500 Jeffery - Please Help Identify Unknown Maker

Hello All,

I've posted this here from another site in hopes that just maybe, someone can help to identify the maker of this 500 Jeffery rifle.

The rifle was built on a Military 1928 BRNO VZ24 action, as evidenced by the Military Proofs / Markings and the 1928 Military Acceptance Stamp.

Specs of the rifle are as follows - holds 2 down-1 up, - 26" barrel. - 9 lbs 1 oz, - 14-5/8" LOP, over a 1" LimbSaver pad. (the LimbSaver recoil pad may be a more recent addition based on the remnant of a "Widows-Peak" black spacer) The barrel has a 3 leaf Rear Site and an interesting Ramped Front Site with a small bead, and a "Flip-Up" Ivory Moon Bead.

Although the rifle has a very "German" look to it with its "Butter-Knife" bolt handle and its "side-panel" stock, I'm thinking it was built in the U.S. because the caliber marking is the English caliber designation "500 Jeffery". The stock wood has a very coarse distinctive grain, but its not a laminate. The bottom of the barrel, just ahead of the action, is stamped "BITER" with the stamping "12.4.1998" below it, which I'm assuming is the build date, December 4, 1998.

If anyone has suggestions, or comments as to how I might determine the maker, please feel free to respond.

After the original pictures above were posted, I relieved the tang, and matched the stock wood to the thumb-slot on the action. I also inspected the Mercury Reducer in the stock and while I had the recoil pad removed, I drilled another hole and added a 3/4 pound Tungsten Bar to better balance the rifle. This addition brings the rifle's weight up to 9 lbs 13 oz. (up from its original weight of 9 lbs 1 oz) When fully loaded the weight is 10 lbs 3 oz. The increase in weight reduces the rifle's recoil by over 10%. The added weight balances the rifle's heavy 26" barrel. It was somewhat muzzle heavy, but now balances exactly on the center of the action, making it more comfortable to carry.

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But, the one question that still begs to be answered ... is ... Who / What is BITER?

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