| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 29/03/10 03:27 AM |
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Gibbs Farquharson 303
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I was holding out on posting this one but after flipping TH44 a bit of s**t about not posting his Gibbs, I feel obligated...
I don't know the actual history of this rifle but here is what I "think" is the deal.
The rifle was originally built as a best quality back position match rifle, APUN 350. The section in the top of the heel of the stock where the rear sight was has been filled in with a piece of horn or black plastic.
The gun was rebarreled by Gibbs(39 Corn St. address near the breech)with a 29" ovoid barrel in 303 British. I am not sure if it was rebarreled for sporter use or as a smallbore match rifle at this time. The reason I am unclear on this is that there are two dovetails in the barrel rib - maybe it could have been done as a scoped 303 target rifle (?). The dovetails are filled in with blanks and the current scope bases are dovetailed into these blanks. The bases are "Vienna" style quick release type. Nice that there were not more cuts made in the rib...
There is a Gibbs pattern sporter forend on it now - not sure of its vintage but looks to be fairly old, maybe as old as the barrel job...
| baileybradshaw |
| (.333 member) |
| 29/03/10 05:38 AM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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What a treasure. This rifle and those like it are time capsules. Thanks for posting it!
CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 29/03/10 08:02 AM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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Very nice indeed!
Curl
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 29/03/10 04:21 PM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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Thanks for the compliments.
It really is a look into another time...
In the engraving, there is the cornucopia - and the pineapple in the lower lefthand corner.
I guess pineapples were pretty exotic in late 19th century England...
| kamilaroi |
| (.400 member) |
| 29/03/10 04:51 PM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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^ The use of pineapples as a motif (esp in firearms) dates from the C18th. (N>B> 1700-1800)
| Glenn_Fewless |
| (.300 member) |
| 29/03/10 05:00 PM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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Mr. Huvius:
A wonderful rifle! Thanks for bringing it out for show and tell.
I have read that the pineapple was a symbol of good fortune.
Glenn
| 500grains |
| (.416 member) |
| 30/03/10 12:14 AM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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A very fine rifle.
| Anonymous |
| (Unregistered) |
| 30/03/10 07:35 AM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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Classic flowing lines, perfect calibre for a single shot, very nice.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 31/03/10 12:42 AM |
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Re: Gibbs Farquharson 303
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Wonderful.