Which rifle do we crown as the best looking ever?

the rifles in posts no11 and no 14 almost come under the same heading, but for different reasons.
bruce.
 
For me it is the Winchester lowall or high wall or if I could ever afford one a Griffin and Howe in 35 Whelen. Alas at 27,500 US it's out of my reach.
Both are simple and elegant and don't need fancy engraving
Bob
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I don’t know which one is being crowned, but I do know that I need a new laptop now as mine is soaked with drool!!!!, I like the looks and handling of a ruger no.1 rsi, a close second is a sharps model 1874, then a fine German drilling,
 
I believe the Marlin Lever-action deserves a nod. Especially once it has been smoothed and made into something special. The second fastest on the first 2 shots, just behind the classic doubles, but second to none after that! It doesn't get much better than that.
 
Here it is. That's a stepped ring, slant box Rigby 350. And that stock is an original Rigby that was restored. This rifle is perfection.


View attachment 392908
That is indeed a beauty, just screams safari. Would do an Els canvas and leather sling proud.
 
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Looking at above models, I am cetain I cannot determine best looking one. They are beautiful!

Once the rifle gets in 5 figure price and upwards, with top class wood, handmade, finishing plus engraving it becomes piece of art.
 
For me it would have to be a1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer in the original 6.5x54 pre WWI or a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. Also the one that makes me dream of facing a charging elephant when I put it to shoulder a boss double rifle.
 
For me it's hard to beat the english/european style sporting rifles with the slim, short forends. I would be very pleased to hunt the rest of my life with Jim Corbett's 275 rigby or Rigby's Highland Stalker. M70's can be made beautiful but certain platforms are inherently beautiful even with plain wood. IMO the English bolt rifles Rigby, Westley Richards, etc. are second to none in this category. Though Rigby was originally Irish correct?

My very close second pick would be the many single shot rifles with great lines. I'll give a shout out to @Kevin Peacocke and his Ruger No. 1. Again, inherently nice lines.
 
i think i would like the modern iteration of the rigby in preference to corbetts older model.
stock design has come a long way since then.
i would like to own corbetts gun, because i would get a lot of money for it to buy good modern guns.
same with a lot of those old european guns.
bruce.
 
i think i would like the modern iteration of the rigby in preference to corbetts older model.
stock design has come a long way since then.
i would like to own corbetts gun, because i would get a lot of money for it to buy good modern guns.
same with a lot of those old european guns.
bruce.
The Highland Stalker is exactly that. The stock follows the original design but with modern dimensions to facilitate scope use. They also are making a limited run "classic" version of the Corbett rifle which is an absolute duplication, optimized for open sights. Note the modern drop at heel on my Stalker below.

New Rigby .275
 
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yes modern drop at heel is what makes the modern rifle a better one.
if your agenda is to pretend you are jim corbett or wdm bell, then go for the older more primitive design.
if your agenda is purely hunting, the modern design will make you better at it.
possibly focusing on the priority (hunting) will put ones head in a better space to do the job in hand rather than focusing on being a british colonial pre ww2.
that said, no doubt the modern corbett model will sell well.
bruce.
 
The Highland Stalker is exactly that. The stock follows the original design but with modern dimensions to facilitate scope use. They also are making a limited run "classic" version of the Corbett rifle which is an absolute duplication, optimized for open sights. Note the modern drop at heel on my Stalker below.

New Rigby .275
Is that yours?
 
Here is one of my favorites, a real dandy in 450 Ackley and very accurate too. I have taken several elephant and a few Cape Buffalo with it.

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Is that yours?
For sure. Wonderful little rifle.

Here with one of our Hill Country natives.

Assuming travel works out, it will be going with me to Tanzania in August to hunt Mike Taylor's @spike.t corner of paradise in Zambia.

Hill country deer4.jpg
 

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