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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

.577 Marcel Thys
#33114 - 15/06/05 12:19 PM

Wow, I just ran across this M. Thys .577 NE on Griffin & Howe.

Sure would be nice. . .

What do you guys think? Maybe take up a collection for old CptCurl?

Regards,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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Chasseur
.375 member

Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33116 - 15/06/05 12:24 PM

Damn... nice rifle.

I'm up for petit Chasseur collection

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli

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clark7781
.375 member

Reged: 28/10/04
Posts: 612
Loc: Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33137 - 15/06/05 11:22 PM

Curl:

I'll chip in $50 for your collection!

Yeah, that is one "purdy" gun there. I love Bulino type of engraving. Some of the best ones look like black and white photographs.

--------------------
Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39233
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33145 - 16/06/05 12:31 AM

Mmmmm, very nice.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
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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JPK
.375 member

Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: NitroX]
#33155 - 16/06/05 02:47 AM

I stopped in at G&H and handled that rifle about a month ago. The photos don't do it justice. Makes my Marcel Thys, which has full coverage small scroll and pretty nice wood, look plain jane. I will say that while the engraving and wood on this rifle are beyond mine the fit and finish of both rifles is the same.

JPK

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: clark7781]
#33162 - 16/06/05 07:21 AM

Well now, with $50 in the coffers that just leaves $41,950.00 to go.

Won't be long before I own that rifle!!!!!!!!!

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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clark7781
.375 member

Reged: 28/10/04
Posts: 612
Loc: Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33209 - 16/06/05 10:36 PM

In reply to:

$41,950.00

That doesn't seem like "a bad price" for a sidelock with that engraving in that caliber from Thys.

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Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE

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500grains
.416 member

Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: clark7781]
#33221 - 17/06/05 12:38 AM

That is definitely better engraving than I am used to.

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DPhillips
.375 member

Reged: 09/10/03
Posts: 819
Loc: Alaska

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: 500grains]
#33232 - 17/06/05 02:42 AM

Silly question, but is it more practical or traditional for doubles chambered for the .500" and larger to have an underlever?

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mehulkamdar
.416 member

Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33253 - 17/06/05 09:54 AM

Cpt Curl,

Having seen pictures of your other rifles, I am sure this would make a superb addition to your collection.

And Marcel Thys has retired closing his business down except for repairs to guns made by him during his illustrious career - wouldn't you have something as unique as this rifle in your collection?

Best wishes and I hope that you get it somehow. A collection as nice as yours would be the best place for this incredibly beautiful rifle. Cheers!

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: mehulkamdar]
#33298 - 17/06/05 10:19 PM

Mehul,

Thank you for your kind compliments. I think you may over-estimate my holdings.

Anyway, the human spirit is such that often it's not what one has in hand that facinates, but that which he covets and can't have!

I am not actively pursuing that Thys. I don't have the means. But one can certainly covet and dream.

Best regards,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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bwanabloke
.224 member

Reged: 24/03/05
Posts: 27

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#33379 - 19/06/05 02:01 PM

Can someone enlighten me please on how the game ''scenes'' on this rifle are executed e.g the buffalo and elephant ,is it acid etched ?just wondered how they do it ? looks magnificent !

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new_guy
Sponsor

Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: bwanabloke]
#33381 - 19/06/05 02:50 PM

In reply to:

Can someone enlighten me please on how the game ''scenes'' on this rifle are executed e.g the buffalo and elephant ,is it acid etched ?just wondered how they do it ? looks magnificent !

No, it isn’t "etched" with acid... it's actually "scratched" – or rather engraved ... BY HAND!!! (If you can believe it) with a "burin" (basically a small engraver's chisel), magnifying glass, lots of hour and lots of talent and skill. Typically only hand pressure is used, as the "engraving" is very shallow and no chisel is necessary.

It's done well by a few Brits, but has largely been perfected by the Italian engravers.

--------------------
www.heymUSA.com

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clark7781
.375 member

Reged: 28/10/04
Posts: 612
Loc: Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: bwanabloke]
#33424 - 20/06/05 04:29 AM

bwanabloke:

Taking a closer look at the engraving (specifically the elephant) my untrained eye suggests that the technique used for this particular engraving is called "Bulino" or "bank note" engraving.

The picture is actually made up of 1000s - 100000s of tiny dots that the engraver pushes into the metal. If you take a closer look at US currency, you'll see the same type of technique used.

I've always loved this type of engraving, and when my dad ordered his .577 from Butch, we decided to have similar scenes engraved with this technique.

An AMAZING example of bulino engraving can be found here:

Engraving Arts

--------------------
Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#34136 - 30/06/05 09:49 PM

Looks like that one sold. Sure didn't take long.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40128 - 31/10/05 12:15 AM

Does anyone have any idea where this rifle landed?

I would love to know more about it - how it shoots, etc.

I have seen several M. Thys DR's but have never owned one.

All of JPK's posts about his M. Thys .458 have been interesting. Are there any other owners or shooters of M. Thys rifles who have experiences to report?

I would really like to learn more about this maker and the rifles he has produced. Maybe buy one some day.

Thanks,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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JPK
.375 member

Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40133 - 31/10/05 01:34 AM

Capt Curl,

See another Thys 577 at www.finefirearms.com

See your PM

JPK

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40203 - 31/10/05 12:53 PM

CptCurl

I've had a couple of Thys Rifles and still have one, a 577. It's not as pretty as that one but I like it.

We ordered 7 similar 577, each one to have a different member of the Magnificent 7 from Kruger Park on the bottom.

Here is the one I kept.

Engraving by Phillip Grifnee, Stock by Dieter Thys, Krupp 24" Barrels. Originally weighted in at 10,5 pounds.

I know Marcel and Eric quite well if you are interested. Dieter and Corine a bit.

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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MauserRifle
.300 member

Reged: 15/03/05
Posts: 153
Loc: U.S.A.

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40226 - 31/10/05 02:43 PM

CptCurl

Damn Cpt, I was going to chip in a couple of GRAND for you, just as soon as I got my 450/400! Since that one got away from you, maybe you would like to chip in for me?

--------------------
Mauser Rifle

Everyday is a great day, some days are just better than others!

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: mickey]
#40254 - 31/10/05 11:17 PM

Mick,

Wow, a .577 at 10.5 pounds. That must really be a handful. I'm not sure I would want to touch it off. How is it to shoot?

Very nice rifle, I must say.

MauserRifle,

It's the thought that counts.

Regards,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40264 - 01/11/05 03:30 AM

Cpt

It's a handful for sure. I keep meaning to get some lead in the stock but never get around to it. I carry 4 rounds on a Murray leather stock holder and that puts the balance dead on the hinge pin.

I could bring it to Vegas and you could give it a go.

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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mngane
.224 member

Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 30

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40294 - 01/11/05 09:11 AM

CptCurl,
What a rifle!! I have a Thys .500. This rifle is a treasure to me. It is a sidelock fully engraved by Grifne. The engraving is Purdy style scroll on the locks and an Bulino elephant on the bottom much like the .577 above, without the gold inlay. The fit and finish is flawless and most importantly it shoots as well as any double I have ever shot. With my hand loads it shoots 4 shots into 2 - 2 1/2" at 50 yds.
I took the rifle to the SCI convention after I bought it to have Marcel Thys himself inspect it and he tried to buy it back from me!!
He seemed like a nice man but not too much english. That was the last time M Thys had a both at the convention.
its too bad his buisness is no longer around, as I feel that the rifles his company produced could be as fine as any english rifle but at a lesser price.

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5271
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: mngane]
#40321 - 01/11/05 01:46 PM

You guys sure make Thys sound good.

Does anybody know how long he was in business?

Maybe some more pics of some of these beauties?

Mick, what do you use your .577 for? Have you taken it to Africa?

Thanks,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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mehulkamdar
.416 member

Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: CptCurl]
#40440 - 02/11/05 06:27 PM

CptCurl,

You could go to www.archive.org and access the old www.marcelthys.com website there. I have no idea how long he was in business but he retired in mid 2005 and it is sad that his sons have decided not to continue the business. The man was a genius and another grand Belgian name (Forgeron, Pirotte etc come to mind) has gone.

Sad.

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: .577 Marcel Thys [Re: mehulkamdar]
#40445 - 02/11/05 07:00 PM

Cpt.

I have not taken this one to Africa. I doubt if I will as I have other, less punishing rifles if I ever go back.

Marcel started his business around 1965. He was an Instructor and then later the head of the Gunmaking School of Liege. A few years ago they had a robbery where they lost all of the work in progress and the guns that were fiished but not yet shipped. They were uninsured and this put a severe cramp in their business as they felt they had to replace everything for their customers. It took about 3 years to do this but put them under.

Marcel is 63 so he just retired.

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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