Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever?

[Brian Rothhammer]

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

Indeed, agree on all counts.

Per usinflationcalculator, that $12 of 1939 would be $265.72 in 2023 USD. They wanted $20 for the upgrade on a Mauser, $442.86 in today's dollars.

The photos of the sight by itself were from an Ebay listing within the last few years. I don't recall the closing price.

The cost of an 'off the shelf' M1903 (or M1905, M1908, M1910) stutzen in the '39 Stoeger was $140.00, equivalent to $3,100.03 in 2023.

In the same catalog, for $37.50 one could procure a brand new SAA Colt.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I haven't read all 21 pages of responses but if we're talking actions without ornamental add-ons (stock, engraving, etc), my vote for best looking goes to the old claw extractor Winchester Model 70. Mauser 98 is almost there but I like the appearance (and function) of the Model 70 three-position safety more than the 98's flag safety. I don't know why but I've never been enamored with the appearance (and definitely not the function) of single shot or double barrel rifles. Semiautomatic and pump action never "looked gun-ish" to me. But I own/use them and they work for me just fine.

 

[HankBuck]

Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever? You know when you go into a gun store and they are all there on the pegs, one just looks, good, looks right, it is plain beautiful. It may be the form, the proportion, the ratio of wood to metal, the stock shape. Whatever it is- that is the one. I am not talking about the ornateness, in fact lets say beauty in plain clothes to sort of level the playing field.
of course this will be highly subjective, we will get many entries, but I have a hunch there may be a convergence towards just one.
So give your candidate, a few words why, and a thumbnail if you are the first on that one.
I will kick off with the Ruger No1. The form is so pleasing and the ratio of wood to metal works just right.

View attachment 392696

KEVIN, this is why I never could Judge a “Miss Universe Contest” - so many look soooo GOOD, and I can’t get my hands on any of them (don’t have “Trump $$”). But I would suggest that any rifle MUST have: Wood stocks & Blued barrels —- that would be the minimum entry requirement.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

KEVIN, this is why I never could Judge a “Miss Universe Contest” - so many look soooo GOOD, and I can’t get my hands on any of them (don’t have “Trump $$”). But I would suggest that any rifle MUST have: Wood stocks & Blued barrels —- that would be the minimum entry requirement.

I agree, no wood, no good.

 

[Rare Breed]

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

Looks like tiger wood

 

[Monsai52]

I may have already stated this in this thread, but I think some of the best looking rifles ever produced are coming from Joel Dorleac of Dorleac & Dorleac. Everything I've seen from them is spectacularly elegant, with just about perfect lines.

Best regards,

 

[Shootist43]

Woodcarver, re your question "how do you adjust this peep sight for windage?" When the rear peep is adjustable for elevation only, the windage is often adjusted by moving the front sight. Note that front sights must be moved in the direction error. I.e. if your bullet impacts to the right of center the sight must be moved toward the right. Be sure to tap the base of the sight and not the blade.

 

[Woodcarver]

Woodcarver, re your question "how do you adjust this peep sight for windage?" When the rear peep is adjustable for elevation only, the windage is often adjusted by moving the front sight. Note that front sights must be moved in the direction error. I.e. if your bullet impacts to the right of center the sight must be moved toward the right. Be sure to tap the base of the sight and not the blade.

Yes, but this is a windage adjustable peep, just isn't moving readily, yet. It has been sitting for a few decades, so being a little stiff is to be expected.

 

[Hillcountry63]

While I respect all of the opinions offered thus far, the Winchester 70, in it's Featherweight configuration is a timeless classic. The Rifleman's rifle.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I may have already stated this in this thread, but I think some of the best looking rifles ever produced are coming from Joel Dorleac of Dorleac & Dorleac. Everything I've seen from them is spectacularly elegant, with just about perfect lines.

Best regards,

I've flogged a lot of D&D here .. I'll attest though, @ times.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I used to Obsess this question & still do with almost every interest.
That's the beauty though, tool, style, form of art, etc .. their may be no answer, things change.

I have a Favorite Film.

 

[MS 9x56]

Yes, but this is a windage adjustable peep, just isn't moving readily, yet. It has been sitting for a few decades, so being a little stiff is to be expected.

Soak it for a couple of days in oil. That should loosen it up.

 

[ftrovato]

Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever? You know when you go into a gun store and they are all there on the pegs, one just looks, good, looks right, it is plain beautiful. It may be the form, the proportion, the ratio of wood to metal, the stock shape. Whatever it is- that is the one. I am not talking about the ornateness, in fact lets say beauty in plain clothes to sort of level the playing field.
of course this will be highly subjective, we will get many entries, but I have a hunch there may be a convergence towards just one.
So give your candidate, a few words why, and a thumbnail if you are the first on that one.
I will kick off with the Ruger No1. The form is so pleasing and the ratio of wood to metal works just right.

View attachment 392696

can't argue....unless its a Dakota #10. ;-)

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

I may have already stated this in this thread, but I think some of the best looking rifles ever produced are coming from Joel Dorleac of Dorleac & Dorleac. Everything I've seen from them is spectacularly elegant, with just about perfect lines.

Best regards,

Dorleac's workmanship and artistry is superb.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

While I respect all of the opinions offered thus far, the Winchester 70, in it's Featherweight configuration is a timeless classic. The Rifleman's rifle.

'The Rifleman' of 1950s TV fame used a modified Model 1892 Winchester (which was anachronism as the premise was set in the 1880s).

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

While I respect all of the opinions offered thus far, the Winchester 70, in it's Featherweight configuration is a timeless classic. The Rifleman's rifle.

Please can you post a few pics?

 

[Hillcountry63]

'The Rifleman' of 1950s TV fame used a modified Model 1892 Winchester (which was anachronism as the premise was set in the 1880s).


View attachment 567220

Not the rifleman from TV.....American gun writers and Winchester used it as a marketing campaign to promote the Winchester 70 rifle.

 

[CJW]

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.

Kind of puts the rest of them to shame looks wise doesn't it? The only other clean looking peep is the pop up in the bolt peep which for some reason is what I thought he was talking about. Like Brian said, they're usually only seen on late 19th and early 20th century rifles, seen many on BPE doubles, which only adds to the beauty of the rifle. Nearly invisible from the side and classy when viewed from the top as well as when deployed.

The downfall is I've never seen a new manufacture piece or original for sale. Hopefully that means all the originals are still with the rifles.

I also read on nitro express that they weren't necessarily to be used as a peep but as a way to help better a shooters focus on the other two barrel sights. I don't know if that's strictly true but seems plausible. Having never looked through one I have no idea one way or the other.

 

[Shootist43]

Woodcarver, one product that Millwrights use to free "sticky" joints is called KROIL. It is very expensive and sometimes hard to find. But if there is any product that will free up your Peep, this is it. I use it on all of the used firearms I purchase. It works wonders on surface rust and can even be used to clean up rusty bores. One source for it is Brownell's.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

I also read on nitro express that they weren't necessarily to be used as a peep but as a way to help better a shooters focus on the other two barrel sights. I don't know if that's strictly true but seems plausible. Having never looked through one I have no idea one way or the other.

It works rather like the old 'aperture taped to one's spectacles' trick with added advantage of being aligned with the iron sights.