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January 20, 2023
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I got these two videos from Ron this morning.
The first one is his report on the condition of the forearm. He indicates a prior repair was done to a crack but didnt hold. Apparently because the underlying problem — the improperly bedded iron — was not addressed.
The second one is of Ron test firing the gun after his repair and glass bedding the iron.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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That’s a mighty thin piece of wood in what appears to be a critical area. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised it was repaired earlier. We may need to shoot it sometime next week after the monsoon passes.
Mike
April 30, 2023
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Very cool! I hope he’s going to be around a while, I need to keep him in the ol’ contact list!
January 20, 2023
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Obviously, a test round of Skeet is indicated.
The other thing I asked Ron to do is disassemble the action, inspect and lube as necessary. There is a good chance that has not been done since it left New Haven 79 years ago. Function has been flawless but, as they say in Jersey, “Why take a chance?”
Ron says a good thing about a Model.21 is few owners try to disassemble one because it’s such a bitch to accomplish.
The problem was not caused by the thinness of wood but by the lack of bearing surface of wood against the iron, a gunmaking fault. Whoever let the forearm into the wood was in a hurry and miscut the profile in enough places that the paltry amount of wood-to-steel contact could not withstand repeated inertial force.
When it comes to used double guns, “In for a dime, in for a dollar.”
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
March 31, 2009
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Zebulon said
Obviously, a test round of Skeet is indicated.
The other thing I asked Ron to do is disassemble the action, inspect and lube as necessary. There is a good chance that has not been done since it left New Haven 79 years ago. Function has been flawless but, as they say in Jersey, “Why take a chance?”
Ron says a good thing about a Model.21 is few owners try to disassemble one because it’s such a bitch to accomplish.
The problem was not caused by the thinness of wood but by the lack of bearing surface of wood against the iron, a gunmaking fault. Whoever let the forearm into the wood was in a hurry and miscut the profile in enough places that the paltry amount of wood-to-steel contact could not withstand repeated inertial force.
When it comes to used double guns, “In for a dime, in for a dollar.”
Love that 2nd video. My wife won’t let me test fire in the garage or backyard anymore. My Mentor says everything is broken until you check it.
Would like to see pics of the repair if possible.
January 20, 2023
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Chuck, you bet. I’m.going to drive over and pick it up tomorrow.
There’s a third video I haven’t watched yet and I will post it here shortly.
Bill
Edit: here’s the 3rd video, just shows the interior of the action.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 30, 2023
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He knocked that out QUICK, that’s awesome. You’ll be happy I bet, worth any money spent.
January 20, 2023
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Just got back with the gun. Ron did a careful and thorough job. He glass bedded the forearm iron in 3 layers of epoxy and added some at strategic places in the forearm inletting to ensure the forearm could not move under recoil.
The exterior is shown in the attached Pic. The crack line is still barely visible in the uncheckered area but fairly well hidden in the checkering.
After I recover from afternoon traffic– lots of lane closures for construction while the good weather lasts– I’ll take the gun down and photograph the forearm interior. 
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Impressive! Glad this beautiful gun is ready for action again.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Zebulon said
Just got back with the gun. Ron did a careful and thorough job. He glass bedded the forearm iron in 3 layers of epoxy and added some at strategic places in the forearm inletting to ensure the forearm could not move under recoil.
The exterior is shown in the attached Pic. The crack line is still barely visible in the uncheckered area but fairly well hidden in the checkering.
After I recover from afternoon traffic– lots of lane closures for construction while the good weather lasts– I’ll take the gun down and photograph the forearm interior.
Looks good to me. He didn’t do more than necessary. I’d suggest some walnut sawdust with glue, and stain if necessary, to fill that little hole.
January 20, 2023
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Yeah, that looks like shrinkage or an air bubble. As small as it is, I may just apply a coat of brown Butcher’s wax to the whole furniture and buff it off.
Ron told me he added some epoxy at the joint and around some other places to increase the wood to steel bearing surfaces. Whoever hollowed out the forearm stock was pretty enthusiastic. In gripping the forearm, it has a more solid feel than before.
Ive been watching election returns but will photograph the interior side tomorrow.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
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O.k. here’s the interior of the forearm and a side view of the end cap.
There’s not much to see unless I were to disassemble the forearm, which I have no burning desire to do. You can see traces of the glass bedding around the perimeter of the iron inletting. The side view of the end cap shows some epoxy in the junction of the steel and Walnut. The same is true on both sides.
The difference is one more easily felt than seen. Whereas, there were before hollow spaces below and around the iron, now there are none. It may be just my imagination but the whole assembly feels slightly heavier and, when mounted to the barrels, stiffer. 
As TxGunNut has sagely pointed out, it needs shooting. A Texas lawman’s perspective. I concur.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
March 31, 2009
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I don’t like to have guns that I haven’t shot. I don’t shoot my antique percussion pistols. Fragile and way too messy.
January 20, 2023
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I have been tempted by one of the better Walker and Dragoon reproductions, particularly the ones actually made in Hartford.
But I’m already a mile wide and an inch deep, like the North Platte.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck said
I don’t like to have guns that I haven’t shot. I don’t shoot my antique percussion pistols. Fragile and way too messy.
I have a couple of beautiful old shotguns that I seldom shoot but they do get shot now and then. It would be a shame to spend the money on proper repairs without shooting a round or two of skeet now and then but it’s not my money, not my gun. Quite honestly I enjoy seeing it doing what it was built to do.
Mike
April 30, 2023
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I can imagine already how “solid” that feels now
November 7, 2015
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Jeremy P said
I can imagine already how “solid” that feels now
The magic of epoxy! I’ve noticed it with rifle projects where I bedded the recoil lug recess and surrounding areas of the stock. We may not notice it when things flex or move a little but for some reason we sometimes notice when things have little or no noticeable flex or looseness. Zeb may want to shoot this M21 on a regular basis!
Mike
January 20, 2023
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I did not buy it as an object to contemplate in Socratic detachment. Texas needs the rain but if it should clear off and howling winds don’t follow…..
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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