Projects In Metal

Chicopee Falling Block 22 Rimfire

Here is a look at my 22 cal handmade rifle that I built in my workshop, and is fashioned after the Stevens 22 cal rifles built years ago in Chicoppee Massachusetts.

My Chicopee is chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge and is quite unique with its very interesting falling-block action. The name comes from the fact it shares features found on certain Stevens and Page-Lewis .22 rimfire actions, and the fact that these rifles were built in Chicopee Falls, Maryland.
Being that I am left-handed, I built the action with a left-handed release locking mechanism, as well a palm swell included in the grip of the stock for my left hand. The barrel was built from a rifled blank, and I machined it half octagon and half tapered round. The trigger assembly is fully adjustable and the trigger-pull can be set quite light with it presently set at 2 lbs.

The walnut wood for the stock came from Black Forest Products here in Calgary, and includes 12 coats of varathane to fill the grain in the wood. The stock was sanded between coats, and the final coat was taken down with 600 grit steel wool to remove the sheen.

When it came to the finish of the barrel and the action. Instead of blueing the barreled-action as normal, I put a dark brown finish on it. This finish is quite unusual for a modern firearm. I also browned the scope rings to match.
This rifle is a fine shooter and there is nothing I enjoy more than taking it to the rifle range as shown here.

Just a additional comment about the shooting glasses lying on the bench.
I inherited them from my dad, and they are vintage Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban shooting glasses that he purchased in the 1950's.
They include the leather case as well, and both the glasses and the case are in pristine condition.
Just so you know the lens are glass, not plastic as todays lens are made from.
The metal frames are 12 carat gold filled as stamped in the upper bridge.

I enjoy wearing them while shooting my Chicopee single-shot or other rifles at the range, and have memories of my dad wearing them all those years ago when I was about 10 years old, and wishing I had a pair like them.

Now I do, thanks for keeping them for me dad.

Click on the photo for a closer look.....