Interesting front rest surprise, from PA

[PigButtons]

This rest had been assembled inside out and I had always assumed it was just some noname unit. None of this engraving was visible. I got it at an auction and never gave it a thought. Looks like a school project or maybe a fundraiser. Excellent guality and built like a tank.

Just thought the folks from PA might like it.

 

[Joe Cowan]

Can't even tell you haw many of those things I've built. Well over a thousand
At one time i had a two-year backlog.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Hey Joe;
Will you be building them again when school starts?

 

[JEFFPPC]

This rest is made by the students at the Altoona Area Vo Tech in their Precision Machine classes. These classes are available for both high school students and adult students. The instructor is Joe Cown, a shooter. He started this project some years ago as a fund raiser for the students projects. All proceeds go to the students benefit. These rest are in many countries around the world including Russia, China, Australia. They are hard to beat for the price. No school last year so no production. Hopefully that will change this year. I believe they have a batch partially ready. Joe can be contacted by email, cowanhaus@ gmail.com

 

[TIMO]

Can't even tell you haw many of those things I've built. Well over a thousand
At one time i had a two-year backlog.

First quality rest I ever bought (used) when I started shooting benchrest, still using it.
Tim

 

[PatMiles]

View attachment 1274161

This rest had been assembled inside out and I had always assumed it was just some noname unit. None of this engraving was visible. I got it at an auction and never gave it a thought. Looks like a school project or maybe a fundraiser. Excellent guality and built like a tank.

Just thought the folks from PA might like it.

Howzabout a couple of pics of the complete rest.

 

[PigButtons]

 

[PatMiles]

Very nice!

 

[ckaberna]

How do bullets print off it?

 

[JEFFPPC]

How do bullets print off it?

That's totally up to your rifle, load, tune, and ability.

 

[ckaberna]

That's totally up to your rifle, load, tune, and ability.

I realize that, but how did you like it. PM probably inbound.

 

[PigButtons]

I realize that, but how did you like it. PM probably inbound.

It is a very stable, fine quality, smooth action, rifle rest. This is the only quality rest I've used so I can't compare it to others, but I like it a lot and have never felt like I needed better for what I do.

 

[std7mag]

Jeff keeps beating me with his.

But In all fairness, that's not hard to do.

 

[drano38]

One of these was my first rest for shooting 600 yard IBS. Used it for over 10 years and worked great.
Controls are well laid out, adjustments are solid, with no backlash. The bearing on the course elevation adjustment makes that very smooth also.
Best value out there, and a great rest.
Plus, you're giving the students a real-world application as they learn their skills.

 

[spike-55]

elephant in the room - how much does it cost???

 

[PigButtons]

Confession time! The reason I took the rest apart and found it assembled inside out was that I got distracted and left it out in the rain. The next morning I was so upset that I took to taking it apart to clean and dry everything out. It was then that I discovered the engraving.

I was thoroughly impressed at the quality of the build and the ease of disassembly. It also gave me a chance to clean the sliding bushings in the windage adjustment part of the rest and it made it even smoother as some rust had formed on the steel parts from years of use in our humid Alabama weather.

Cool to find out the history of these fine student made rests, and good on Joe Cowan for managing the making of all of them and helping the students out at the same time.

 

[Joe Cowan]

Confession time! The reason I took the rest apart and found it assembled inside out was that I got distracted and left it out in the rain. The next morning I was so upset that I took to taking it apart to clean and dry everything out. It was then that I discovered the engraving.

I was thoroughly impressed at the quality of the build and the ease of disassembly. It also gave me a chance to clean the sliding bushings in the windage adjustment part of the rest and it made it even smoother as some rust had formed on the steel parts from years of use in our humid Alabama weather.

Cool to find out the history of these fine student made rests, and good on Joe Cowan for managing the making of all of them and helping the students out at the same time.

You have the top assembled bass-ackwards. It has to do with the relationship between the pip on the T-handle and the slot in the threaded post. IT can be set up for right or left handed shooters. I would be happy to tell you how to fix it

 

[std7mag]

elephant in the room - how much does it cost???

I think i want to say $200.
Probably more now, IF school open up this year.
They are actually pretty well sought after.
Made in Altoona, PA. Altoona Carreer & Technology Center. ( i don't think they've called it Votech in 20 years lol).

 

[hdskip]

Not to steal this thread but here are pictures of student projects that my students did in precision machining class I taught. All done by teenagers.

 

[PigButtons]

You have the top assembled bass-ackwards. It has to do with the relationship between the pip on the T-handle and the slot in the threaded post. IT can be set up for right or left handed shooters. I would be happy to tell you how to fix it

Thanks for the offer and pointing me in the right direction. Others may like to hear how it should be but your hint was enough for me to understand what I had wrong.