Peter,

I think the later Grade 3 and Grade 6 engraving is quite good but the stuff on the Crown Custom is bad. But apparently some people like it because they have been doing it that way for 30 or 40 years.

Dean in the custom shop told me it has been done that way for so long because a lot of people that buy Crown Customs have waited 20 and 30 years to get one and want to buy what they originally had their heart set on.

In my opinion the best Weaterbys are what I call the "non catologued" rifles, that is, rifle configurations of type and calibre that are not illustrated in their catolgue or website.

An example would be a Royal Custom in 378 (standard only goes to 340) and with Kreiger cut barrel and action work.

I don't know the situation in America but in Australia the financial deal changes and such rifles become much dearer than the increase in US retail would suggest.

To give you an example a standard 378 Deluxe would be about $3300AUS to $3400US. But get one with all steel bottom metal which adds $350US to the US retail and the rifles cost $5250AUS. I know that for a fact because I bought them. Although the rifles are better made as they come from the custom shop.The stocks are better than standard Deluxes, not in terms of grain but quality of finish etc.

I have two sitting at the gunshop and another pair come in a couple of months and i expect to be one of the few people in the world to collect 4 378s all on the one day. A few of us are going out together to have a 378 party

A friend of mine has a 375 that was 1 of 130 made in the early 90s. It has the quarter rib, classic stock and with Made in Japan it sounds like the most unlikely 375 you could own. But it is about the best 375 I have ever handled. The rifle has never been fired.

Mike