Centre Fire Rifles
Ruger No.1 outfit in Winchester .243"
Launched in 1966 the Ruger No. 1 was an instant success. Inspired by, but by no means a copy of, The Farquharson Falling Block action the No. 1 is a superb piece of engineering. It is immensely strong, a delight to use and very reliable. The safety catch is a shotgun style sliding tang. This example is in .243" and was my own stalking rifle and shoots very well indeed. The 25" barrel is in good condition inside and out. It has a custom trigger which can be set. The scope is a Leupold 3-9 x 40. The stock has colour and grain which is simply stunning. It has sling mounts and I am sure I can find a leather sling if one is wanted. A real classic stalking rifle - lightweight, accurate and a delight to handle.
£685
Issac Hollis and Sons .450" 3 1/4" Nitro Express Double Hammer Rifle
A rare beast - a nitro express double hammer rifle. Issac Hollis was a Birmingham based company established in 1814. The company had London offices from 1870. The .450 3 1/4" started life as a black powder cartridge - one the of "express" rounds - so name by Purdey as the new lighter 325 grain bullets were as fast as "an express train". The .450BPE was a very popular and effective deer round with its relatively flat trajectory and muzzle energy of around 2300ft/lb. In 1898 John Rigby and Co took this case and loaded it with cordite. The .450 3 1/4" Nitro now had a 48grain bullet and close to 5000ft/lb of energy. The new round, in the words of John Pondoro Taylor "took the big game hunting world by storm". It was a real game changer. Until this time big and dangerous game could be killed but quite a range of calibres - that is given a lethal injury. To stop an injured animal was a different matter. The old 4 and 6 bores were still carried as back ups to deal with anything big which had turned nasty. The arrival of the nitro express made the old big bores redundant. The .450 became the standard calibre for big game hunters in Africa. It would have remained the number one choice but for a law prohibiting any privately owned weapons of .450 calibre in Indian and Sudan. The worry of troublesome natives stealing ammunition and rifles brought about the ban. The .450 then morphed into the .470 and other very similar calibres. They are pretty much indistinguishable in terms of ballistics. The calibre is still regarded as the standard reference for dangerous big game, and it still still deal with anything it is presented with. The serial number dates this rifle to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The barrels are 27" and the stock has a reach of 14 3/4". The rifling is in good shape. It comes in a leather case of the right period, but which is probably not the original one.
£3450
Remington 600 Mohawk .308"
A Remington 600 Mohawk bolt action rifle in .308". The Model 600 normally featured a full length rib, but this was not present on the Mohawk. The Model 600 was intended to be a "Guide Gun", and with the short 18 1/2' barrel and light weight ( 5 1/2 Ib ) it was an easy rifle to carry. The Model 600 was not produced after 1968, but was followed by similar models - the 660 and the 600 Mohawk. The Mohawk was made from 1972 through to 1979. Only 142 of them were made with the full length "Stutzen" stock, making this a rare rifle. This example is in tidy order with a good barrel and only a few handling marks on the stock. The rear sight is missing, but the front one is present. The receiver is drilled and tapped for telescopic mounts. As a woodland stalking rifle, few will be handier than this, and the short length makes it ideal for anyone in and out of a vehicle during their work.
£330
Lakelander Model 389 .308" Sporting Rifle
A Lakelander Model 389 bolt action rifle in .308". This Norwegian made rifle has seen little work and is in a very tidy condition. The stock has good figure and the high raised comb lending itself well for a decent sized scope. The walnut stock has a 14" reach and the fore end cap and pistol grip cap are in a darker hard wood - Rosewood I think. The 22" barrel has an excellent bore. The integral magazine takes three rounds. A good quality rifle in a very versatile calibre.
£375
Ishapore 7.62mm Jungle Carbine
The Indian armoury at Ishapore produce Lee Enfield based bolt action rifles in 7.62mm as a stop gap while they updated there front line forces with the FN rifle. This one is dated 1966. This is also marked with the RFI mark of Ishapore and 2A. It has the aluminium butt plate typical of the model. The overall condition of the rifle is sound, and generally good. It would look better with a bit of polish on the stock. There is a small loss and replacement at the top of the comb where it joins the butt plate. The bore is good - well above average. It has the standard 12 round magazine fitted. The shorter barrelled "Jungle Carbines" were generally popular with the troops as they were lighter and easier to carry. They do bark a bit more with the shorter barrel and are great fun on the range.
£625
Austro-Hungarian Steyr-Mannlicher Stutzen 8x56R
A 8x56R M95/30 conversion of a Mannlicher M1895. These were converted by Steyr-Mannlicher during the period of the First Austrian Republic, from 1930 to 1940. The M1895 was an updated version of the famous Mannlicher straight pull action.They were popular with troops with the high rate of fire the straight pull action gave; 30 to 35 rounds per minute were possible. Originally made in the 8.50mmR chamberings most were updated to the M95 calibre of 8x56mmR which was much more powerful. This example has tidy woodwork and most of the original bluing present. The bore is very presentable. The integral magazine hols 5 rounds and would have been loaded by a stripper clip. A tidy and useable rifle which is a bit different from the straight pull Schmidt Rubin which is getting quite popular.
£435
Mauser Gewehr 98 Rifle
A Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle. This rifle was first manufactured in 1898 and is chambered for the standard 8mm Mauser round (7.92x57). It first saw active service with the German Army in China during the Boxer Rebellion and was the standard German infantry weapon of the First World War. The rifle is marked 1903 and under the Imperial Crown of Kaiser Wilheim, "Amberg" which is the arsenal in Bavaria which produced large numbers of these rifles. 1903 was incidentally the year the last of three plans were drawn up by the German Imperial German Forces to invade the USA, principally with amphibious landings in New York and Boston. With it's internal 5 round magazine and strip loading ammunition the Geweher 98 brought new and important features to the battlefield, and these were soon copied by others. This example has matching numbers and is in good order. The wood work is marked and bruised in places, with a small vice compression mark ( shown in the photos) just behind the rear sight. The stock roundel is marked with " B17R11. 172". The bore is presentable and shootable, but short of mint or an excellent description.
£850
Winchester Model 70 XTR Featherweight .270"
The Model 70 was introduced in 1937, and gained the name "The Rifleman's Rifle". In 1952 a lightweight version was launched, and called the Featherweight. Made in 1982, this example has the original finish, which still looks good with the bluing staring to lighten and take on a brown tint. The pre '64 Featherweights were considered the best ones as various cuts to expense were made in that year, which inevitably lead to claims of poorer quality. Further changes were made and many commentators declare the post 1974 models to be the equal of the pre 1964 productions - perhaps excepting the replacement of hand chequering with laser cutting. It comes with a German Schmidt and Bender 8x56 scope in quick release removable scope mounts. The rifle also has iron sights fitted with a fold down leaf rear sight with ivorine insert. This outfit is very accurate and the big scope, along with the versatile .270" calibre make it a very effective Boar outfit.
£700
Collins Bros. Lee Enfield Sporting Rifle .303"
Colins Bros traded from 1967 to 1975 and then on to 1987 under the name of "The Southern Armoury Ltd". They were based in the New Kent Road in east London. Based on a No.4 Lee Enfield Service Rifle these conversions make excellent shooters. The bore is in good condition and this rifle shoots well. It comes with a fitted Pecar Light 4 x 35 Scope. This is a high quality scope of a suitable period and suits the rifle well.
£425
Ruger No.1 Outfit. .257 Roberts
The Ruger No1 needs little introduction. Inspired by, but by no means copied from, the Farquharson falling block the deign is immensely strong, very accurate, reliable and a delight to use. The .257 Roberts calibre is less well known but has admirable ballistic qualities. The round was originally based on a necked down 7x57 Mauser. Factory loads are available in the UK, but don't expect every local gun shop to have them on the shelf. The performance has been described a falling neatly between the .243 and the .308. The home loader will have a wide range of options from over 3800fps 60 grain loads to 12 grains at 2645 fps. The outfit comes with an ASG Ultra Moderator, a Caldwell bipod, 1" rings and a sling. The rifle appears little used but has a few small compression marks on the stock, presumably from a gun rack. The scope shown is not included in the sale, but is available if wanted. It is a Pecar 4x35 Champion. I have 180 rounds of factory ammunition for this rifle in stock which may be purchased separately.
£500
Midland Gun Co .243 with 3-9x56 Scope
A .243 Bolt Action rifle by the Midland Gun Company. A tidy rifle with a very good bore. The rifle is fitted with a 3-9x56 Tasco scope with an adjustable illuminated reticule. The rifle is in good condition - almost very good but it has a few marks on the stock which look as if they have come from a car type gun rack; not deep but superficial . The blueing is in good order. The rifle has iron sights fitted. The Midland Gun Co was formed in 1889 and was best known for providing practical and good value guns, particularly for colonial service where serviceability scored over fine or fancy finishes. The premises moved around Birmingham over the years and the company was taken over by Parker Hale in 1952, but continued to use the Midland Gun Co name. The rifle is built on a Mauser action. The story is that after moving into new premises in the 1960s an old tunnel range was cleared out and large quantities of Mauser action were found in crates, originally taken as war reparations. These were then used for sporting rifles with great success. Later actions were bought from other sources including Czechoslovakia. these were produced up until the demise of Parker Hale in the 1990s. Sadly the records of serial number have been destroyed or at least lost. this rifle would appear to be from the very end of the line.
£255
Ferlach .30-06 Sporting Rifle with Claw mounted Pecar Scope
A high quality sporting rifle with a Pecar scope on quick release claw mounts. The rifle is a Mauser action bolt action in .30-06, and the 60cm barrel (23 1/2") has a very good bore. Stamped with the Ferlach proof marks and a date stamp of 1954. The barrel is marked with "Bohler Blitz Stahl", which is a high grade steel. The rifle has an integral magazine. The stock has a bit of grain and is in goor condition - very good for a sporting rifle of this age. The scope is a Pecar 4x81. The scope is a 4 x magnification with a 36mm objective lens, but at the time Pecar confusingly used the brightness index in the name. Dividing the objective lens by the magnification (36 divided by 4 gives 9, which when squared gives the brightness index of 81). The scope is fitted with the Suhl style claw mounts. The reticule is the No. 3 style, which has a vertical post and two horizontal lines rather than cross hairs. The scope has the elevation adjustment, and the rear mount has the windage adjustment. The rifle has open sights, with a fixed rear v and two folding leaves. The safety catch is a shotgun style catch and the rifle has a twin trigger set up. The rifle has a 14" reach including the rubber recoil pad. The rifle shoots extremely well. Ferlach is the most southerly town in Austria and the home Austrian gun making. This rifle does not have a makers name, which is not uncommon for Ferlach guns, but is certainly a good quality rifle.
£445
Inman Meffert Drilling 16 bore X 8x57 JR
A classic German Drilling. The two top barrels are 16 bore ( Nitro proofed) and the rifle barrel underneath is 8 x 57 JR. The rifle calibre is the rimmed version of the Mauser 8 x 57 service rifle round. Inman Meffert is one of the best known makers of high quality Driilings from the gun making centre of Suhl, later to be a part of the communist run East Germany. This rifle was made between the wars and was made for a retailer in Munster, "F. Dumbeck", who still trades as a gunsmith in Munster today. The rifle selector switch is on the top tang, and also flicks up the rear sight from the top rib as well as altering the trigger pull on the front trigger. Push this trigger forward and it sets to a light trigger pull for the rifle. There is a side mounted safety visibly similar to the Greener style. The horn trigger guard is in good condition as is the woodwork, with sharp chequering. All three bores are in good condition. These drillings are famously used for driven shooting with buck shot or slugs in the shotgun barrels. I have used a similar drilling in the UK, and have enjoyed addressing whatever presents itself, subject to seasons of course, whether it be pigeon, fox, pheasant or one of the dee species. The 8x57 round is suitable for UK deer stalking as well as for our growing Boar population. I have a quantity of ammunition in stock for this rifle, but it is freely available - usually by order.
£1350
BSA Bolt Action .270
A BSA .270 bolt action sporting rifle in good condition. The rifle has good iron sights fitted, with graduated adjustment for windage and elevation. It also has a one piece scope mount with 1" rings. The .270 round is a versatile round, and is now enjoying a surge in popularity as a round for Boar.
£195
BSA .308 Bolt Action Rifle
A classic sporting rifle. This rifle was owned from new by the previous owner who is known to me. It has not fired more than 100 rounds and is in exceptional condition: bore, finish and operation are as new. The rifle has factory fitted swivel eyes fitted and scope mounting blocks.
£sold
Mauser Karabiner 98AZ Erfurt 1909
A Mauser Karabiner 98a Model AZ. Made in the Erfurt arsenal in central Germany in 1909, and stamped as such on the receiver. A variant of the classic Gewehr 98 Mauser which saw the German armed forces through both World Wars in various forms. The Karabiner Model 1898az was introduced in 1908. The "A" reflected the fitting of a bayonet lug and the"z" a stacking rod. They were issued to mountain and assault troops who appreciated the shorter barrel length. The stock has a dark patina and plenty of marks and minor dings which reflect the life of a service rifle. The bore is in remarkably good condition. The Imperial German proof marks and original stamps are present and reasonably cleat despite some external light pitting. The original numbers have been over stamped with a new number, although the originals are still visible.
£sold
FN Mauser K98 Carbine Colombian Contract .30-06
A FN manufactured Mauser K98 Gendarmerie Carbine made for the Colombian government. This carbine was made by FN in Belgium. It was made in .30-06 and is not a conversion. It was made as a part of a 1950 contract. The receiver is clearly marked with the crest of " Colombia Fuerzas Militares ". The receiver bridge has .30 stamped on it. The receiver is double broach cut - a detail confirming it as a post war Belgian production model and not a pre war model which has been converted. The rear of the receiver is marked "FAB. NAT. D'ARMIES de GUERRE Herstal- BELGIQUE". The stock has the original ribbed or corrugated butt plate and is in a generally good condition. The 17" barrel has Birmingham proof marks at the muzzle. During the 1950s Colombia was still reeling from the assassination of it's President some 2 years before and was going through a decade of disorder known as " La Violencia". The Military command and the police were all restructured at this time - the former under the direction of a group of British advisors. These carbine length Mausers were issued to Military Cavalry Units and to Gendarmerie Police units who were both still horse mounted due to the rural and mountainous terrain. The combination of a short length and the .30-06 round make this a real blast to shoot on the range.
£sold
Remington 1874 Rollling Block 8x58R Danish Krag
The standard military issue rifle for the Swedish Arm for over 30 years the Remington Rolling block was a strong and reliable weapon. The original 12mm rim fire calibres were replaced by the 8x58R Danish Krag towards the end of it's service and in 1890 it was replaced by the bolt action Mauser. This example is marked with the Royal Crown of the the United Kingdoms of Norway and Sweden as they were in union at the time. It is in good condition and shoots very well. The bore is good and the finish externally is good all over the rifle - wood and metal. The rear sight has one fixed and one folding leaf. It comes with some cases and reloading dies.