Sorry about resurrecting a 5-year old thread - I got distracted with building telecaster-style electric guitars and tube amps for a while (they all have their own forums of course which consume time), but I am about to get back into the ML world.
Anywho, i appreciate all the kind words on this rifle.
Like most of you I'm sure, I find the over-the-comb tang intimidating to start, but I really like the way they look in the end.
Mine actually start as a regular ol' Lancaster-style short tang, and I lap joint and MIG weld on the extension piece - the screw bosses are just cheap steel washers "inlet" into the steel bar and tack welded from below. Then all filed into final form.
And no this barrel doesn't come out of the stock for cleaning.
As y'all know, if you bend that tang, then bend it back to where it oughta be, you just lengthened the metal and your Inlets don't fit so well anymore. It's basically an irreversible boo-boo.
Someone asked about the muzzle; I just copied that off someone else - (don't we all !?!).
Welded a homemade hardened, pointy cutter piece (chunk of old file) onto a 12" pilot rod, wrapped the "bore" end of the rod in tape for a snug fit and inserted it into the bore.
Chucked the other end into my drill.
Run the drill slow, lower the whole assembly into the bore until the cutter contacts the muzzle, carefully score the circle, keep going (slowly) until you get what you want, and Bob's your uncle.
Smoothed out with 800 wet/dry.
Easier than it sounds, really.
Takes longer to build the cutter rod than it does to do the muzzle with it.
Good to be back in the ML crowd - when i get going on this next build i'll post some pics.
/mm