It also dissembles and the stock comes off.

There was a print of it [...]]]> While doing research on the 1917 trench carbine I came across a rifle that I have never seen or even heard of. The V9000. There is a video on YouTube posted by LAI Publications. I just fell for this cute carbine.

It also dissembles and the stock comes off.

There was a print of it taken apart.

I thank LAI publications for posting about this rare and interesting weapon. I decided that I need one in my collection. There is no chance of buying one and it is full auto so actually making one that is exact is out of the question. However I can make a semi auto one. As with all of my projects I need to design it from scratch. With that in mind I have started just that, but I am making a few changes to the design. First I will make it in 9mm and not in 7.62×25 Mauser. Second, I am going to make it to use a different magazine. I have never been a fan of the Mauser style magazine. they are expensive, a number of the ones I have do no fit properly and they are hard to fine.

My favorite magazine for my Broomhandle projects is the Finnish M/20 smg magazine. They are available at Apex gun parts.

It is a great magazine that I will cut down to 25 rds.

The first step was to design the lower receiver to use a M/20 magazine. I started this process with using a cut Chinese Schnellfeuer lower.

I was able to make a basic solid model but with the proper dimensions for the M/20 magazine.

There is a number of features missing from this model but, it is just a starting point. So I printed it out on m Bambu P2S 3D printer.

I was able to check to see if my magazine housing was dimension properly, and it was.

The next print will have the magazine release button. The rear of the receiver needs to be corrected. the bottom of the receiver is to thick and it receiver needs to have  internal dimensions reduced. I am currently working on the second model receiver and should have it completed by the end of next weekend. I also need to add the dove tail slot in the front of the receiver

The first part that I printed out and checked is the fire control group. I Then used Bambu studio to do a slicing program on it. It [...]]]> With the new Bambu P2S printer here I decided to start printing out some of the components of the 1917 trench carbine to verify the design and measurements.

The first part that I printed out and checked is the fire control group. I Then used Bambu studio to do a slicing program on it. It was down loaded and printed out

After it was printed out it was checked with actual components to verify proper fit up.

There are a few minor changes that need to be made, but so far it does not look to be out of spec.

The solid models for the new design trigger [...]]]> With mainly doing the hand fitting on the rifle we are correcting a few problems that have come up. This issue is the trigger guard. The original design that we had did not have the correct look and was actually to close to the trigger it self.

The solid models for the new design trigger guard.

After shearing to the proper width and the guide pin holes drilled in.

The first style trigger guard. This was all wrong and also left no room for the trigger.

The second style increased the space for the trigger, but the angle of the stock lower support was incorrect and the lower stock support was now to short.

The shape and the diameter looks a great deal better with this new design.

There was a great deal of stretching with the single hole design

We went from a single hole design to a two hole design that later will be machined off and a single rivet hole installed.

The series of design changes to the trigger guard

After the first couple of ops.

After the second pressing

The older style trigger guard required a great deal of work to fit up and the angle was still not correct.  Neither was the actual diameter size.

How the new design trigger guard fits

A video of the process.

To complete this task we used two different router bits. The first bit

being a bearing guided bit that rides [...]]]> With the router table completed, for the most part, we started working on the stocks for the VG1-5 rifle. This video takes the stock from a rough sawed pattern to the finished dimensional stock.

To complete this task we used two different router bits. The first bit

being a bearing guided bit that rides on the pattern that was made in the shop, by Axel,

and the second one is a bearing guided bit that runs across the stock.

This is a video of the process to make the stock.

With this step completed the next set of holes will be drilled on the drill press and then the stocks will be fitted to the individual rifles.

This [...]]]> With this post I am happy to note that Axel, a friend of gun lab, is back for a visit and as always we put him back to work. And unlike what most people think of me we did actually allow him some time off to go to the local gun show and stores.

This post is about the continuing work that is being done on the VG1-5.

This weekend was spent working on a number of projects by different people and in different shops.

Axel spent most of his time working on making a stock pattern for the rough cut and the finish router work.

Before I go into great detail on making the stock pattern I have to stress that some people just do not like to change there ways. We have a rather complete machine and wood working shop. So when you see the method that the pattern was make it is all Axel.

It started with a wood blank that was roughed out on the old stock fixture plate.

This a really scary fixture to use with a 3/4 horse power router especially toward the grip of the stock. Even though there is a bearing riding against the fixture

it was still an interesting experience.

Axel took the rough shaped stock and fitted it to our test rifle.

A close up of the fit up.

Then it was off to make a pattern that would make the same thing over and over but still allow for the minor differences that we are going to encounter.

Now this is the point where German stubbornness comes into play. We will just go back to the fact that we do have a couple of nice work shops and in the saw room is a really nice band saw.

Did I mention that this tool works great on cutting Aluminum?

He did it the old fashion way  and when you don’t have much in the line of tools you use what you have and become expert with them. This is what Axel did.

He started by attaching the stock to the aluminum plate with the two stock screws and then a third point on the stock to firmly hold the blank to the plate.

He then marked out the stock out line.

Then he went to the drill press and drilled about a thousand holes,that may be a little exaggerated, but the number is close.

Then he put the stock that he previously fitted to the rifle and and spent quite a bit of time, between guns shows and gun store visits, and files everything away that did not look like the stock.

When it was all said and over this is what it looked like.

So now the new process for making the stock will be to lay out the stock with the aluminum pattern, cut the stock out with the wood shop band saw.

Then using the pattern cut the shape out on the router table using a straight cutter with a ball bearing guide.

After the shape is cut out go back in with a radius cutter to cut the couture.

The final set will be to plug the third hole with a wooden dowel.

Many thanks to Axel for his help this last weekend and we are a step closer to getting done.

With this new disconnector we have now hand fitted all the fire control groups. Once this task was completed we then took apart all the fire control groups to do the last heat treating.

Disconnectors

Safeties.

Safety detents.

This now finishes the last of [...]]]> On our last update we discussed the newly design disconnector, http://gunlab.net/update-on-the-vg1-5-project/.

With this new disconnector we have now hand fitted all the fire control groups. Once this task was completed we then took apart all the fire control groups to do the last heat treating.

Disconnectors

Safeties.

Safety detents.

This now finishes the last of the fire control group parts manufacturing. So the components that are finished are as follows.

The complete fire control group

The upper receiver and bolt assembly as front support

The lower receiver

Currently we are working on finishing the rear top cover, some welding is required and then hand fitting it.

Soon it will be down to the stock and hand guard and then flute the barrel.

In this post Pete goes over making the replacement pieces for the lower receiver area.

As with everything in the making of this rifle there is a great deal of trial and error.

It is interesting to see the tooling [...]]]> This is another update on Pete’s project of making a semi auto MP-44.

In this post Pete goes over making the replacement pieces for the lower receiver area.

As with everything in the making of this rifle there is a great deal of trial and error.

It is interesting to see the tooling that Pete make to do the work necessary to complete the task.

There is a great deal of hand fitting and filing in this project.

It is looking better and better.

Pete is a master metal smith. I am impressed with the quality of the work that he has done on this project.