Dragon Slayer Actions:
General Information

The Dragon Slayer^tm Action was originally designed as as swinging block action. It has taken approximately four years to develop the first prototype and the necessary molds.  Several features of this action as well as the overall design are in the process of being patented. 

The first drawing shows a standard size Dragon Shaving set up with classic style stocks. A recess has been milled into the sides of the reciver to reduce weight.  Shape of this recess is optional and may be ordered to suit.  The second drawing shows the standard action with thumbhole style stocks.  The ellipse shape on the receiver represents a cast bas relief area. This bas relief area may be any shape desired.  The third drawing shows the standard action with custom drop in style pistol stocks. The multiple colors on the stock represent contrasting wood inlays added for both eye appeal and to strengthen the grip area.  Additional strentgh is gained thru the use of stabilized woods.  It is not apparent in the drawings, but any or all of these methods will work using interchageable barrels.

After developing the molds and producing a few actions form the castings, Further development has led to abandoning the casting process in favor of CNC machining.  Slight redesign of the action to allow this process provides several advantages.  First...it is not necessary to place orders for castings in advance when inventory begins to run low.  Second...a two month or more wait while castings are produced is avoided.  Third...castings do not have to be order in two or more materials, leading to even high inventory costs.  Forth, eliminating the use of castings reduces inventory costs.  Bar stock can be obtained on an as needed basis without a long waiting period.  Fifth...the new process led to the elimination of some parts. Sixth, new molds and the attendent time require to produce and test them before production castings can be made is eliminated.  Seventh...fixturing required for machining the various parts turns out to be much cheaper than developing productions molds.  As it turns out, only one simple fixture is required to machine the receiver for both the standard and the small (Cadet or Rook as you prefer) action.  One other fixture is required to machine the breech block for both actions.  And a third is required for machining the trigger guard.  Eighth...the action is even easier to build.  Building one from castings took about two days plus the time spent making custom fixtures and/or set up gages.  Estimated build time for this new design is now less than 8 hours (for a really slow  machininst).  Perhaps 4 hours for a fast machininst.  Ninth...machining the parts from bar stock using CNC tecnology leads to much greater accuracy in part size and reduces (or eliminates in some cases) fitting of various components.  Tenth...machining from bar stock allows us to maintain a low inventory.  If the item you want is not in stock, it can generally be manufactured for you within a day or two.

At slight extra cost we will machine the exterior contours for you using the same fixture we use to machine the inside areas.  When ordering, please specify octagon or round top action. This includes milling any weight reduction recesses desired.

The only "disadvantge" might be that the receiver and breech block are machined as right and left hand halves and must be welded together.  For legal and safety reasons, we recommend this be done via TIG or laser welding by a certified welder.  We do not have a certified welder available, so please don't ask us to weld the units for you.  If we did, you would have to sign a binding release absolving us from all future damage claims.

Several partsare going to be manufactured using laser cutting technology.  To the best of our knowledge, we will be the first company in the firearms industry to use parts made using this technology.  The reasons are simple...low cost, speed of manufacturing and other "problems" (indicated above) related to the use of investment castings!  So, we belive we are bringing a better product to the market and at lower cost.

Fixtures for producing the standard and the small action are under construction now...not some time in the future.  Production is expected to begin by the begining of May.

Magnum and super magnum (2 bore size) will still be available and will be machined using the same technology.  The only differences will be the size of the actions.

Machining the actions from bar stock does NOT eliminate the possibility of including bas relief carvings if desired.  We have developed a method of doing this on the Dragon Slayer actions.  In fact, we will be able to offer something that no other firearms manufacturer offers or would be (most likely) unwilling to offer.  That feature is the ability to offer stainless steel bas relief section in a blued (or color casehardened) carbon steel receiver.  An option to go along with this is a stainless "ring" (any shape) around a carbon steel bas relief section. 

As before, we offer a service not available elsewhere.  Numerous standard designs as well as your own custom design may be cast directly into the receiver.  Those desiring to produce their own private line of semi or full customs firearms can now do so at low cost.

The Dragon Slayer^tm Actions will be available in five sizes:

• Super Magnum (up to 2 bore AND 20 MM cannon size cartridge)
• Magnum (up to 50 BMG)
• Standard (Most standard magnum cartridges will work in this action size)
• Cadet
• Mini (This is a planned future "museum" size action" built on an extremely limited basis)
   

All kits will be provided with complete instructions, with drawings and photos and all necessary commercial parts.  Instructions will be furnished in CD format.  Eventually, an instructional DVD will be made available. Those wihing an evenlower cost may order a "bare bones" kit. 

The following features apply to the swinging block actions.

• Build it as a rifle and/or pistol using interchangeable barrels. 
• Any rimmed or rimless centerfire or rimfire cartridge or shotgun shell may be used as well as front loading black powder barrels. The super magnum size will handle up to a 2 bore as well as a wildcat based on the 20mm cannon shell.
• The breechblock is designed to minimize friction when operating the action and may be altered to reduce weight and friction even further.
• All actions have exposed hammers. This allows the user to re-cock the hammer without opening the action in the event of a misfire.
• Safety and latch leversare provided for ambidextrous operation.  Single side operational set up is optional. 
• The hammer is a rebound style. An ambidextrous hammer extension may be fitted allow  operation when a receiver-mounted scope interferes with cocking.
• The mainspring, is designed for easy adjustment.  this adjustment should prevent one from having a spring fly across the shop when assembling or disassembling the action.   
• While the original idea was to provide numerous styles of trigger guard to be built from only two castings, this feature has been eliminated in favor of one standard design.  This, again, is to reduce costs.  Non standard designs are easily manufactured usin the same CNC tecnology being used on the standard design.  Standard material is steel.  Aluminum, brass and nickel silver components are also available.
• Cartridge headspace is easily adjustable without the need for altering the barrel. This adjustment can be made in the field without disassembling or even opening the action. This function allows headspace alteration when multiple barrels with different headspace set-ups are used.
• The firing pin and extractor assemblies are designed to allow field replacement of any broken components. No need for in shop repairs. This assembly is easily interchanged when switching to muzzle loading barrels.
• There are no flat or vee type springs to make. Construction is such that it should only take a reasonably competent machinist about 6 hours (on the average) to obtain a working action. This does NOT include any cosmetic (contouring, filing, polishing, etc.) work or the required welding.

Interchangeable Components:
Thestandard trigger guard, latch levers and safety levers are used as well as the latch levers are all used on both the standard and small actions. 

With careful fitting of components, it may be possible to use the same safety set up on two different sized of actions.  If one wanted to set up two or more trigger guards made from different materials, it is a good idea to install aand fit a safety mechanism in each trigger guard.  That way, one would only need to remove a couple of trigger guard mounting screws to make the changeover.

Materials:
Unless otherwise specified, he receivers and breech blocks are to be machined from either 4140 annealed (easily available at reasonable cost) carbon steel alloy or stainless steel.  Trigger guard are to be made from 1018 carbon steel alloy.  Trigger guards may also be machined  from aluminum, brass or nickel silver. 

Stocks:
This action was original designed to use separate buttstocks and forends for both rifle and pistol version.  The new designe allows the builder to use a "drop in" style stock  (rifle or pistol) similar to those used on many bolt action rifles. 

 One last item:  if anyone would like an action built as a toy "cap gun" let us know.  We can build a very lighweight one fairly quickly using stabilized hardwoods and other material.  This will be a "working" action, so the kids might love it.  Please contact us for further details as it is NOT listed in the kits section.