Who Built These 2 Custom Big Bore Rifles? - - 470 Capstick & 550 Express

[buckstix]

Hello All,

I recently purchased these two rifles from an Ohio Auction House. Very high quality, but maker is unknown. There were 7 similar rifles at that auction. Auction house tags were marked "NB" which I assume are the initials of the consignor who owned the rifles. All the rifle's descriptions mentioned gabon ebony, reinforced stocks, Breako recoil reducers, Timney Triggers, and NECG sites and fixtures. These 2 rifles and 2 others were built on P17 platforms, the others were built on commercial Remington actions. Both of these rifles have large forward mounted recoil blocks attached to the bottom of the barrel. The blocks and the rest of the actions are totally glass bedded with a grey bedding material. Again, very professional with not a single bubble in the bedding. Both these rifles remain in NEW condition with sight leaves still un-cut.

With these two rifles being of such high quality, I was surprised to not find any indication of the maker, either on the metal or the wood. When removed from the stock, the bottoms of the barrels and the actions were marked with matching serial numbers to insure they mated correctly and not mixed with other rifles being built. This would indicate to me some type of professional builder where several rifles were being built at the same time - rather than one-off work. It a shame that such high quality work would go unidentified, not giving credit to the builder.

If you have an opinion as to who built these rifles, please comment.

click the images below to enlarge

 

[SETH RINGER]

I'M NO HELP WITH YOUR QUESTION BUT WHAT BEAUTIFUL RIFLES.

 

[Flewis]

This is an old guy question. Try to date them as that may help, who is the barrel maker?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

This is the handiwork of Flaig’s and the barrels are certainly the work of Pac-Nor.

 

[Flewis]

The barrel maker may be help. The caliber 470 was must popular in the early 90s.. I think the 550 is a few years later.

 

[Flewis]

I’ve owned some Flaigs guns and seen quite a few. Still not sure as something seems different.

 

[Flewis]

Just remembered a picture of one in 458, looks like the same thing.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Just remembered a picture of one in 458, looks like the same thing.

I told you. The work of Flaig’s is unmistakable.

 

[buckstix]

As shown in the text above the posted pictures, both of the auction listings said "Pac-Nor" barrels, so there is no doubt about that fact. However, definitely NOT built by Flaigs. Flaigs marked all their work and they were long out of the gun building business when these two rifles were built. Flaigs stopped building guns by the late 1970s. Both of these rifles were built after 2008. That's when Neal Shirley invented the 550 Express.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

As shown in the text above the posted pictures, both of the auction listings said "Pac-Nor" barrels, so there is no doubt about that fact. However, definitely NOT built by Flaigs. Flaigs marked all their work and they were long out of business when these two were built. Flaigs was gone by the late 1970s. Both of these rifles were built after 2008. That's when Neal Shirley invented the 550 Express.

Perhaps a former gunsmith who worked there ? The rifle looks like a spitting image of some of the rifles which I have seen at Flaig's. And as you know, Flaig's did recruit a large number of gunsmiths.

 

[buckstix]

still haven't discovered the maker.

 

[Bullthrower338]

NB marked on the auction tag is typical of an item being run through a previous auction and the reserve is not met. “No buyer”. Some times NS will be marked for No Sale and the item will be entered in the next auction with hope the right crowd will attend the sale.

 

[Big_Easy]

As shown in the text above the posted pictures, both of the auction listings said "Pac-Nor" barrels, so there is no doubt about that fact. However, definitely NOT built by Flaigs. Flaigs marked all their work and they were long out of the gun building business when these two rifles were built. Flaigs stopped building guns by the late 1970s. Both of these rifles were built after 2008. That's when Neal Shirley invented the 550 Express.

I'm pretty sure Neal Shirley more recently did the 550 Magnum, and not the 550 Express. I've seen older rifles marked 550 (Ivory) Express. I wonder if the 550 Express and 550 Ivory Express are the same?

 

[buckstix]

Neal built both the 550 magnum (for magnum length actions) and the 550 express (for standard length actions) the only difference of the two cartridges is the length of the case.