Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever?

[MS 9x56]

For me it may be Jim Corbets 275 rigby

 

[Woodcarver]

View attachment 566750

It also has the pop up peep in the tang. Which you might be the best source of information on. How do you adjust the peep for windage? Mine is well off to one side to the point the peep is partially blocked by the ribs of the sight, and I don't want to force it.

That's a special rifle all the way around. One of the most unique, in a good way, MS's I've seen. Second inherited gun I've seen this week that I'm truly jealous of.

Gonna take it to Africa?

Thanks. It has been molested unfortunately, so it's not a collectible MS. It had been drilled and tapped on top for one of those scope base options mentioned in other threads. Those were permanently filled by the 'smith that my dad got it from, and a side mount installed, which I do have.
It could only get to Africa if Qual-Cart ever does another run of headstamped brass. Hopefully they do, sometime in my lifetime....

 

[CJW]

It also has the pop up peep in the tang. Which you might be the best source of information on. How do you adjust the peep for windage? Mine is well off to one side to the point the peep is partially blocked by the ribs of the sight, and I don't want to force it.

Thanks. It has been molested unfortunately, so it's not a collectible MS. It had been drilled and tapped on top for one of those scope base options mentioned in other threads. Those were permanently filled by the 'smith that my dad got it from, and a side mount installed, which I do have.
It could only get to Africa if Qual-Cart ever does another run of headstamped brass. Hopefully they do, sometime in my lifetime....

I was actually wondering if it had been drilled. I hate to see those holes on that beautiful receiver.

Bummer about the brass.

 

[SWS1]

I’m pretty keen on my Charles Lancaster 375h&h.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I’m pretty keen on my Charles Lancaster 375h&h.

Pics!

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

It also has the pop up peep in the tang. How do you adjust the peep for windage?

It could only get to Africa if Qual-Cart ever does another run of headstamped brass. Hopefully they do, sometime in my lifetime....

I was unaware that Qual-Cart no longer had the headstamped MS brass. Glad I laid in a supply of 9.5X57 a few years back.

I've never adjusted my peep sight and unfortunately do not know of any 'trick' for windage movement. Perhaps remove it, anneal and very carefully bend to suit, then re harden?

 

[CJW]

@Woodcarver could you post a pic of the peep please? Just interested to see what it looks like. Can't help with adjustment.

 

[Woodcarver]

I was unaware that Qual-Cart no longer had the headstamped MS brass. Glad I laid in a supply of 9.5X57 a few years back.

I've never adjusted my peep sight and unfortunately do not know of any 'trick' for windage movement. Perhaps remove it, anneal and very carefully bend to suit, then re harden?

Qual-Cart actually lists Gibbs 256 Magnum headstamped brass. Grafs even lists it. But the Qual-Cart site indicates they will make a run of all these obsolete cartridges when back-orders reach the magic number (magic number not listed, lol).
I will play (carefully) with the peep to see if I can get it shifted, thanks. Hoped there was a "trick" to it.

 

[Joker12]

I’m pretty keen on my Charles Lancaster 375h&h.View attachment 566991

I'm pretty keen on it too! That is a beautiful rifle.

 

[Woodcarver]

@Woodcarver could you post a pic of the peep please? Just interested to see what it looks like. Can't help with adjustment.

Here ya go...

 

[CJW]

Here ya go...
View attachment 567036
View attachment 567037

I got 3 hours sleep last night and wasn't thinking about what type of peep you were talking about. Very cool.

That knurled piece looks off center right? Is it made to move back and forth independently for windage? I would think it would be engineered to dial in easily enough. Is that piece with the peep hole dovetailed in? Some sort of special press or tool for adjustment? Lots of question marks I know.

 

[Woodcarver]

I got 3 hours sleep last night and wasn't thinking about what type of peep you were talking about. Very cool.

That knurled piece looks off center right? Is it made to move back and forth independently for windage? I would think it would be engineered to dial in easily enough. Is that piece with the peep hole dovetailed in? Some sort of special press or tool for adjustment? Lots of question marks I know.

Yes, that knurled tab is at the end of a thin bar dovetailed into the peep itself. It's probably just age (rifle hasn't been shot since the early 70s to my knowledge), and might just need a little Kroil or other oil to allow the 2 to slide again.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I have never seen an tang mounted peep like that one.
I assume you have to put the peep down before working the bolt? Is it made for the bolt to push it down.
It looks to be the best way to have a tang mounted peep.

 

[Woodcarver]

I have never seen an tang mounted peep like that one.
I assume you have to put the peep down before working the bolt? Is it made for the bolt to push it down.
It looks to be the best way to have a tang mounted peep.

Bolt pushes the peep down when ejecting a spent round, then the spring returns it to vertical as the bolt closes. They are also less obtrusive than a Lyman peep when not in use. Very slick design.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

I have never seen an tang mounted peep like that one.
I assume you have to put the peep down before working the bolt? Is it made for the bolt to push it down.
It looks to be the best way to have a tang mounted peep.

Folding tang sights of that type were offered on high end European sporting rifles of the early 20th Century, before telescopic sights came into popular use.

Sight may be left up as the bolt is worked. As bolt is drawn back it pushes the sight down, sight returns to upward position when bolt is driven forward. Operation is very smooth. To lock sight down (retracted) simply push into its machined housing to engage catch. To release, push small knurled button to right of sight and it pops up.

Westley Richards used them, Stoeger listed them as 'cost options' that could be ordered on Mauser and Mannlicher Schoenauer offerings.

Stoeger's 1939 catalog refers to the option as 'Special folding peep sight'. It is generally seen on Take Down Models such as Woodcarver's and my own cased M1910 (9.5X57) TD.


Stoeger, 1939:

Lyman tang and bolt mounted peeps:

Westley Richards, 1912:

Photos of MS 'special folding peep sight':

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Qual-Cart actually lists Gibbs 256 Magnum headstamped brass. Grafs even lists it. But the Qual-Cart site indicates they will make a run of all these obsolete cartridges when back-orders reach the magic number (magic number not listed, lol).
I will play (carefully) with the peep to see if I can get it shifted, thanks. Hoped there was a "trick" to it.

Given a few moments thought, if the sight were to be 'bent' out of adjustment it wouldn't likely fit well into its housing. I'm thinking the part which actually has the aperture should be (very carefully) drifted in its dovetail joint.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Is that piece with the peep hole dovetailed in?

Yes, it is.

 

[PCC600]

I haven't seen one of those in a long time. Epic looking rifle.

Fabulous cartridge in fabulous rifles . I have 2 . The older has extended magazine and takedown mechanism . It was made in 1913 . Similar to the older one show in the photos . It has 5 changes in barrel profile and filed grooves the full length of barrel to reduce glare . 26 inch barrels . Unbelievable workmanship. The newer was made in 1957. It has a flush magazine and is scoped - never fired before I got it in 2012. Both best grade rifles . Superb firearms .

I haven't seen one of those in a long time. Epic looking rifle.

 

[PCC600]

For my 2 bobs worth the nicest rifles I have ever seen were made by Daniel Fraser in Edinburgh . I can’t split it between two 303s. One is a slant box Mauser take down with a little Celtic engraving . The second 303 is a double rifle again with minimal Celtic engraving . The third is a huge Fraser 577 NE . Again with minimal engraving . I have rifles from all the big names but these three are breathtaking and all here in OZ.

 

[Woodcarver]

Given a few moments thought, if the sight were to be 'bent' out of adjustment it wouldn't likely fit well into its housing. I'm thinking the part which actually has the aperture should be (very carefully) drifted in its dovetail joint.

Yes, the sight is not bent; fits in it's housing and releases very smoothly. It looked to me that it's designed to drift in the dovetail, just needs a little more persuasion than I've been willing so far. I'll let the oil work on it for a bit first.

I'll wager getting one today would be a tad more than $12, lol