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kevindpm61 said
I saw the Gibbs rifle on an online auction site. It was not advertised as a Gibbs rifle. The stock was black in the photos. The seller thought that it was a preservative like Cosmoline. There was an area on the stock that appeared to have some nice grain pattern.I was drawn to the rifle and I purchased it a good price. I posted pics on another forum and was told that it is a George Gibbs rifle because of the B prefix to the serial number. The black, sticky coating was degraded oil finish. I stripped the finish which revealed beautiful wood grain. It is chambered in 6.5x53R which I can form from 303 British. It has a Lyman style swing out aperture sight (pretty valuable in its own right.)
I shot a buck last year at a legitimate 100 yards with open sights. It’s great when a plan comes together. I can post pics but I didn’t know if that is acceptable on the forum since it’s not a WInchester.
Kevin – it sounds like a great rifle and that’s a great story about how you got it and then rescued it. I also love the sight you describe and you’re right, it’s a valuable sight. And you are also correct, the B prefix serial number was placed there by Gibbs. One of my Ross long-range .280 single shot target rifles (heel sighted) has the Gibbs B prefix serial number.
Also, very cool that you shot a deer with it!
I love refurbishing these old hunting rifles and using them for what they were intended. My Remington-Lee 1899 was in pretty bad shape. It’s a fairly rare bird. Only about 1400 sporting rifles were made in all calibers combined. The ebony Schnabel forearm insert was missing and filled in with epoxy. A previous owner had gouged a fox and deer tally into the forearm finger grooves and so much varnish had been applied over the years that you could barely see the wood grain.
I needed to soak the stock in lacquer thinner for several days in order to dig out the epoxy. I spliced some walnut into the area and made an ebony insert. I also made a scraper that fit the forearm finger grooves and scraped away the crude tallies. The wood is very nice with a subtle tiger stripe pattern. I applied a new coat of varnish.
The bore is rough, but I can cloverleaf 3 shots at 50 yards with her. I’m hoping that I can take a buck or doe with her this season.
kevindpm61 said
I love refurbishing these old hunting rifles and using them for what they were intended. My Remington-Lee 1899 was in pretty bad shape. It’s a fairly rare bird. Only about 1400 sporting rifles were made in all calibers combined. The ebony Schnabel forearm insert was missing and filled in with epoxy. A previous owner had gouged a fox and deer tally into the forearm finger grooves and so much varnish had been applied over the years that you could barely see the wood grain.I needed to soak the stock in lacquer thinner for several days in order to dig out the epoxy. I spliced some walnut into the area and made an ebony insert. I also made a scraper that fit the forearm finger grooves and scraped away the crude tallies. The wood is very nice with a subtle tiger stripe pattern. I applied a new coat of varnish.
The bore is rough, but I can cloverleaf 3 shots at 50 yards with her. I’m hoping that I can take a buck or doe with her this season.
Cool. Years ago I had a Remington-Lee in .30 USA – I believe that’s how the barrel was marked. I recall it has a very rare Lyman No. 1 cocking piece sight (I didn’t appreciate the rarity at the time). After I sold it I called the guy to see how he liked it. He didn’t have much of a response and when I questioned him further he said, “I was just buying it for the sight.” I like the Remington-Lee. Even though as you say, the production of the sporting rifles was quite limited, it came in quite the variety of chamberings – off the top of my head – 6mm Lee Navy, 7.65, .30-30, .32 Special, .303 British, 7×57, .35 WCF, .38-55, .38-72, .405 WCF, .45-70, .45-90 and if I’m not mistaken, some of the rimless Remington calibers like .30 and .32 Remington. I’m sure I’m forgetting many. But a cool rifle with an amazing variety of cartridge offerings.
I hope you get your deer with yours.
Your right Steve about the variety of cartridge chamberings in the Reminton Lee. The cock on closing takes a little getting use to along with the cocking piece safety. I like how these older sporting rifles are thin and balance nicely.
kevindpm61 said
Your right Steve about the variety of cartridge chamberings in the Reminton Lee. The cock on closing takes a little getting use to along with the cocking piece safety. I like how these older sporting rifles are thin and balance nicely.
Kevin – I sure agree with you on this point. Many of the early sporting rifles of that era handle beautifully. I’ve been a fan of the Savage M1920 for many years. That is a wonderfully light balanced rifle and chambered in the .250 and .300 Savage, it had a lot going for it.
I was not familiar with the Savage M1920. I did a little reading on it. Pretty neat rifle. I especially like the upgrade option of the bolt shroud aperture sight. All of my vintage bolt actions have either receiver or bolt shroud apertures. A couple years ago, I scored a Lyman 36 aperture for my 1905 Mannlicher carbine. It was brand new in the original box! I got a great deal on it because the seller had no idea how desirable it is. I almost felt guilty, but I got over it pretty quickly.
Bet:
Photos please! (Springfield Model 1892 Krag (30-40)
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Rick Hill said
Bet:Photos please! (Springfield Model 1892 Krag (30-40)
Rick,
It is not a factory original piece. The s/n on it is 25766. Unfortunately, the barrel was shortened to 22-inchs back in the early 1950s (by my father). It was my first deer hunting rifle (as a 10-year-old) on the coast of Oregon. It is without a doubt, the smoothest (slickest) bolt-action rifle I have ever shot. I reload for it using a Sierra 150-gr bullet under 43 grains of IMR 4064. It still shoots a 1.5″ group @100-yds.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I went to a local gun show on Saturday. I had an opportunity to cycle a Krag bolt for the first time. They truly are amazingly smooth. I understand that you need to go easy on the old girls because of the single locking lug. They are a unique action in function and form.
kevindpm61 said
I went to a local gun show on Saturday. I had an opportunity to cycle a Krag bolt for the first time. They truly are amazingly smooth. I understand that you need to go easy on the old girls because of the single locking lug. They are a unique action in function and form.
They are very slick actions. Oddly, this is one bolt action rifle I have never owned. I have a friend who has five rifles modifiers to sports. He shoots him with receiver sights (his own cast bulleted loads) and it is not unusual for him to shoot 1 inch groups (100 yards – five shot groups). He very often gets four shots into an inch and a fifth one will be just outside that inch.
kevindpm61 said
I was not familiar with the Savage M1920. I did a little reading on it. Pretty neat rifle. I especially like the upgrade option of the bolt shroud aperture sight. All of my vintage bolt actions have either receiver or bolt shroud apertures. A couple years ago, I scored a Lyman 36 aperture for my 1905 Mannlicher carbine. It was brand new in the original box! I got a great deal on it because the seller had no idea how desirable it is. I almost felt guilty, but I got over it pretty quickly.
I think it was the Lyman No. 36 that I had on my Remington-Lee in .30 USA.
The Savage 1920 was a cool rifle. It was built on a shortened Mauser 98 action – and Mauser sued Savage infringement.
On the topic of rare receiver sights, here is a Lyman No. 50 on a Ross M1905-E .303 British. I recall when Stroebels sight book came out, he couldn’t even find a photo of one for an example:
I remember reading about the Lyman 50 receiver sight. I thought that it might be nice to have one for my M1910 but have never seen one for sale. I was never able to find out if the receiver bridge or the stock needed to be modified for attachment. My Ross has the Porter pop-up sight that works well for me. I’m going to keep her as she is.
kevindpm61 said
I remember reading about the Lyman 50 receiver sight. I thought that it might be nice to have one for my M1910 but have never seen one for sale. I was never able to find out if the receiver bridge or the stock needed to be modified for attachment. My Ross has the Porter pop-up sight that works well for me. I’m going to keep her as she is.
Kevin –
I think you will find that the M1910 won’t take a receiver sight, such as the Lyman No. 50 on the left side of the receiver as that’s where the bolt stop is. The Lyman No. 50 will fit on the M1905 style receivers (which includes the M1907 Scotch Deerstalker). The Lyman 48 is best one for the M1910 action. However, your plan to stick with the Porter “pop-up” peep is a fine way to go.
Steve, That’s an interesting sight on an exceptional Ross Rifle. Probably the first Lyman #50 sight I’ve ever seen. Can’t recall ever seeing one before. There used to be a guy that would set up at the OGCA shows years ago, at the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio, that was a collector of the Ross Rifles. Can’t remember his name. Very interesting, guy’s.
Anthony
I’m sure that finding that sight would be like looking for hen’s teeth. I really like my Ross M1910. They are beautiful, well-constructed rifles. The 280 Ross really packs a wallop. I know that folks have concerns about putting the bolt back together in such a way as it will fire out of battery. That has not been an issue for me. You should be able to see the locking lugs rotate into position when the bolt is pushed forward.
Anthony said
Steve, That’s an interesting sight on an exceptional Ross Rifle. Probably the first Lyman #50 sight I’ve ever seen. Can’t recall ever seeing one before. There used to be a guy that would set up at the OGCA shows years ago, at the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio, that was a collector of the Ross Rifles. Can’t remember his name. Very interesting, guy’s.
Anthony
Tony – back more than a couple years ago, there were two Ross collectors who routinely set up at the OGCA shows. I knew both of them, and one is still alive. In fact, several of the rifles I have now were displayed at those shows. Several here who attended those shows might remember. I recall hearing that the real show stopper was the display of the group of heel-sighted Ross single-shot target rifles. Many people would stop and puzzle how the rifle could be fired given if you hold the rifle to your shoulder, the tang sight aperture is just about resting against your eye. I suspect some here have walked past these rifles at one of the many OGCA shows they were displayed at. In addition, these collectors were displaying various presentation Ross rifles (one presented by Sir Charles himself) as well a .280 Military Match Rifle.
kevindpm61 said
I’m sure that finding that sight would be like looking for hen’s teeth. I really like my Ross M1910. They are beautiful, well-constructed rifles. The 280 Ross really packs a wallop. I know that folks have concerns about putting the bolt back together in such a way as it will fire out of battery. That has not been an issue for me. You should be able to see the locking lugs rotate into position when the bolt is pushed forward.
Kevin –
Yes indeed, you can actually watch the locking lugs on an M1910 Ross bolt rotate into the receiver as you close the bolt. I’ll also add that if the bolt head is in the wrong position (and released from it’s extended position) it is quite difficult to put the bolt back in the action.
Edit:
Kevin –
On the topic of the M1910: here’s a puzzler for you. Can you figure out what’s up with this M1910? I’m sure you noted a Porter pop-up peep is present:
Steve, I find those Ross Rifles interesting as all get out. I remember what a great display was set up at the show and winning awards for their display. Pretty amazing as you’re interests are expanded to these, as many of us are to other weapons besides the Winchesters, and to me a lot of it ties together as we’re familiar with Oliver Winchester buying up smaller competitors, and as we all know, patents from John Moses Browning, to keep from losing sales and yet still improving his own business , and his employees creations, and improvements, as an astute businessman.
Anthony
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