Gots me a new/old rockchuck rifle coming

[JDHasty]

CC Johnson 44 1/2 Stevens in 219 Donaldson wasp.  Stumbled across it on an obscure auction site and after three weeks it finally got to my FFL, so at least I got to look it over and fondle it.  CC Johnson was all that in the 1940s and 50s. 

I have a couple Feckers I’m pretty fond of and a few other externally adjustable target/varmint scopes.  I’m going to go with one of the Feckers on it.  One has fine crosshairs hairs, the other a TK Lee dot.  Probably the one with Lee dot.

It will be neat to find out who it was built for.  ASSRA maintains a data base tracking rifles that came out of that shop and CC Johnson’s grandson has the shop logs. 

I have scads of newly formed 219 DW brass, now I just need to cool off or whatever for a couple weeks. 

[Dan-o]

219 DW is a really cool/interesting/unique cartridge.

Very cool.

[JDHasty]

I revisit CS Landis books annually and have wanted a decent Stevens 44-1/2.  When I stumbled on this, I never thought I would win the auction.  I have been thinking about a 219 DW on a Stevens 44 1/2 for 30 years. 

The great thing about this particular single shot action is that swapping barrels on and off is about as slick as an Encore or Contender.  I can make up a 30-30 or 7-30 Waters and use it for big game and 219 Zipper Improved that is like a rimmed 22-250 and a 17 Hornet or Ackley Bee or 22 Hornet or 218 Bee barrels.  Not that I would ever do anything like that.  Yea right, my mind is already plotting. 

[GWP]

Very fun! Congrats on the new/old very cool rifle.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Will it be getting a make over like the last one or going to keep as-is?

Looking forward to seeing how it shoots and what you find out about its history.

[mountainman]

That’s a cool classic JD!!

[JDHasty]

Will it be getting a make over like the last one or going to keep as-is?

Looking forward to seeing how it shoots and what you find out about its history.

No way!  I’m pretty sensitive about preserving firearms that have a documented provenance linking them to a rifle smith like the CC Johnson shop or have historical value as a scarce factory produced rifle in original condition. 

I have a few others, one is a Winchester Model 43 in 218 Bee that is a factory slick barrel.  No sights.  It’s so rare that many Winchester collectors have heard of them, but never actually seen or held one.  I’m pretty careful not to beat it up or alter it.  I shoot chucks with it, but don’t haul it up into talus slopes.  It’s in really nice shape. 

My “restoration” projects are not really proper restorations.  I frequently start with refugees from gun breakers or begin with an orphaned action or barreled action.  I am not equipped to do a proper restoration, the the kind of work that Wyoming Armory does, but can get pretty close most of the time. 

The Cinnabar YouTube channel has a lot of what they do if anyone is interested in what a true restoration consists of.  If I had the capacity to I would love to do that kind of work.

The half nickels and color cased action Model 90 and 1906s I have done are not actual restorations at all, but those were options that were available.  As was slow rust bluing and hand rubbed oil on the stock.  So, in that regard they are kind of correct. 

Very few pistol grip Model 1890s were special ordered, but they are popular with guys that like to monkey with Model 1890s.  The lower tangs are bent and it’s hard to tell they are not factory produced.  There were so many produced that other than documented rare factory special ordered ones nobody really has any qualms changing them around to suit the current owner. 

I’m of mind to build a guide so that I can hand matt the top flat of the octagon barrels with a checkering file.  Just because I think it would be neat looking.  It takes a couple hours to hand checker a front strap on a Colt 1911, I imagine it will take me 16 or 20 to do the entire flat on an octagon barrel. 

[JDHasty]

That’s a cool classic JD!!

I feel lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to have an actual CC Johnson varmint rifle.  To have one in 219 DW is icing on the cake. 

Something I have read about, but never thought I’d be in position to actually own one.  It certainly helped that I was able to recognize it for what it is.  There were two CC Johnson rifles in that auction.  The other one is a Sharps Borchard in 219 Donaldson Wasp.  I think the guy that got it feels the same way.

[Macs B]

Greeat Rifle!  Love that classic scope, I was once instructed that you don't adjust those scopes.  Instead you shift the world around them to bring it into zero.

[chukarchaser]

hell yes very cool

[JDHasty]

Well, this should be fun.  I’m thinking 6mm 30-30 Ackley to start with.  The nice thing about Stevens is that it doesn’t take much to spin a barrel off and a different caliber barrel on. No more trouble than a Contender to change caliber if it is the same case head size.  About five minutes longer if you need to change out the extractor.

Bought a CPA action yesterday.  A tad bigger than a 44 1/2, and made from the best steel.  Probably better make my mind up and get a barrel blank ordered. 

No time to lose if I’m going to have it to use by this time next year. 

[JDHasty]

Well, the plot thickens. 

The complete shop logs are available from the CC Johnson’s grandson, I just need to get hold of him and get the pages for this rifle.

The barrel is tight to the action, it is not a takedown any longer, and it has a single set trigger that appears to function very well. There is a spacer between the mainspring and lower tang... and that's as far as I have gotten so far. There is a set screw that enters the front of the trigger casting that I can see looking in from below. These Stevens were very highly regarded small bore target rifles through the early 1960’s and there were a number of aftermarket triggers available for them. 

The rifle shows evidence of having had the best of care taken of it.  It has a very light coat of oil throughout that has turned amber and has solidified to a wax like varnish both inside and out. The bore is immaculate.

I got a bit sidetracked after getting it here and have only looked it over, cleaned up the exterior and put a couple coats of Ren Wax on it and given the stock a wipe down with saddle soap on a soft cloth followed by a couple coats of Ren Wax. 

I haven't taken any photos other than of just the action showing the color case finish, but will and will post them. 

[JDHasty]

Here are a few photos of the CC Johnson 44 1/2 that I originally posted about. 

[JDHasty]

More photos and more on what I’m discovering about this beautiful old rifle here

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/cc-johnson-stevens-44-1-2-219-donaldson.1319040/

[Rob]

Beautiful Rifle!  Thanks for posting the photos.

I have always enjoyed the old guns.  Very cool that there are some documents you can potentially reference to know the history.

Not to hijack your thread, but I was given an Astra 900 "Broom Handle" by my father a few years back.  Mint condition never fired.  I have not been able to track down mfg date, but they were made by Astra between 1927 and 1943 I think.  I like to take it out and look it over from time to time!

[JDHasty]

Info from the C.C. Johnson job card

Sir,
Your rifle is interesting.
Job Card 57099

commissioned by Wayne Sickafoose
E Sparta, Ohio

Stevens 44 1/2  number 10355
fit Douglas barrel furnished
1 1/16X13/16 chamber .222
blue barrel and lever only
Fit barrel and chamber       $20.00
Blue barrel and lever          $ 4.50
fit extractor                       $ 3.50
bush block                         $ 5.00
Total                                 $33.00
Parcel Post                        $    .97

Received 5-28-57
Sent       2-6-58



Looking at the photos on rimfire central,
the .222 REM is X'd out and .219 DON
is added below C C JOHNSON
this is typical of what CCJ did if a customer wanted a barrel rechambered if it could be done.

[JDHasty]

Picked up a set of Redding 6mm x 30-30 AI dies, that was a good hit.  I’m going to have Lilja send a 29 inch 1:10 barrel blank to CPA, who now has my action.  12 - 14 weeks. 

I’ve been really enamored with this CPA bench rest rifle in 22LR and am giving serious consideration to having Lilja send a second 22 LR barrel blank along at the same time. 

That’s a substantial commitment.  A second breach block and lever is a chunk of change and they don’t give the stock blank sets away either.  I’m really fond of that bench rest stock, I would probably not want that #4 barrel though. 

[JDHasty]

My 6mm & 22LR barrel blanks should be headed from Lilja to CPA soon. 

On the 6mm I had an epiphany the other day.  Although I have the 6mm 30-30 Ackley form set, dies and 375 Winchester brass sitting here, Starlinebrass just released a run of 444 Marlin brass.  I can use the #1 Form die from my old 30-06 to 22-250 Varminter form die set, then run it through a 358, 308 and 243 FL die with the expander rod removed and make rimmed 243 brass from the 444 Marlin and gain a couple hundred fps. It wouldn’t be a big deal to chamber the barrel using a 243 Winchester reamer and then cut the rim groove on a lathe. 

I was waiting until I had successfully made up a hundred or so cases before letting CPA know that I changed my mind.  They need to be trimmed to length and have the necks turned, but everything is looking good. 

[JDHasty]

600 444 Marlin cases annealed, and made into rimmed 243.  Need to be annealed once more, necks cut to length, and turned. 

My barrel blanks shipped from Lilja to CPA yesterday, so I need to get a few dummy rounds made up and in the mail. 

On another note, I cut a deal on a real nice looking 44 1/2 barrel that is marked 17 A&M and fore end.  My inclination is that it is something Paul Marquardt made up using 222 Rimmed brass and their 17 Javalina reamer.  Then cut the rim recess on a lathe. 

The guy I got it from was not able to make a cerrosafe cast though.  If that is the case it shouldn’t be a big deal to make up cases on 357 Maximum brass.  The only 222 Rimmed currently available is Bertram and it is expensive and not that great either. 

44 1/2 barrels usually spin right on and headspace up. 

Worst case is we will cut a bit off and rechamber it to something else if it is some real oddball. 

[JDHasty]

OK, we got some brass that looks pretty much like a 243 Winchester w/a rim on it but it has a neck like a giraffe. 

CPA left a message late last night and wants to know what to put for a caliber stamp on the barrel.  Gee, I hadn’t thought of that.  Sounds like they are ready for those barrel blanks soon as they hit their door.

But I diverge.  What to do about the necks?  I built a jig out of a piece of aluminum 90 degree angle to position them perpendicular to the blade in my little Harbor Freakshow Mini Chop Saw.  The rim makes that easy, on a rimless case a cat down out of Chehalis makes 3D printed jigs.  Buy one.  That mini chop saw is a PITA, but it’s the best option.  I can cut about three/minute in it. 

They are all cut, all ~600, about 2-3 thousandths too long.  They were rough and raggedy inside and out and although I could take the burrs off w/a Wilson deburring tool, that’s a LOT of work.  So, into the Thumbler Vibratory Tumbler with walnut shell media and they will come out looking great in that regard.  See photo. 

Next step will be to trim them to exact length on a LE Wilson case trimmer and deburr/chamfer them.  About one/minute, so that is five hours work.  And we are done, right?  Nope, the necks not only grew in length going from 44 caliber down to 243, they got a LOT thicker. 

So, in forming the cases I removed the expander assemblies from the 243 FL die I last ran them through.  Actually I took it out of all of the intermediate dies as well.  What that implies is that the brass is smaller in diameter in the neck than it will end up being.  The extra is on the inside of the neck now and that means that if I am going to outside turn the necks around a 243/6mm pilot that the necks have to be brought up to fit the pilot.  They are dead soft, having just been annealed after being formed.  I can ream them using a Forster .239 inside neck reamer and then expand them using a K&M Neck Expand Mandrel… soon as it gets here.  I have the expand die body, but no 243 mandrel.  Oops, must have loaned it.  Then take a couple thousandths off the outside.

What I’m going to do is inside ream them and then run them over the expander mandrel and then outside turn ~.002 off of them.  Here’s why.  The reamer is going to go all the way through the shoulder.  If I don’t do it that way I will not be able to seat bullets all the way to or past the base of the neck.  This barrel is going to be throated for 90gr tipped bullets, but let’s say I want to shoot a deer with a 105 Partition?  Can’t do it because when you seat the bullet that deep it will expand the neck just in front of the shoulder so much that the round will not chamber.  Can’t seat the bullet long, the throat is not long enough. 

Last step I will turn the necks to .00145-.0015, I can do about one/minute (ten hours) and we’re done.  Right?  Not so fast Kemosabe, the inside neck reamer and mandrel are .243 and the bullets are also .243.  That ain’t gonna work.  So, it’s back through the FL size die (this time with the expander assembly back in it) or through a Lee Collett die and now we have our brass. 

[Kingofthemountain83]

Wow!!! Hope she's accurate!!!

[JDHasty]

Should be.  I have a BalVAR 24 to mount on it. 

W/regard to the 17 caliber A&M barrel for a Stevens 44 1/2 I mentioned above.  It got here and is actually chambered in 17 A&M Bee.  That makes things considerably easier.

A&M in the 1950s-1970s was Atkinson and Marquardt in Prescott AZ.  Paul Marquardt and Bill Atkinson.  Smallbore rifles with cut rifled barrels signed William Atkinson were the hot ticket back then.  They were up there with a couple others like Hart barrels that most top shooters were using. 

A&M, and Paul Marquardt in particular was heavily involved in the 17 caliber scene back then and were tight with Vern O'Brien in Las Vegas.  Vern O'Brien developed the 17 Mach IV that the 17 Fireball was ultimately based on.  I remember reading about what they were up to in magazines in the school library when I was a kid. 

So, this 17 A&M Bee is a 218 Bee case necked down, blown out and the shoulder moved forward to result in ~.018 inch neck.  Almost a dead ringer for the 17 HeBee.  Pretty much a chip shot to make from 218 Bee brass.  The problem with that is there isn't any 218 Bee brass being sold as a component.  I have a few bags of Winchester, but not near enough for a Bee or Hornet based varmint slayer.  Starlinebrass however just cranked out a run of 32-20 Winchester brass. 

That is going to involve making up some short necked 218 Bee brass by taking the 32-20 through a 25-20 die on the way there.  I have a Redding 17 Ackley Bee form/trim  die and a Bullberry Double End Die if I need it that should get that done.  The cases will need to be annealed first thing, then again at the 218 Bee stage,  The necks may need to be reamed and/or turned as well. The 17 Ackley Bee has a 20 degree shoulder and the 17 A&M Bee has a 23 degree shoulder and the A&M Bee has less taper.  Should be close enough to work just fine.   

Pretty boring stuff, but if anyone is interested let me know and I'll try and take photos and post about what I'm doing and why along the way.