My version of the "Day of the Rascal" build from this site

3281 Views 47 Replies 4 Participants Last post by STEINBVG, 19 h ago

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · Mar 14, 2022 (Edited)

One of the members here built a replica of the "Day of the Jackal" rifle that looks really true to the movie. He made a great build thread about it here: https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1240731

I always liked that movie and I've wanted, for some time, a very light rifle for backpacking so I've decided to make use of STEINBVG's great work and the motivation he has provided for me to make my own.

Therefore I've decided to copy his build with some slight differences since I'm not trying to be accurate to the movie, but rather to just be similar. I expect to make a stock like the movie, and another for the backpacking that focuses on tiny and light.

So far I'm just getting parts and I have verified that the donor rifle functions. It's been too nasty to go out, but at home I was able to shoot 10 yards with the OE peeps using super colibri and the rounds overlap so this will be a good donor for the project.

21 - 40 of 48 Posts

STEINBVG

· #21 · May 29, 2022

doublechaz said:
Tonight I cut the threads on the muzzle and also cut the fill peice for the front sight dovetail.

I then set up to make a thread protector, but sometime before now something happened to ruin the cutting edge on the drill bit I need, so that will have to wait until stores open.

I also blued the work.

Pictures into the studio, please

Arrowhead

· #22 · May 29, 2022

doublechaz said:
something happened to ruin the cutting edge on the drill bit I need, so that will have to wait until stores open.

Sharpen it. That's part of metal working.

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #23 · May 29, 2022

Arrowhead said:
Sharpen it. That's part of metal working.

True, but I don't at the moment have a grinder setup suitable for sharpenning the bit. I certainly won't throw away the bit, and will sharpen it later. Meantime, I don't want to wait.

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #24 · 12 mo ago

6

OK, got that step done.

The muzzle threaded and just kissed with my 11* crown cutter. Then reblued.

I found that my problem drilling was that the part work hardened because the toy lathe doesn't have enouh torque to run at the correct speed for drilling 15/32. I managed to anneal the part and drill it on the drill press. Then hand tapped it with the tap follower in the drill press. Then I made a male thread mandrel on the lathe to screw the part on to and turn the outside to match the thread. Cleaned it and put it on the stove for a warm and cold blued it.

I had to drill on the press and then turn down on the mandrel for the threaded part of the fake can and I did the same for a second part that I then (after making a boring bar small enough) bored out to .008 bigger than the barrel 4 inches back from the threads. This is so it doesn't rub and ruin the bluing. The size difference also allows for one wrap of black electrical tape as a protector and damper to stop vibration. I made the fake can 8 inches long from 3/4 inch emt conduit. That size and the 4 inches set back on the barrel give the correct proportions as in the film even though I have a 16+ inch barrel and the film seems to have a 12 inch barrel. I used HCl to burn off the galvanization, and TIG to attach the center threaded bit and the back end cap. From the muzzle forward is completely empty and not capped to be sure it can't possibly reduce sound. And it doesn't.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

STEINBVG

· #25 · 12 mo ago

The 'silencer' looks nice. Mine is 12", I need to cut it off, but i'm tired of the project.

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #26 · 12 mo ago

Thanks. I find that when cold bluing you should evenly heat the part to the point where you can't quite hold on to it, although you shouldn't be actually touching it for skin oil reasons, that's just a WAG temperature reference. Obviously it has to be perfectly clean first, and the heating can't transfer any contaminates. Then use 100% cotton Q-tips or balls to apply the blue. When the whole part is colored, do a second coat that might involve some light scrubbing to get the color even. Then give it a few seconds to work. If it is drying off right away it's a bit too hot. Then thoroughly rinse in cold water. Completely dry it right away. Use more gentle heat and blowing if needed. Finally, generously coat with gun oil.

I don't recall where I read that slight heating helps, but whoever it was, hit that nail.

I wouldn't say you need to cut yours down. We are each making our own grown-up toy inspired by the same source. If a museum needed an exact copy of the original, then that would be different, but we're just having fun challenging ourselves to make a thing.

See less See more

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #27 · 12 mo ago

This weekend I started working on the trigger group. It sure is painful using only a drill press and files.

STEINBVG

· #28 · 12 mo ago

doublechaz said:
This weekend I started working on the trigger group. It sure is painful using only a drill press and files.

Angle grinder? Dremel ? Much faster

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #29 · 12 mo ago

The tedious work is the inside slots where a mill bit or file fits and other tools don't fit so well.

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #30 · 12 mo ago

Big delay. I brought my Subaru rear diff into the shop to rebuild this weekend, and turns out RockAuto sent me the wrong seals (fronts when I ordered rears). So now it is all apart and I can't file or turn in there until that is done.

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #31 · 11 mo ago

Looks like I can get the Subaru back together through this coming week and maybe into the weekend.

STEINBVG

· #32 · 4 mo ago

ANY UPDATES?

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #33 · 4 mo ago

So many things have pushed this project back. Car stuff. That co-worker who keeps coming to work ill and then everyone else gets it. House stuff. More car stuff.

I did a quick lathe project for more practice: 32 acp converter for my 7.62x54r.

But this project is still on the list to do.

Reactions: 1

STEINBVG

· #34 · 4 mo ago

doublechaz said:
So many things have pushed this project back. Car stuff. That co-worker who keeps coming to work ill and then everyone else gets it. House stuff. More car stuff.

I did a quick lathe project for more practice: 32 acp converter for my 7.62x54r.

But this project is still on the list to do.

Looking forward to it

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #35 · 3 mo ago

I feel like Lebel at the point he realized, at the elevnth hour, the date on which the operation would take place. How could I have missed it?

Upon watching again, the movie, and also reading the book, I find that the trigger is of a completely different design to what I had thought previously. I shall have to completely rethink how to accomplish these parts. Fortunately, I do not believe the changes will invalidate my work on the trigger housing up to this point which has been rather laborious. Indeed, I believe that I will have the oportunity to affect a much nicer trigger without the limitations on geometry imposed by my previous ideas on the topic.

But, first thing is first, I shall have to attempt to learn to speak and write English in a way normal to the ear of today and do away with the style in which the book is written.

STEINBVG

· #36 · 3 mo ago

doublechaz said:
I feel like Lebel at the point he realized, at the elevnth hour, the date on which the operation would take place. How could I have missed it?

Upon watching again, the movie, and also reading the book, I find that the trigger is of a completely different design to what I had thought previously. I shall have to completely rethink how to accomplish these parts. Fortunately, I do not believe the changes will invalidate my work on the trigger housing up to this point which has been rather laborious. Indeed, I believe that I will have the oportunity to affect a much nicer trigger without the limitations on geometry imposed by my previous ideas on the topic.

But, first thing is first, I shall have to attempt to learn to speak and write English in a way normal to the ear of today and do away with the style in which the book is written.

I believe in the book and movie they filed away existing trigger, trilled and tapped the stub- into which the removable trigger tip gets screwed in and out[ in order to fit inside the crutch]
My fire control group allowed me to do the same: I could have pinned a flat trigger stub with a tapped hole that would be pushing down on the sear + have the removable tip for the finger just like in the book/movie. However simplified it and made one piece trigger which just drops into the housing

STEINBVG

· #37 · 3 mo ago

2

Wood Automotive exterior Bumper Tool Bicycle part

Wood Window Bumper Hardwood Door handle

See less See more

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #38 · 3 mo ago

My original idea looked more like what you have in the pictures.

After a very long wait for "backorder", my tubes are marked as shipped so I hope I can start on the crutches pretty soon.

STEINBVG

· #39 · 2 mo ago

doublechaz said:
My original idea looked more like what you have in the pictures.

After a very long wait for "backorder", my tubes are marked as shipped so I hope I can start on the crutches pretty soon.

I was under impression you were only building the pack rifle? Going all the way now?

doublechaz

Discussion Starter · #40 · 2 mo ago

I'm kinda in the middle. I'm planning to make crutches for it, but I'm not planning for the crutches to come apart into short pieces like in the movie. I am hoping to make the crutches adjustable for other than my height, but I'll be ok with it if I can't make that happen without a lot of work as I don't expect anyone else to have access to this project.

Shipping looks like the tubes may show up tomorrow, or more likely Monday.

I have a huge backlog of car work to do and so far this year has had unusual levels of weather so we'll see how the schedule works out.

21 - 40 of 48 Posts