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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles

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mckinney
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/09
Posts: 1212
Loc: usa

Fred Wells .458 Lott
#364338 - 06/04/22 10:33 AM

I wouldn’t know from personal experience but this looks like just about the ideal stopping rifle.

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Milita...mation/67963811

The work of Fred Wells (deceased) is featured in Speed’s Mauser book. He was said to have the best collection of original Mauser sporting rifles in the country - racks two deep along the wall of a very long room. He also preferred working on original Mausers to any other work. His wife Rachel is a first class engraver as evident from the Cape Buffalo on the floor plate of this rifle. I believe his son is carrying on his work and also is a great fan of the Mauser 98.

A great excuse to get out to Prescott, Arizona.

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bwanabobftw
.375 member

Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 665
Loc: Texas

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: mckinney]
#364496 - 11/04/22 04:49 AM

Good looking rifle, however I am not a big admirer of maple stocks. But, I am sure the rifle functions flawlessly!!!!!!!!! Mr Wells was a master gunmaker.
Robert

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: bwanabobftw]
#364497 - 11/04/22 05:04 AM

Quote:

Good looking rifle, however I am not a big admirer of maple stocks. But, I am sure the rifle functions flawlessly!!!!!!!!! Mr Wells was a master gunmaker.
Robert

Dame..NOT a maple fan..but???

Nice looking rifle other than that..and I am sure as you state, functions flawlessly

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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buckstix
.400 member

Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1109
Loc: Whitetail Country

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: Ripp]
#364502 - 11/04/22 11:43 AM

Here's my 458 Lott. I purchased it 4 years ago. I have it set-up with 2 different scope options. Its the best 458 Lott I ever owned.

Features:

11 lbs 13 oz - 13-7/8" LOP - 23-1/4" Douglas Bbl w/ Removable Muzzle Brake - Forward Barrel Mounted Recoil Lug - Banded & Hooded Front Site w/ Extra Colored Inserts in Hinged Compartment Grip Cap - Pachmayr Decelerator Pad w/ Hard Rubber Heel.

1x-20mm Nikon Buck Master Scope w/ Nikon QD Lever Rings - additional 2x-7x-32mm Nikon Prostaff Scope w/ EAW Rings - 2 year build time in 1990 at a cost of $5000. (equals $10,850 today in 2022)

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26488
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: buckstix]
#364503 - 11/04/22 12:59 PM

NICE Buckstix.

Stained maple is just fine.

Daryl

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39197
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: DarylS]
#364512 - 11/04/22 07:10 PM

Nice Daryl.

Bucket is, useful rifle. That oiccatinny leaf open base, useful and utilitarian but ugg! JMO.

--------------------
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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bwanabobftw
.375 member

Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 665
Loc: Texas

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: NitroX]
#364518 - 11/04/22 11:45 PM

I do like the stained maple on that front stuffer !!!!!!! And that is a beautiful Wells .458 !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing,
Robert

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mckinney
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/09
Posts: 1212
Loc: usa

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: bwanabobftw]
#364533 - 12/04/22 08:50 AM

Can anyone tell from the photos what kind of Mauser action was used on the Wells rifle (commercial, military, Brevex?)

Interesting that the gun doesn't have a recoil lug. I guess Fred knew whether or not it needed one. The stock looks thick around the barrel channel and in general. Love the dimensions and the pancake cheekpiece. Also, the recoil pad ..... is that elephant hide?

I don't care for the light colored wood but, stained a little darker, it could be majestic. Is maple more crack/split resistant than walnut?

Overall looks like a masterpiece for African hunting that wouldn't be out of place in any company.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26488
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: mckinney]
#364544 - 13/04/22 02:34 AM

Maple is (generally) a much stronger, usually more dense (greater specific gravity) wood, more resistant to splitting, cracking or warping.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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prairie_ghost
.300 member

Reged: 19/07/08
Posts: 129
Loc: casper, wy

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: DarylS]
#364575 - 13/04/22 10:32 PM

The general sweep of the bolt and the flat on the knob suggest FN as the sourced action but that's just a WAG.

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85lc
.375 member

Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 900
Loc: Georgia, USA

Re: Fred Wells .458 Lott [Re: bwanabobftw]
#364588 - 14/04/22 03:20 AM

Well, I like maple syrup and properly stained maple on muzzle loaders; however, blond stocks look very utilitarian - well they look similar to beech stocks (to me). I don't even like maple furniture though it makes great butcher block and work bench tops.
Of course, each to his own.
Fred Wells was a great gunsmith. Glad to hear his son is carrying on the master gunsmith tradition.

--------------------
RB

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