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December 9, 2002
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Zebulon said
Anthony said
Chuck said
A large majority of the target rifles today are 700 clones. All 3 of mine are.
Chuck,
You’re absolutely correct, as Remington’s patent expired a few years ago, many are offering the custom rifles on the 700 platform as you stated. Here’s one we just had made up for out west, in a 7 PRC, Caliber.Tony
Tony, There is no doubt in my mind that 7 PRC could put one through a coyote’s earhole at whatever distance you’d care to name. But – every time they see a picture of it, the shades of John Wright and Bob Owen moan “the horror” and weep bitter tears.
As a Southerner born and bred, I will only say that’s the ugliest gun I’ve ever seen – bless its heart.
Bill,
I’m an ole’ traditionalist myself, and can understand you’re feelings. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, where different stroked surly apply. It’s definitely a tool built specifically, for out west Elk hunts this fall in New Mexico, and Montana, and hopefully beyond. My oldest Son won’t have to worry about scratchin the Deluxe wood on it, and who ever those two gentlemen you mentioned, can keep they’re moaning in their bedroom, along with they’re snivlin towel, as a closed mind, never opens. 
Tony
January 20, 2023
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Tony,
They are both long since dead.
The late John Wright was the London-trained Englishman who was the first person to head the Winchester Repeating Arms Custom Shop.
His successor in that position was the late Robert W. Owen, who went on to establish his own custom stockmaking trade.
These gentlemen brought their refined taste for the English magazine stalking rifle, as seen in the prewar Holland and Rigby Mausers, to Winchester.
The Model 54 and 70 Super Grade (and in miniature, the 52 Sporting) stocks owe their long, tapering forearms, ebony-like forearm tips in lieu of schnabble beaks, and the graceful lines of their pistol grips and cheek rests, to Wright and Owen.
Owen was one of the leading lights in the early years of the “American classic” design movement and Alvin Linden, Alvin Biesen, Monty Kennedy, Lenard Brownell, Earl Milliron, et al. were his followers and essentially his students.
It is unfortunate that their successors – David Miller and D’Arcy Echols, to name two of the very best still practicing the trade — have to charge so much for their work to make even a modest living that their rifles have become investments incapable of being hunted except by the wealthy, who very sensibly won’t take them out in the rain.
Anyone who has seen any of the late Jack O’Connor’s sheep rifles built by various top-shelf makers, principally but not exclusively Al Biesen, knows they wear a lot of scars and have been refinished more than once because of weather.
You pays your money and you takes your choice. My bad weather hunting is behind me so I’m not put to any choice except what my pocketbook dictates.
As always, I wish you and whatever weapon you choose to take afield the very best success– plus hoping you don’t hurt yourself in dangerous terrain.
However, if you ever send me a photograph of yourself holding that Flash Gordon ray gun next to a B&C Elk, I would be tempted to fire up Photoshop and substitute my Shiloh Sharps saddle rifle into your hands. And publish it, but only to preserve and defend my friend’s reputation as a man of taste and fondness for the good things of this life.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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As a Southerner born and bred, I will only say that’s the ugliest gun I’ve ever seen – bless its heart. -Zeb
One of my early mentors was Steve Camp, one day we were discussing an ugly gun I shot well and enjoyed shooting. He told me something that stuck with me, “Pretty is as pretty does”. I recently put together a gun so ugly it’s kinda cute. I won’t win any beauty contests and neither will a few of my guns, that’s OK by me. We get the job done!
Mike
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