New Arrivals

Browning Model 78 Bicentennial .45-70 consecutive pair. Rifles 17760610 and 17760611 each feature a polished blue 24-inch octagon barrel (.830 muzzle diameter) with recessed crown, blade front sight and a dovetail-mounted rear sight. The rear of the barrels and the tops of the receivers are drilled/tapped for bases as well. STOCKS: Each rifle is stocked in select high-grade walnut. Forearms incorporate a soft Schnabel and bordered checkering with sweeping points and interior diamonds. The straight grip butts have crescent plates. Sling swivel cups are also incorporated. ENGRAVING: Both rifles have engraved receivers with a bison on the right and an eagle on the left, each surrounded by a circular border. The balance of the receiver sides, top and bottom are dressed in scroll – the pattern continuing some three inches along the top of the barrel and reappearing near the muzzle and at the top of the crescent. Rifle 610 is signed by Coenen while 611 was engraved by Hupkens. DIMENSIONS: Weights are 8.2 pounds and lengths-of-pull are 13.5 inches. CONDITION: Both are thought to be unfired. Rifle 610 has a pristine bore. Metal finishes are essentially 100 percent. Wood is nearly 100 percent as well, the exception being a few very minor instances of varnish lift. Rifle 611 is similar to its mate, with the minor varnish lifting showing at the top of the grip (edges of checkering) and a few microspots of tarnish on the sides of the lever. COMMON INCLUSIONS: Each rifle is presented in a locking wood case with special lid label and mated with a numbered Browning knife. Manuals, Browning 78 Bicentennial pamphlet, medallions and keys are also included, as is a single set of sling loops. The price is firm and layaway is available. $7,500 plus shipping.

Cooper Model 57-M CCL .17 HMR. Made in 2003, serial HMR548 is a heavily-featured rifle with select English (French) walnut ordered by Cooper’s most particular customer. Features include a 22-inch sporter barrel (.595 muzzle diameter) with recessed crown and no provision for open sights. The action wears Warne bases. Important appointments include a checkered bolt knob (three bordered teardrops), ebony forend tip, borderless wrap checkering accented with flowing ribbons and points, inletted sling swivel studs, scalloped cheek rest with shadow line, skeleton grip cap and a checkered steel Neidner butt plate with widow’s peak. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 7.2 pounds and the length-of-pull is 13.75 inches. CONDITION: New and unfired. There is trace evidence (faint lines) on the ebony forend tip that suggest it might have developed a drying crack after installation which was repaired by the Cooper factory prior to finishing (the original finish has not been altered). ACCURACY: The included laminated factory test target shows a three-shot group that is literally one hole. INCLUSIONS: The original manual, box and oversleeve with correct end label are present. The price is firm and layaway is available. $4,000 plus shipping.

Hoffman Arms custom Springfield .30-06. From the storied firm in Ardmore, Oklahoma, this classic American sporter wears a 24-inch barrel with a banded front sight ramp topped by a brass-beaded blade. Although reprofiled, the barrel is original as the date stamp is partially visible on either side of the ramp (the left number being a “5” and the right being a “2”). The action itself has received minimal modifications (markings polished, carefully smoothed raceway, extractor and bolt body jeweled, Lyman aperture rear sight added, trigger face serrated with a checkered tip). The bottom metal has been replaced but the rear of the follower has not been beveled and the two-stage trigger mechanism remains in service. No serial number is present either above or below the wood line. STOCK: Fashioned from a walnut blank with strong lines and understated figure, the overall stock profile is wonderfully slim. The forend tip is horn. Fine borderless checkering with accent points wraps the forearm and bookends the grip shoulders in graceful panels. The slim, open pistol grip is capped with steel and the comb line is all but straight. The stock itself incorporates metal bedding pillars and wears an oil finish. The recoil pad was upgraded at some point in the not too distant past.  ENGRAVING: Sans attribution, the engraving is exceptional. The floor plate anchors the theme with a calling bull moose standing in profile against a forested background which is in turn vertically framed by fields of leafy vines with scroll and fleur accents. The pattern extends over the balance of the bottom metal and guard, then reappears on the front ring and on either end of the barrel. Stippling accents integrate on the front right ramp as well as the top of the ring and over the chamber. The grip cap also wears full coverage and the bolt knob is dressed with a horizontal band of fine checkering. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 8.2 pounds and the length-of-pull is 13.65 inches. CONDITION: The bore is bright, not roughed, and has strong rifling. The action is solid and mechanics proper. At least a partial professional restoration seems likely (given the slight softening of the Hoffman legend engraved in the barrel). Metal finish now stands at approximately 85 percent with only minor instances of roughness showing under the finish. Engraving remains sharp. Jeweling over the extractor and bolt body has softened. Checkering is likely recut and the stock oiled. The price is firm and layaway is available. $8,750 plus shipping.

Mauser (Oberndorf) Model 98 mountain rifle in .280 Remington. Crafted in Austria, serial 102675 is an superb light weight sporter stocked in richly-figured AAA walnut with end-to-end crossing grain. While every aspect of the wood’s execution, checkering and finish is exceptional, it is the metalwork quality that staggers. A 23.5-inch tapered octagon-to-round barrel has a full-length integral matted rib ending in a raised front sight ramp topped with a brass-beaded blade. The barrel-mounted swivel stud is seamlessly soldered. The single leaf rear folding sight is dovetailed into the rib. Accents include a checkered steel grip cap, checkered steel butt plate with widow’s peak, timed and engraved screws, double triggers, two-position wing safety on a custom shroud and sleek steel bottom metal with a levered floor plate release. The rifle’s markings indicate “Made in Austria” yet execution is American classic with European heritage slightly evidenced by the petite Schnabel forend and the scalloped pancake cheek rest with shadow line. A straight bolt knob is properly configured to clear a scope. No maker’s name is declared. DIMENSIONS: Weight (with bases) is 7.2 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.75 inches. CONDITION: The bore is strong and bright with no evidence of use. Metal and wood finishes are each at least 98 percent. The price is firm and layaway is available. $5,000 plus shipping.

Remington Model 700 Custom Shop 7mm Remington Magnum. Built at the Remington Custom Shop (Dakota Arms in Sturgis, South Dakota), serial number RR02587H has a 26-inch (27.5 inches with removable brake) Shilen heavy sporter barrel (1/8 twist, .765-inch diameter near muzzle before stepping down into threads) with skip-line fluting. The blue-printed Model 700 action carries a much-modified bolt with two plunger ejectors (redundant), long (M-16 style) extractor, body with skip-line fluting and a large knob. A left-side bolt release button and Timney Elite trigger have also been added. The bottom metal assembly is steel and all metal surfaces wear a Cerakote finish. STOCK: A McMillan Game Hunter stock with positive texture fields, deep pistol grip with palm swell, Monte Carlo comb with cheek rest, Pachmayr Decerator recoil pad, three sling swivel studs and camo finish also incorporates aluminum bedding pillars. OPTIC: A Swarovski Z8i 3.5-28×50 P scope with illuminated BRX-1 reticle and a BTF Ballistic Turret Flex elevation system is secured in Talley rings. ACCURACY: Included load information from Barnes Custom Center shows a .5 MOA 3-shot group with 168-grain LRX bullets at approximately 2,779 FPS. DIMENSIONS: Weight (with optic) is 11.2 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.7 inches. CONDITION: The bore is outstanding. Metal and other surface finishes are approximately 99 percent. Optic (lens coatings, electronics) are absent issue. CASE: An SKB i Series case with custom-fitted interior and “Remington Custom Shop” on the outer lid completes the package. INCLUSIONS: See-through lens covers, auxiliary turret cap and four dials, Grovtec sling with swivels, sock, 200-year pin and the factory manual are present. The price is firm and layaway is available. $5,000 plus shipping.

John Rigby & Co. (London) 6.5x55mm on a much-refined Mauser Model 98 action. From the collection of a former Rigby owner, serial number 10337 is the very definition of perfection in a magazine rifle. Features include a 24-inch barrel, painstakingly smoothed action with jeweled bolt body/extractor/follower, custom steel bases, color case ERA three-position wing safety with secondary locking button, tuned trigger, custom bolt knob with twin checkered and bordered teardrop panels, 26 lines-per-inch bordered wrap-around checkering, scalloped pancake cheekpiece with shadow line, steel grip cap and inletted sling swivel studs. Also included is a Swarovski Z3 3-9x36mm scope with plex reticle. ENGRAVING: “J. Rigby & Co. London. England.” rides atop of the barrel in elegant script. “Cal 6.5×55” is on the floorplate and the serial number rides over the curl of the guard, both in gold. “Made In England” and “Cal. 6.5×55” appear on opposite sides of the front receiver ring and “6.5x55mm” is on the base of the barrel. DIMENSIONS: Weight, including scope, is 9.0 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.5 inches. CONDITION: All but pristine and believed fired only three times since proofing, the rifle was never hunted. Metal finishes show only the slightest trace of handling. Wood is also nearly perfect, with just a few instances of minor impressions from storage. The scope is also like new. The price is firm and layaway is available. $12,500 plus shipping.

Ruger No. 1 50th Anniversary .45-70. Made in 1999, serial 133-63459 features a banded front sight, banded sling swivel stud, quarter rib with folding rear sight, steel grip cap, polished blue metal finish and a AAA-grade English walnut stock. ENGRAVING: Action sides wear the Ruger “Fifty Years” gold logo surrounded by a medium leafy vine pattern and bordered in gold. Additional gold wire accents appear at the muzzle, barrel base and lever. CONDITION: New and unfired. It is worth noting that the wood figure of this particular rifle is especially strong as compared to others from this special edition. INCLUSIONS: The original box (excellent condition, correct end label), rings (sealed), sling swivels, lock (sealed) and manual are present. The price is firm and layaway is available. $2,750 plus shipping.

Winchester Model 94 MPX Saddle Ring Musket movie rifle and RCMP Commemorative prototype. One of just 32 .30-30 rifles made in 1973 for the Canadian movie “Alien Thunder”, serial MPX20 was exported for filming and then reimported by Cherry’s in 1996. This special order group of rifles was as close as Winchester could come at the time to recreate the Model 1886 rifles used during the early years of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. These MPX rifles also served as the prototype for the two RCMP Commemoratives offered circa 1973. Not surprisingly, chambering was .30-30. Features include a 22-inch round barrel with blade front sight, musket-length forearm, flip-up rear sight (elevator), saddle ring and a shotgun butt plate. Metal finish is polished blue and wood finish is satin. SPECIAL MARKINGS: “M.P” is stamped on the right side of the butt and the Cherry’s import marking appears on the underside of the action near the serial. PROVENANCE: Dated July 12, 2016, a letter from Cherry’s to the consignor confirms much of the information presented in this description and will be included with the rifle. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 6.6 pounds and length-of-pull is 13.25 inches. CONDITION: The rifle appears to be unfired. Metal and wood finishes are approximately 97 percent with scattered trace evidence of handling and a few minor impressions. A plugged sling swivel stud hole shows faintly on the toe line, but appears to be under the original finish. No box is present. The price is firm and layaway is available. $5,000 plus shipping.