doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Steven Dodd Hughes 22 Hornet

I sneak into Steven’s shop as often as I can to discuss fine guns and my prowess with them. Steven puts up with it and we have a mutual admiration for those fine firearms.

I was showing him one of my latest acquisitions and in our discussion, he showed me an unfinished gun he had started a few years earlier. I am always interested in something new that you can shoot and shoot often, like a varmint caliber and this is a 22 K Hornet.

He gave me his price and I tried to get it down to a reasonable offer and Steve is not really interested in bartering. He did give me a nice soft case to take it home…

Beautiful.... and what potential.

Great grain layout in that stock. I have wondered how much pressure is advisable for original Lo-Wall action?

A very cool project I was unfortunately unable to sand and finish because of my lung-breathing condition. I bought that stock blank from my good friend Steve Heilmann about 1996, as I remember. A super fancy, perfectly laid-out blank of California English walnut. The original Winchester Low Wall action almost can't be overloaded in a KHornet case. I converted the action from straight grip to pistol grip and from rimfire to centerfire. The stock emulates Winchester's Special Sporting Rifle profile slimmed down with distinct S curve grip bottom and dished cheekpiece. There are ebony V shaped wedges in the bottom of the grip and the fore end. I've built 4 custom Low Walls in this style.
I am fully retired from gunsmithing gunmaking.
Another custom Low Wall

Excellent stockmaker here in NH had to retire early because of lung problems. Like most 'smiths I have known, no mask or air filter. I was fortunate that he made a Hi-Wall stock for me. California English blank, looking for a better photo..... I have EVERYTHING, but somewhere, because I cannot remember where.....

file:///C:/Users/jeffr/Desktop/Firearms%205-6-26/Mine/.45-70%20Hi-Wall/P3030125.JPG

No mask, air filter, gloves, hearing protection. ect, I started wearing ear muffs pretty early but mainly when convenient. Nobody did in GS school, never got in the habit...
Now i can't fit ear muff over my hearing aid, O2 hose and glasses. No place for resporator mask. Also everyone smoked during my childhood so I did too.
All came back to bite~
SDH Custom High Wall 30-40

Steven, I've always admired your work. Sorry your health has suffered from doing what you love. Regards, Chris

Beautiful rifles. I really admire the craftmanship.

But, I never could warm up to a Hornet. Once I discovered the potential of a .22 WMRF I stuck with it for "short range" varmints, out to about 225 yds. Past that I call on my old .220 Swift for crow duty.

Many years ago (more than 60!) I got bit by the R-2 Lovell madness. I was fortunate enough to accumulate enough brass to see me through. Still have my first, a Hi-Wall with CC Johnson barrel and Shelhamer stock. I can't remember how to post photos here.....