DeHass rifle

[mfim]

Hello all,( my first post this site )
I am new to this site. The more I see the more I like it.I bought the Dehass book a couple years back. Had to wait till me and my sidekick finished 3 steam traction engines,. before getting started on the Dehass rifles. We are life long friends, but now live 170 miles apart since retirment. But we do projects together and get together every month or two to exchange parts and bs and etc. We are making 2 each of the vault lock II. Will probably take 1 to 2 years , same as the steamers did. We aquired some 4140 arsenal steel for the receivers and got it heatreated to 28 roc C. I have so far gotten the receiver stock squared up and the block (bolt) holes done. Two with 1 in. square, and two with 1 in. round. I also have a third one going that is 416 stainless. This will be my pet .218 bee. Just started squaring the stock. Then I went to south Texas for a couple months.Had a red drum get away last winter. Had to go back and get him. Where I am now for a couple three more weeks. I have not taken photos yet, but will if anyone is interested. I have built 40 0r 50 muzzle loaders from scratch and 30 or 40 rifles on mostly 98 Mauser actions, a couple sako's and remington falling blocks, etc. I have always wanted to build my own action, so here goes. I would love to hear from anyone who has built one of these Dehass vault lock II's. Don mfim

 

[Tom Griffin]

Sounds like quite a project Don. I definitely think that pictures would be appreciated, both of the Dehass rifles and others you have built as well.

It's also good to see another Michigander in the ranks. I was beginning to feel lonely.

Tom

 

[j_franich]

I bought a lathe to help with my bamboo rod making, but now I see that I need a mill and a lot of free time. This sounds like a great project, I can't wait to see the finished project.

I am a Michigander at heart, I've been in Alaska for 4 years and wouldn't mind making it back to the mitten state sooner or later.

 

[ScrapMetal]

All those projects sound very neat. I'd love to see and hear more about them.

Welcome to the site,

-Ron

 

[mfim]

I bought a lathe to help with my bamboo rod making, but now I see that I need a mill and a lot of free time. This sounds like a great project, I can't wait to see the finished project.

I am a Michigander at heart, I've been in Alaska for 4 years and wouldn't mind making it back to the mitten state sooner or later.

Hi and thanks for the welcome, will work on the pics when I get home in another month or so. We spent summers of 2000 20002 and 2004 touring Alaska in our truck camper. I got really hooked on sockeyes on my flyrod. We took our pressure cooker and canned too. Great times.

 

[NevadaBlue]

Please post pictures as you make progress. Mr DeHaas is one of my favorites, I have most of his books and they are well read. I've never seen a real vault lock rifle except in pictures, looking forward to seeing your version.

 

[Harry Eales]

The Vault Lock is far from being a recent design, the English company of 'Webley' patented this design in the late 1890's and it doubtful if they was the first that thought about it. It's main failing is the circular breechblock. The action does not offer much resistance to the back thrust of the breechblock due to the poor support the curved surfaces give. If making one, keep it to a very low pressure round of small calibre. Go to anything larger with even a medium pressure cartridge and your rifle will soon be scrap. Webley only chambered their model 1902 single shot rifles made to this design for Rook and Rabbit Rifles, all made for shooting at less than 200 yards. See Wal Winfers volume six in the series of British Single Shot Rifles. A magnificent series of books but very expensive indeed.

Harry

 

[mfim]

The Vault Lock is far from being a recent design, the English company of 'Webley' patented this design in the late 1890's and it doubtful if they was the first that thought about it. It's main failing is the circular breechblock. The action does not offer much resistance to the back thrust of the breechblock due to the poor support the curved surfaces give. If making one, keep it to a very low pressure round of small calibre. Go to anything larger with even a medium pressure cartridge and your rifle will soon be scrap. Webley only chambered their model 1902 single shot rifles made to this design for Rook and Rabbit Rifles, all made for shooting at less than 200 yards. See Wal Winfers volume six in the series of British Single Shot Rifles. A magnificent series of books but very expensive indeed.

Harry

Hi Harry, Thanks for the input. I will definately try to Google up a copy to read. It will be interesting to see the similarites. It will be interesting to see how the materials and heatreating compares also. Before I made any chips, I had my nephew, ( mechanical engineer) do some computerized tests. I sent him the Dehass book of demensioned drawings. Case head diameters of a few cartridges, with corresponding operating pressures
( psi, not cup). Barrel length and fps. The 4140 heatreated 4140 round breechblock design was a little over double the pressure of a factory .308 winchester before it started to yeild. It was over 4 times the pressure in the square breech design. I would still like to talk to someone who has built one. Thanks again Harry. Don

 

[mfim]

Hi Harry or whomever, Could not get the book thru " Bookmobile" service at library. Found used ones on internet, but cost prohibitive. I was able to find a couple for sale on Christies Auction.com. Good photos that I could zoom in on. The rook appears to have a round breech block, but is not what I would deem a "vault lock". The Webley Rook uses a TOP loading port that lends very little support directly behind cartridge, especially with a round breech block. The Dehass vault lock employs a SIDE loading port which allows the round breech block to be completely encircled by the receiver steel, ABOVE and BELOW the cartridge.
Dehass in designing this action took the best features from several different mfrs and incorperated them into his action. States this in his book. I would venture to guess the round breech block feature is ease of manfacturing, especially the receiver.:thinking:

 

[mfim]

Hi All Just tried to post pics. Everything all loaded pushed submit , did not work. here goes again. Hey worked this time. Will edit post >>>Only items not made by me was Douglas xx 270 barrel blank, 54 cal Wm Large barrel blank.Leoupould scope and mounts Timney trigger and sling and swivels.Hawken rifle, reworked 98mauser action rifle. stainless 12 ga muzzleloader Steam traction model is from old Popular Mechanics Magazine plans. Not a kit either. None of these projects were kits or castings.