New Arrivals

Jack O’Connor’s personal .222 Remington. Based on a Sako L46 barreled action, serial number 51330 was stocked by Lenard Brownell in 1963.

In his Getting The Range column from the January, 1965 issue of Outdoor Life (page 79), O’Connor writes of this rifle: “The most accurate light, really featherweight, varmint rifle I have ever owned is one I had put together some time ago. It is a Sako-barreled action made in Finland. The barrel is the light, not the heavy, one. Stocked by Lenard Brownell of Sheridan, Wyoming, and fitted with a Weaver K-6 scope on Sako mount, the little musket weighs a shade less than 7 1/4 lb. and is a joy to carry back into the canyons where road hunters don’t have the rock chucks spooked. Factory load that agrees with it best is the .222 cartridge turned out by Federal. With that rifle and ammunition, groups run from 1/2 to 1 in., and I think the difference between the 1/2 and 1 in. groups is me. In all, it is an astounding little rifle and top-quality ammunition.” (Photocopy included.)

In The Rifle Book (3rd edition, 1978, page 190), O’Connor penned: “One of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned was an 8 1/4-pound .25/06. Two other very accurate light jobs are my .222, a Sako barreled action stocked by Lenard Brownell, and a .244 custom made for me by Al Biesen on a 7mm Mauser action. Either will put the first three shots out of a cold barrel into about 3//4 inch.” (Photocopy included.)

O’Connor’s Shooting column from the April, 1966 issue of Outdoor Life (page 140) revisits his satisfaction: “I have a handsome little .222 that I carry on long hikes back into the canyons of Idaho and Washington for rock chucks. It is based on a light Finnish Sako barreled action. It was stocked in a fine piece of handsomely figured French walnut by Lenard Brownell and is fitted with a Weaver K-6 scope with Sako rings on the Sako receiver with the the logical male dovetail. The outfit weights a bit less than 7 1/2 lb. It is partial to the Federal factory .222 cartridges and will group them into 3/4 in. or less. With handholds, it does extremely well with Speer 50, 52 and 55-gr. bullets and with the Sierra 50 and 55-gr. bullets. (Photocopy included.)

In the O’Connor biography (Jack O’Connor, The Legendary Life of America’s Greatest Gunwriter, second edition, 2002, Safari Press, page 196) contributing author Eldon “Buck” Buckner references this rifle by serial number. Note that the book indicates 1964 as the year Brownell stocked the rifle, the year later amended by Buckner to 1963. (Photocopy included.)

Finally, O’Connor’s handwritten firearms log indicates this rifle was sold to Fred Huntington in March, 1973. (Photocopy included.) Huntington was the founder of RCBS and owned the rifle until his passing in 1998.

The rifle features a 23-inch factory barrel with the original ramped front sight and remains untapped for a rear sight. The bolt body and extractor have been most properly jeweled. The Weaver K-6 scope was replaced sometime after the sale to Huntington with a Leupold M8 6x scope (Duplex reticle) that has turned full plumb. Brownell’s stock is a work of art. Shaped from a broad-grained English (French) walnut, it wears a borderless multi-point wrap checkering pattern with crossing accents, a scalloped Monte Carlo cheek rest with shadow line, steel grip cap and a color case steel butt with widow’s peak. The stock is fitted with sling swivel studs. A single detachable magazine is included. DIMENSIONS: Weight, including scope, is 8.0 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.5 inches. CONDITION: The bore is strong and bright. The polished blue finish stands at approximately 97 percent, the color case of the butt plate approximately 90 percent and the magazine approximately 80 percent. Wood finish is approximately 97 percent, with slight indications of thinning. Wood integrity is approximately 95 percent, with a modest distribution of minor field impressions and scratches. Mechanics appear to be in order and the optic is clear. The price is firm and layaway is available. $15,000 plus shipping.

Griffin & Howe left hand (both bolt and stock) Winchester pre-64 Model 70 .243 Winchester. G&H number 2354 / Winchester serial 355049 is a most appealing example of the storied New York firm’s best efforts. CONVERSION: The bolt handle has relocated to the port side, while the extractor and recontoured safety lever remain in their original positions. The bolt release has been replaced with a flat checkered button. Additionally, the tang appears to have been slightly recontoured and now hints of a cloverleaf. FEATURES: The 24-inch barrel has a hooded front ramp. The bolt body, extractor and follower are jeweled, and the bolt knob wears a bordered ring of positive checkering. The stock is accented with an ebony forend tip and 24 lines-per-inch wrap-around bordered checkering, steel grip cap and a checkered steel butt plate with widow’s peak. Blending of the shadow line, scalloped cheek rest and modest Monte Carlo is most properly executed. DIMENSIONS: Weight, with mounts, is 8.4 pounds and length-of- pull is 13.8 inches. CONDITION: The bore is strong and bright, with the faintest suggestion of roughness (possibly tool marks) showing near the muzzle under magnification. Polished rust blue is in excess of 95 percent, with thinning at the muzzle and a thin spot at the top of the barrel just ahead of the front ring. Wood finish/condition is well in excess of 90 percent, with some thinning, rubs and scattered impressions. The front sight blade is absent. The price is firm and layaway is available. $5,000 plus shipping.

Colonel Charles Askins’ Griffin & Howe custom left hand 8mm Remington Magnum. Based on a Remington Model 721B action with a left hand bolt and safety conversion by Guise, G&H rifle number 2572 (serial number 346297) was gifted to the Unrepentant Sinner in 1982. Features include a 24-inch barrel, left hand bolt and safety conversion, five-panel checkered and engraved bolt knob, jeweled bolt body/follower/rails and a tuned trigger. The stock wears an ebony forend tip, 24 lines-per-inch borderless wrap checkering, steel grip cap, cheek piece with shadow line and a steel butt plate with widow’s peak. Additional appointments include an engraved crossbolt, sling swivel studs and a Redfield base. PROVENANCE: A search of Griffin & Howe records indicates “…a note back on the datebook entry says: 1982 Converted to 8m/m Remington Magnum. Given Col. Charles Askins – American Rifleman. MARKINGS: “No. 2572 Griffin & Howe . Inc . New York . NY.” and “8 m/m Rem. Mag.” appear on the barrel. “By Guise” shows on the right rear of the action. CONDITION: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. The polished blue stands well above 90 percent, with scattered light scratches and tarnish on the sling swivel studs, grip cap and butt plate. Wood is about 85 percent overall, with a significant impression on the left side of the forearm, a chip at the point of the upper tang (repaired), slight chipping at the edge of the pistol grip cap and some light spotting in the finish (mostly along the toe line). The price is firm and layaway is available. $4,000 plus shipping.

Colonel Charles Askins left hand Sako .25-308 Norma. An custom rifle based on a Sako L61R action with serial number 141, the bolt handle was relocated to the left side and a custom barrel added prior to stocking. The rifle is unmarked as to its maker, other than the initials “RB” appearing along side the caliber stamping on the barrel. Additional features include a 24-inch barrel, nickel bolt handle/knob, ebony forend tip and grip cap, well-executed borderless checkering, Monte Carlo comb and a scalloped cheekpiece with an accenting dart at its fore. PROVENANCE: A brass nameplate engraved “CHARLES ASKINS” is affixed to the stock just ahead of the floorplate. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 8.4 pounds and length-of-pull is 13.5 inches. CONDITION: The bore is bright and shiny with strong rifling. The polished blue over the barrel and action is approximately 95 percent, with the nickel bolt handle showing at approximately 70 percent and the bottom metal approximately 80 percent with some scratching. The portion of the action where the right side was built up during conversion remains unfinished. The oil-finished stock retains at least 90 percent of its original condition, with a number of field impressions, light scratches and a minor chip repair at the shoulder just ahead of the thumb safety. Several small blotchy spots appear on the stock where the finish has thinned, mostly on the cheek piece. The price is firm and layaway is available. $2,000 plus shipping.

Superb J.& L. Wilkins (Birmingham) dangerous game rifle in .404 Nitro Express (.404 Jeffery). Crafted around an Argentine Mauser 1909, serial 40402 features a 24.5-inch heavy sporter barrel with a beaded front sight, Mag-Na-Port (four ports), banded sling swivel stud, island rear sight with one fixed and three folding leafs accented by gold sighting lines (engraved, in turn, 100/200/300/400), unmolested action with brilliant color case (receiver, bolt body, bolt handle, follower, release, safety, shroud, bottom metal and grip cap) straight bolt handle, three-position safety and custom bottom metal with drop box magazine. The stock begins with a horn forend tip and wears 24 lines-per-inch wrapped borderless checkering, twin crossbolts, trapdoor grip cap and a proper scalloped cheek rest with shadow line. ENGRAVING: The action is dressed in well-executed rose and scroll. Related accents appear on the front sight body, cap and screws. The gold serial rides the guard, while “Safe” and “Ready”, also in gold, adorn either side of the safety lever. MARKINGS: “J. & L. Wilkins & Co. Birmingham. England” appears on a single centered line forward of the island, “Regulated for RWS Ammunition 401 Grain Metal Covered Bullet” shows on two lines just aft of the island and “Jefferys 404 Nitro Express” is engraved boldly over the curve of the front ring. Initials “RJT” in script are on the grip cap. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 9.8 pounds. Length of pull is 14.2 inches and drops are 1.5 and 2.25 inches. CONDITION: The bore is absent visible wear. Bluing is at least 97 percent and colors are vivid – nearly 100 percent. The stock is at least 98 percent, with only modest indications of handling. AMMUNITION: Two boxes (40 rounds) of Hornady Dangerous Game Series 400-grain DGS (solids) and 10 boxes (200 rounds) of Federal Premium Cape-Shok 400-grain Woodleigh Weldcore SP (softs) are included. The price is firm and layaway is available. $9,500 plus shipping.

Winchester pre-64 Model 70 .375 H&H Magnum. Made in 1941, serial number 44338 was used by David Hasinger to take the huge tiger displayed at the Smithsonian. Features include a 25-inch tapered barrel with original front sight, matching number on the bolt body, Paul Jaeger detachable side mount with 1-inch rings and a Lyman aperture rear sight. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 9.4 pounds and length-of-pull is 13.7 inches. CONDITION: The bore is strong and bright. The rear sight is absent. Bluing is approximately 85 percent, with some general scratching, thinning over the bolt knob and floorplate, and thinning/browning of the trigger guard. The stock has an added ebony forend tip (visible in the newspaper clippings which accompany). Both the side mount and aperture are carefully inletted. Overall stock finish and condition is commensurate with that of the metal. Mr. Hasinger color-coded his rifles by caliber with colored tape wrapped at the base of the forend tip so they were easily identified when in a rack (the tape is visible in the newspaper clippings). Evidence remains, but the tape itself was removed long ago. THE HASINGER TIGER: Mr. Hasinger took his spectacular tiger in November, 1967, in India’s Kumaon District made famous by Jim Corbett. In fact, one of the beats was conducted during the hunt was within sight of Corbett’s home. The great cat weighed 857 pounds and measured 11 feet, 1 inch, and The Forestry and Game Commission of India certified the tiger as the largest on record. By comparison, Corbett’s famed Bachelor of Powalgarh measured 10 feet, 7 inches. It was reported that the tiger “terrorized livestock and residents for a full year” prior to Hasinger’s hunt. Upon his return to America, Mr. Hasinger donated the tiger to the Smithsonian where it remains on display as a full mount to this day. PROVENANCE: A host of newspaper clippings and several photographs recount the hunt itself, as well as the celebration when the Smithsonian debuted the display. This rifle was presented to Mr. Hasinger’s hunting partner, Dr. Karl Jonas, and has remained in the Jonas family until present. A certified letter from the Jonas family representative detailing the rifle’s history is included. (Note – Dr. Jonas also killed a tiger on the same hunt. His rifle, a Winchester pre-64 Model 70 Super Grade African .458 Winchester Magnum with a left-hand stock, is offered separately.) Both rifles will be featured in the next issue of Sporting Classics Magazine. The price is firm and layaway is available. $10,000 plus shipping.

Winchester pre-64 Model 70 Super Grade African .458 Winchester Magnum with left hand stock. Made in 1957, serial number 401577 was used by Dr. Karl Jonas to take a tiger in November, 1967. On this same hunt, his partner, David Hasinger, killed the huge tiger now on display in the Smithsonian. (Hasinger’s tiger rifle, a pre-64 Model 70 .375 H&H Magnum, is offered separately.) Features include a 25-inch barrel with original front sight, jeweled bolt body/extractor/follower and Lyman aperture rear sight (no inletting). STOCK: Winchester factory records covering this period of Model 70s are nonexistant, so the originality of the stock cannot be properly established. When disassembled, no markings were present. The consignor suggests it was ordered many years ago by his late father from the Winchester Custom Shop. HUNTING PROVENANCE: Included are field photos of Dr. Jonas with his tiger, although the rifle is slung and thus obscured. In addition, original newspaper articles regarding the hunt are also included. DIMENSIONS: Weight is 9.4 pounds and length-of-pull is 13.6 inches. CONDITION: The bore is strong and bright. The rear sight is absent in favor of the aperture. The auxiliary recoil block (underside of barrel and below the stock line, approximately four inches forward of the front ring) is present but detached from the barrel, as the solder has released. Barrel blue is approximately 80 percent, with some thinning and scratching. Bluing on the barrel-mounted sling swivel stud has thinned where contacted by a swivel. Several small pits appear over the chamber area. Jeweling is bright and viable, with little tarnish. The action blue is at least 85 percent, with thinning and freckling along the floorplate. The integrity and figure of the wood is very good, and its finish stands at approximately 80 percent, owing to a number of impressions and scratches. The recoil pad heel is slightly compressed. PUBLICATIONS: A feature on both of these tiger rifles will appear in the next issue of Sporting Classics Magazine. The price is firm and layaway is available. $7,500 plus shipping.