Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever?

[pjaln]

this was designed in the early 1900,s I would say its the epitome of bolt rifle design. the Rigby 400/350 magnum mauser. pic is from Ludwig Olsens book which I stared at for years and mine that I bought in 2008 and still have

 

[318AE]

Westley Richards makes a “dropbox”; it’s the extended box on the 425’s

 

[Rubberhead]

I love the "prop shots" with guns and bullets and fine leather accoutrements. But, when it comes to it, I'm a lover of Game-and-Gun photos.

 

[pjaln]

Westley Richards makes a “dropbox”; it’s the extended box on the 425’s
View attachment 470076

the 425 with the drop box has always been a favorite of mine , the time put into making these guns work in a standard 98 action is remarkable especially with the side clips

 

[Arkansas_Traveler]

I have the same gun. It was my first rifle. Bought at a gas station in Delavan, WI from their new gun rack. Every weekend I’d roll into the Gander Mountain corporate HQ with a crisp $5 and walk out with a brick of 500 .22lr to feed through it that weekend. What I lacked in precision I accounted for in volume.

I too had the same rifle, also a Christmas gift from my parents when I was young.
Mine, however, disappeared years ago - the victim of a break-in, we never recovered it. I'm sure it was pawned off for quick cash by someone.
Maybe one of these days I'll try and replace it, but so far I haven't made an attempt. It wouldn't be the same rifle, so it just hasn't felt right to replace it yet.

 

[rookhawk]

I too had the same rifle, also a Christmas gift from my parents when I was young.
Mine, however, disappeared years ago - the victim of a break-in, we never recovered it. I'm sure it was pawned off for quick cash by someone.
Maybe one of these days I'll try and replace it, but so far I haven't made an attempt. It wouldn't be the same rifle, so it just hasn't felt right to replace it yet.

Without the fond memories, its just a crappy little rifle that fills up with crud quickly and feeds from the tubular magazine poorly. Mine sits in the safe and hasn't been used in 20 years. The memories are there, but the quality is not. They did make a 1990s era one in stainless steel that had a much higher fit and finish so if you're going to replace its memory with something, take a look at those.

For me, the highest quality .22lrs I've seen are the 77/22 rugers, the coopers, the CZs, and the Anschutz models. A really good .22lr isn't all that expensive in this day and age.

But I still have fond memories of the tens of thousands of rounds I sent through that old Marlin 60.

 

[Daniel Cary]

those VC's idk ;

 

[rookhawk]

those VC's idk ;
View attachment 470168

Belgian guns get a bad rap in general and the elite shotgun crowd really resent the floral rose and scroll engraving. It's actually a finer rendition than the British style and it does show wear a bit faster because it is delicate. After saying all of that, I really love Belgian engraving on a rifle because it looks fantastic and its virtually all in protected areas that are not prone to carry wear. It's dignified and I think their work is under-valued compared to British work of equal skill. In short, I agree @Daniel Cary that is a stunning rifle.

 

[Daniel Cary]

416 Rigby

 

[Daniel Cary]

sorry, tried to thumbnail these .. computers (

 

[Daniel Cary]

Belgian guns get a bad rap in general and the elite shotgun crowd really resent the floral rose and scroll engraving. It's actually a finer rendition than the British style and it does show wear a bit faster because it is delicate. After saying all of that, I really love Belgian engraving on a rifle because it looks fantastic and its virtually all in protected areas that are not prone to carry wear. It's dignified and I think their work is under-valued compared to British work of equal skill. In short, I agree @Daniel Cary that is a stunning rifle.

@rookhawk .. If you can help, the name of the Action on this rifle?
I thought is was a refined Mauser, German manufacturer, currently no longer in production but believe they build complete rifles today.
For lack of better description, Thank you ..

 

[rookhawk]

@rookhawk .. If you can help, the name of the Action on this rifle?
I thought is was a refined Mauser, German manufacturer, currently no longer in production but believe they build complete rifles today.
For lack of better description, Thank you ..

It's a double square bridge magnum mauser action. To my knowledge, that leaves us with just a few cast of characters:

Mauser, Brevex, Prechtl, Reimer Johannsen. There may be more of which I'm unaware, but only a handful of companies in history have manufactured square bridge magnum mauser actions using Paul Mauser's original blueprint. (the bolt release indicates that it is not a modified/enhanced version like a Dumoulin, Granite Mountain, etc.)

 

[Daniel Cary]

Prechtl! That's it, Thank You.
Well versed

 

[pjaln]

started life asa 400/350 and ending as a 9.3x74r keeping the rigby lines that last forever and ever

 

[VertigoBE]

Belgian guns get a bad rap in general and the elite shotgun crowd really resent the floral rose and scroll engraving. It's actually a finer rendition than the British style and it does show wear a bit faster because it is delicate. After saying all of that, I really love Belgian engraving on a rifle because it looks fantastic and its virtually all in protected areas that are not prone to carry wear. It's dignified and I think their work is under-valued compared to British work of equal skill. In short, I agree @Daniel Cary that is a stunning rifle.

VC = Verney Carron? They are French I believe. From St Etienne.

Or did I now say something stupid?

 

[GeorgeGibbs505]

How about a custom Sharps?

 

[Rubberhead]

How about a custom Sharps?

Reminds me of True Grit.

 

[rookhawk]

VC = Verney Carron? They are French I believe. From St Etienne.

Or did I now say something stupid?

Americans were never very good at geography. They speak French in both places, don’t they?

You’re right, not Liege, St. Etienne. Similar bouquet engraving patterns. I like them very much. Back to @Daniel Cary ’s question about action, in light of it being a French gun it does give a bit higher probability to a Brevex action rather than a Prechtl.

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

For the WIN..........Holland Royal 500/465 reinforced frame with hand detachable locks . "Prewar" of course.......

 

[raven5]

Go to Turnbull's site and throw a dart.

Winchester Model 1886 Reproduction | Turnbull Restoration Company

A reproduction of an original Winchester Model 1886. Chambered in either .45-70, .45-90 or .475 Turnbull with period color case hardening and charcoal bluing.

www.turnbullrestoration.com

I believe the 1886 is one of the sharpest rifle designs ever.