Steve, my very first action-shortening project @ TSJC was an 1891 like yours, only I used a 222 bolt face. Again like you, Bill Prator helped me a lot on this project. I used stick welding for the process and had to make some alterations in order to obtain enough mainspring length. It became a cute little single shot varminter and is still floating around this neck of the woods someplace.
I read somewhere that "Great minds run in the same channels" but I also read somewhere else that "Fools think alike!"
Regards, Joe
