolvers. There is a certain mechanicalness to
our human/tool interface that many shooters find satisfying. We
are somewhat disconnected with semi-automatics, because most of
the contact between man and gun is simply our index finger
pulling the trigger itself. It’s a little boring when you
really think about it, right?
In addition to lever actions and bolt
actions, a third mechanical style of centerfire rifles are the
pump actions. Working the forearm pump back and forth in a
trombone manner is another mechanical firearm action many of us
find enchanting, just like working a lever or bolt action. Pump
rifles provide sleek lines that make for a good looking profile
that is also practical because it carries well and is handy in
the field. However, they are a disappearing breed.
"My Dad Had One of Those"
My dad had a Remington Model 14 chambered in
.30 Remington. He bought it way back when you could stumble upon
ammo for it at gun shows and even buy a box at a reasonable
price. The Model 14 was offered in .25, .30, .32, .and .35
Remington, while the Model 14 1/2 was made to chamber the
handgun cartridges of .38-40 and .44-40.
The Model 14 was introduced in 1912 and was
the design of genius engineer John D. Petersen (John M. Browning
once stated to Julian Hatcher that Pedersen "was the
greatest gun designer in the world" - high praise!). The
Model 141 succeeded the 14 and eventually morphed into the Model
760 and then the 7600 until Remington’s most recent bankruptcy
couple years ago. Today, there are no American made centerfire
pump action rifles currently produced. Rimfire pumps are still
made by Henry and others, but you’ll have to buy used if you
want a larger caliber than .22.
I was fascinated by my dad’s old Remington
pump. We often desire guns that our fathers or grandfathers or
uncles owned (or maybe even mother, grandmother, or aunts too if
your family was that awesome) and we drift towards and desire
those firearms because they connect us to those cherished
memories. We recollect the "good ole days" when we
hold a similar make or model from years’ past and warm
remembrances wash over us. I can hear my dad’s voice when I
think about him describing that old Model 14 pump.
The magazine tube under the barrel is
distinctive because it of its spiral design. My dad explained to
me that the twist aligned pointed (spitzer) style bullets so
that the tip would not rest up against the primer of another
cartridge in front of it within the tube. Usually tubular
magazine rifles require the use of flat point bullets to prevent
a chain fire under recoil. The Remington’s configuration
allowed pointed bullets, which could travel further and more
accurately, due to their lower aerodynamic drag.
Most wood forearms on pump action rifles move
back and forth while riding over the magazine tube. But the
Model 14’s magazine tube actually moves with the wood forearm
and the entire tube retracts toward your shoulder and then
returns forward toward the muzzle when the action is cycled.
Petersen’s engineering mind at work, indeed.
The Model 14 is a takedown rifle and the
round, knurled knob just above the trigger guard on the left
side is slotted for a big screw driver or coin. The frame and
barrel remain together while the butt stock separates, sliding
vertically upwards from the stock. It’s a simple system that
works well for quickly taking the rifle down for compact
storage, transport, or cleaning.
Another unique hallmark of the Remington
Model 14 is the brass case head imbedded into the left side of
the steel frame that designates its caliber. Identifying the
rifle’s caliber takes just a glance at the case head and is
easier to see and read instead of the roll marks on the barrel.
The Remington Model 14’s sales were slower compared to its
contemporary lever action competition. This was likely due to
the fact that Remington refused to offer their guns in calibers
other than their own proprietary cartridges. The inclusion of
the popular .30-30 Winchester or .300 Savage may have resulted
in more demand, but Remington refused to include them. All of
the old Remington cartridges chambered in the Model 14 are now
obsolete, except for the .35 Remington. It’s still being made
at the big plants by Winchester, Remington, and Hornady.
The .35 Remington happens to be a favorite
cartridge of mine and I have a 16-inch barreled, custom Marlin
Model 336 equipped with a Leupold scout scope. I used it to take
a 215 pound red wild boar in the Smoky Mountains at just over 50
yards. The 200-grain bullet weight is the most common and has
been a terrific medium to large game getter (boar, whitetail
deer, black bear) since the cartridge’s inception in 1906.
Hornady’s LeveRevolution ammo gives a bit more distance beyond
the 150-200 yards maximum range considered acceptable for the
.35’s bullet drop.
I Found One!
The idea of a "Signature Pump
Action" cousin to the Signature Lever Actions inspired my
imagination and led me to search Gunbroker’s online offerings
for a Remington Model 14 chambered in its namesake .35 caliber.
I already had a considerable amount of ammo as long as I could
find the right candidate. I got a feel for current prices as a
result of my research, but an upcoming local gun show in
Tennessee was right around the corner. Who knew, maybe I’d
find one there before resorting to Gunbroker?
I had a table at that gun show, so I was able
to reconnoiter the offerings before the show opened to the
general public. Alas, no Model 14s were for sale (not a real
shock as they’re certainly not common). Then a weird thing
happened an hour into the show. I glanced over at the table next
to mine where an older gentleman offered his handmade custom
knives for sale. An area had been cleared in the middle of the
sharp pointy sticks and a pump action rifle took up the space.
Where in the world had that come from? It was a Remington
too!
Before I could inquire, another attendee
picked the rifle up and looked it over. From my view from the
side, it looked to be in pretty good condition. The wood looked
especially nice. I thought to myself, "There’s no way it
would be a .35 Remington. I just don’t have that kind of
luck." I held my breath until the rifle was set back down
among the knives. I quickly side stepped over and asked to take
a look for myself.
I immediately read the stamp on the brass
case pressed into the receiver and saw that it was, in fact, a
.35 Remington. Outstanding! I carry a bore light with me at a
gun shows just in case so I pumped the action open to make sure
it was clear and then peered down the muzzle with my light
illuminating from inside the action. The bore shined back at me
with no signs of any wear, it looked as if it just came off the
factory line. Someone had cared for it properly and the action
was in tip top shape as well.
Two glitches interrupted my excitement. The
rear sight was missing its elevator and holes had been drilled
and tapped in the top of the barrel and frame to mount a scope
at some point during its life. But I didn’t want a pristine
rifle to begin with anyway. I wouldn’t want to customize a
mint old Remington, nor would I want to diminish a collectible’s
value.
I requested the seller’s asking price and
then pointed out the negatives of the rear sight and the ugly
holes. The man dropped his price by one hundred dollars. This
deal was meant to be! I agreed and became the proud new owner of
the old Remington who’s serial number suggested it was made
around 1930 (the records are not super clear).
Later that day, back home on my workbench, I
utilized the takedown feature to quickly separate the Remington’s
two halves. The gun was already cleaned and oiled, but I still
like to do it myself, whether guns are old or brand new. But I
didn’t shoot it. I held it and cycled the action and looked it
over for a few days. My mind considered just how I wanted to
have it customized. I also had to come up with a name to give my
old Remington.
Tyler Gun Works and Finks Custom
Gunsmithing
I fancied a cousin to the Signature Lever
Actions. The conduit to make it happen would be Bobby Tyler at
Tyler Gun Works (Friona, TX) and Dave Fink at Finks Custom
Gunsmithing (the Gunsmithy at Gunsite in Paulden, AZ). Bobby and
Dave had recently joined forces and their partnership offers
customers access to both of their talents, while allowing each
to focus on their specialties. Both gentlemen are in high demand
and wait times can be quite long.
When I presented my rifle case to Bobby Tyler
he said, "Oh, that looks like someone wants a Signature
named lever action rifle." He knows me well I guess. I
unzipped the case and said, "Well, a Signature but not a
lever action." I handed over the Model 14 along with the
list of modifications I wanted to have incorporated.
I preferred the barrel to be shortened from
its factory 22-inches to just over the legal minimum of
16-inches. I like short and handy rifles and the thick woods in
my area of Tennessee excludes long distance shots on deer
(another reason I like the .35 Remington cartridge). It’s also
easier to climb into deer stands and blinds with shorter
barrels.
I like Andy Larsson’s Skinner Sights rear
aperture sight a lot. While there are screws at the rear of the
factory frame on the Model 14 for vintage era, rear mounted peep
sights, I prefer the look and function of the modern Skinner
rear sight. A tall, new front sight would also be
required.
To add panache, vintage style scroll
engraving on the barrel’s muzzle and where it meets the frame,
along with matching engraving on both sides of the frame, would
set off the rifle’s style perfectly to my tastes.
TGW is known for their color case hardening
and the multicolored hues on the frame and steel butt plate
would make the Remington special. Color case hardening the
Skinner rear sight would make it match perfectly too. The
original rifles’s edges and barrel had some blueing wear, so
the entire gun would need to be re-blued after the holes in the
top of the barrel and frame were filled.
However, the wood stock and forearm had
minimal dings and scratches and I didn’t want to have the wood
refinished. It had acquired a patina over its past 90+ years
that just can’t be replicated so the decision was made to
leave it original.
Introducing Maeve
I considered several names for my Remington.
I knew the history of Stella and Spartacus (in the Larsson’s
care since Ed Head’s sad passing), as well as Nick and Marcia
Rukavina’s Valkyrie, Boomer, Belle, and Scout (named after
their dogs, how great is that?). Lucrezia is another Signature
Lever Action that Rob Leahy (of Simply Rugged
Holsters) and his
wife Jan take pride in. I had named my cars over the years and
their monikers often came from characters in books I had read,
so it seemed only natural that my rumination to name my custom
Remington would drive down that road again.
I am of partial Irish ancestry and Maeve is
the name of the Warrior Queen of Irish mythology known for her
strength, resilience, ruthlessness, and great power. I’m also
a devoted fan of the author Clive Cussler. His Dirk Pitt
adventure novel "Shock Wave" concluded unlike any his
other stories and the character of Maeve was truly memorable to
me.
Maeve struck me as the ideal nickname for my
Remington Model 14’s as a "Signature Pump Action"
cousin to the lever actions that came before. "Maeve"
is proudly engraved on the receiver’s left side, in marvelous
fashion.
The Customized Rifle Returns
If patience is a virtue, I suppose I’m a
virtuous man by that definition. The many months passed slowly
and turned into a year and a half while the Remington was in
Tyler’s and Fink’s custody. But when Maeve arrived back at
my local FFL, I was as excited as a five year old on Christmas
morning to open the shipping box.
The refinished blue is deep and dark. The
scroll engraving on the receiver is handsome to my eye without
appearing "overdone" and covering every inch of flat
steel. The color case hardened finish on the frame and steel
butt plate is gorgeous with its striations of wavy colors.
The scroll engraving around the Remington
name on the top of the barrel is exquisite in its symmetrical
execution. It matches the additional engraving on the barrel,
near the front sight. I’ve always found scroll engraving
appealing with about 75% coverage as the maximum my eyes like to
see on a fine firearm. 50% or 25% or even less (like Maeve’s)
works well and adds just the right touch of enhancement. 100%
engraving can sometimes please my eye, but more often it’s
overkill and too much for me. Maeve’s engraving by TGW is
superb.
The Skinner rear sight is also color case
hardened to match the rest of the rifle. It matches up well with
the serrated Skinner front post. With its cut down barrel, the
pump rifle feels more like a carbine and handles better due to
being lighter and shorter. When shouldered, the sights come
naturally and intuitively to the eye and line up quickly. The
front post is bold and simple to position its tip in the center
of the rear aperture.
I told Bobby Tyler I wanted the Remington’s
barrel cut to just over 16-inches, the minimum legal length. I
had measured the barrel length as it was originally 22-inches
from the factory. I believed that if the barrel was shortened to
16 1/2-inches and the last portion was threaded, then I could
attach a silencer to it that would not interfere with the moving
tubular magazine. I was wrong. I should have had the barrel
shortened to just 18 1/2-inches.
The decision was made to screw on a muzzle
brake to cover and protect the threads and to give better visual
appeal with the location of the front sight. In the end, the
reality is that I won’t be reloading .35 Remington ammunition
and all factory loads are sonic, so hearing protection would be
needed anyway, even with a silencer. The muzzle brake looks
modern and turned out well, even though it wasn’t my initial
plan.
With the fastest muzzle velocity of the
200-grain bullets coming with the Hornady LeveRevolution ammo at
2225 fps (muzzle energy of 2198 ft/lb), a rubberized butt pad
isn’t needed with the .35 Remington. Firmly planting the steel
butt pad in your shoulder is all that’s needed to manage the
relatively light recoil of this cartridge.
The original rifle had a sling attachment
mount under the barrel, just in front of the magazine tube.
Attempts to weld one onto the band that keeps the tube under the
barrel were unsuccessful. I may have to contact Rob Leahy at
Simply Rugged Holsters to see if one of his "no drill
slings" will work.
Shooting Maeve
Loading the Model 14 is accomplished
"shotgun shell" style by pushing each round underneath
the gun and into the magazine tube. I could actually feel the
Hornady LeveRevolution cartridges twisting in the tube as their
pointed noses followed the spiral contour inside. Five rounds
fit in the magazine.
For anyone who owns a bottom loading
Remington pump shotgun (or any other brand), the procedure is
familiar and makes these old pump action rifles an excellent
companion that matches up well with a similar scattergun. Of
course, a .22 caliber pump rifle would be another great
companion gun along with this centerfire rifle.
Below freezing temperatures were coming so I
shot the Remington Core-Lokt and Hornady LeveRevolution ammo I
had on hand, both with 200-grain bullets. I shot Maeve off a
rest at 25 yards to see how well the old Remington would group
with its new Skinner sights. Of course the engraving and case
hardened finish must add some style points to accuracy at least,
right?
I was pleased with both types of ammo since
they fed, fired, and ejected well. I was also gratified with the
resulting groups. Sight adjustments on the Skinner rear aperture
are simple by loosening the set screw on the right side and then
twisting the circular peep a half turn or a full turn up or
down.
Marvelous Maeve
Maeve will receive more test firing at
various distances once the weather warms up again. Deer season
just ended here in Tennessee, so I’ve got another ten months
before it comes around again. Taking a whitetail with it is an
obvious goal of mine.
This new Signature Pump Action Rifle pleases
my soul. It’s an ode to my dad that makes me smile. It’s
also a cousin to the Signature Lever Guns of friends Andy,
Sheila, Ed, Rob, Jan, Nick, and Marsha. I sure wish Ed Head was
still with us so I could pass Maeve over to him for inspection
and shooting. I know he would appreciate Spartacus’ new
cousin.
Steve Tracy
Steve Tracy is a Shootist
and a retired police officer, having served his former
department for 30 years, and he was a certified firearms
instructor for his department for 28 years. His father and
grandfather were shooters and collectors before him, so it’s
pretty much in his DNA and he's been a firearms enthusiast since
birth. Steve’s interests in guns lean toward blued steel and
walnut, while nickel-plating, ivory handles, and tasteful
engraving please him even more. From old guns (he has fired the
300+ year-old Blunderbuss that hangs on his wall) to the latest
wondergun – handguns, rifles, and shotguns – he likes them
all. He retired with his wife Robin to a log cabin in the
Volunteer state of Tennessee ("Patron state of shooting
stuff," as the character Bob Lee Swagger stated, in the
movie Shooter),
he keeps busy shooting cottonmouths, armadillos, and beavers
that invade his property.
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