Of course, this gun's d.o.m. [per Bert] was 1929 when the kitchen sink was likely being used for material, so maybe a sapwood stock is semi-authentic? 

Buck1967 said

MidwestCrisis said
That appears to be a brand new 1929 92 to someone like me.  
  

Yeah to me too! It looks amazing and would love to see the before pics if any exist. If you are feeling guilty for owning a restoration and need to get rid of it to cleanse your soul, I will be happy to give you back your original $399 😉 Kidding of course. Great job Zeb and thanks for sharing!
  

Buck, I was still in harness then and enamored of Kimber of Oregon and Sturm Ruger rifles, having been soured on Winchester products since 1964. My re-awakeming came later when I rescued a nice 1950 Model 70 Supergrade 30 Govt '06 from a local consignment rack. 

I wish I had taken "before" photos of this  92 as well.  My Dad was still alive and we had it in his workshop, installing a tall brass blade he'd made I could file down as needed to zero the gun with the Lyman tang. Whoever had installed the Lyman never changed the front sight to match. I'd give a lot to have a photo of Dad with the rifle clamped in his big Wilton machinist's vice (between softwood blocks.)

Scott was asking $4700 and that included a set of custom dies. Now, that money was the 2026 equivalent of at least six or seven grand and was well over my pay grade then (and now.) 

But it showed me what he could do when he was let. I would put his work up against Dale Goens, Earl Milliron, or Al Biesen for grace and execution.  

I've always felt I got a small piece of Scott's work at a bargain price. 

Did I mention how long it took to get this 92 back from him? Seventeen months. 

I noticed that you said the barrel was replaced, but I hadn't noticed anything as far as the receiver.

As I had a friend who had a similar situation with a M-1886, and after a bargain priced restoration, from a guy that did it on the side, the Receiver wasn't blocked up properly, for the extreme heat from the new case color restoration, and had moved and tightened up a little, causing the actions smoothness to disappear.

The M-1886, is considered by many, to be one of the best rifle designs by J.M.B.  It's smooth cycling is second to none. IMO! 

Tony

Otisman68 said

 
Just measured the bullet.  Within size.  I ran a new empty cartridge into the chamber.  It came out rolled at a 2.398 not 2.40.  This is a new barrel too.  Maybe needs cut anther 0.002?
  

It does appear to be a slightly short chamber.  It is possible that the breech end of the barrel was trimmed a bit when it was being fitted to the receiver and bolt.  If you do ream the chamber length to fix the problem, I recommend .004 - .005" versus just .002".

Bert

MidwestCrisis said
That appears to be a brand new 1929 92 to someone like me.  
  

Yeah to me too! It looks amazing and would love to see the before pics if any exist. If you are feeling guilty for owning a restoration and need to get rid of it to cleanse your soul, I will be happy to give you back your original $399 😉 Kidding of course. Great job Zeb and thanks for sharing!

This was not an attempt to make the rifle historically correct -- as you can see, the buttplate, lever, and nose cap are not case colored, the tang sight is Lyman's then (circa 1999)  current reproduction, and the front sight is a modern Marble's.  

The reason I bothered to have this work done was (1) the gun had been badly abused by more than one owner, although the bore was pristine and the gun perfectly functional; (2) I bought it for $399 USD; (3) first trial at the range it shot 50 yard cloverleaves with 86 grain Remington factory ammunition. 

As bought, the steel had been over-buffed and rounded, although bozo did leave the rollmarks and serial alone. Screw heads were flattened. Garish blue job.  Left receiver wall had been drilled and tapped for a side scope mount. The wood had been hopelessly sanded down. 

I turned it over to Scott May, the talented gunsmith and custom stockmaker who has since gone on to manage Beretta's custom shop in Dallas. Scott ordered new Walnut and screws, stoned the steel back to contours, welded up the extra holes - had a hell of a time find welding rod that wouldn't be a sore thumb -- rust blued the barrel and the receiver, fitted and finished the furniture in oil.  

This was more than 25 years ago. The tab was $700. So $1,100 all in, in 2000 Dollars. Could I have bought an original small bore 1992 with a pristine barrel for that money back then? I don't know. I don't think so because Cowboy Action competition was hot. But I had no intention to spend $700 more until I saw how accurate the little rifle was. 

In any event, the gun was so far from any sort of original condition, it needed to be either parted out or given back some portion of its dignity. 

Mike

Bob

The dummy cartridge is brand new starline brass with 300 gr bullet seated properly.  But i will check.   When pushed in by hand it looks flush with barrel

Just measured the bullet.  Within size.  I ran a new empty cartridge into the chamber.  It came out rolled at a 2.398 not 2.40.  This is a new barrel too.  Maybe needs cut anther 0.002?