Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3614
Loc: Colorado
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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...
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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baileybradshaw
.333 member
Reged: 21/06/08
Posts: 305
Loc: Diana, TX
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What a treasure. This rifle and those like it are time capsules. Thanks for posting it!
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www.bradshawgunandrifle.com
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Very nice indeed!
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3614
Loc: Colorado
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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...
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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^ The use of pineapples as a motif (esp in firearms) dates from the C18th. (N>B> 1700-1800)
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Glenn_Fewless
.300 member
Reged: 08/05/08
Posts: 103
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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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
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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A very fine rifle.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Classic flowing lines, perfect calibre for a single shot, very nice.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40644
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Wonderful.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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