I'm considering having a new gun made for me. I had a .300 win mag custom made about a dozen years ago but the gunsmith that made it does not do so anymore. It had a Sako A5 action on a custom stainless free-floating barrel with a McMillan fiberglass stock. All metal work was tefloned. It has been a great gun and I've really enjoyed it on adventures from Alaska to Africa. That said, time has gone by and I'm getting the itch to get another one. Of course I want the reliability and accuracy that a custom gun is known for, not to mention the fit that such a gun should have. Anyone have any suggestions on which custom gun maker I should consider?
Posts: 1445 | Location: Bronwood, GA | Registered: 10 June 2003
I'll second Steve's recommendation. The best hunting rifles I've ever owned have been built by D'Arcy Echols, and I really don't hunt with anyone else's product anymore. Not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for....
It's almost there. D'Arcy has been very busy with his real work, building rifles. So the site has taken longer than expected. He and Lisa have been working through last minute changes. Lisa just told me last night that the site is 'imminent'. Not sure what time scale that is on though..
I'm really HOPING that it gets put up by April. I'll post it here when it goes live.
-Steve
Posts: 2781 | Location: Hillsboro, Or-Y-Gun (Oregon), U.S.A. | Registered: 22 June 2000
As to Holland & Holland, specifically their bolt action rifles, I wouldn't put them in the same league with Echols, Miller or a number of other American custom makers whose work I have examined. I know a guy who has a H&H .375, he is a P.F. in Africa, who lives here in the off season. I have examined his rifle and it is not as nice as my Dakota 76 and will not group as well, either.
I am a Canadian, of partial English ancestry and certainly not anti-British, but, I have yet to see a British bolt action rifle that comes close to the best American ones I have seen. I will be buggered if I am going to pay absolutely ludicrous prices just because it has a posh London gunmaker's moniker on it, period.
Shotguns and double rifles are another story, I would commit unspeakable acts in order to own a '30s vintage Westley-Richards "Drop Lock" in .450 Nitro and a similar vintage 12 bore with two sets of barrels. A Daniel Fraser falling block in .303 would also be something I would be able to accept as a gift......but, the Americans produce the best bolt guns available, IMHO.
While out ground squirrel shooting this weekend, I met a gentleman out of Roseburg that does a lot of work for Darryl Holland over in Powers.
He indicated that usually Darryl is out shooting with him but decided to split out and go for coyotes also.
I have his number if Interested.
Down this way, we have Darryl Holland, Also Chick Donnely who is the last guy alive that actually worked under and with Parker Ackley, and still has a shop opened. Also recommend Kevin Wyatt over in Medford Highly. He does excellent work, and is very reasonably priced.
The Gentleman out of Roseburg was Scott Gobel. I was going to check out his work when I am up in Roseburg this week. Let me know if you want a report via email.
