After nearly two years I finally have finished this rifle. As the title suggests, it has been a project that has involved many, many people who have graciously put up with my questions, utilized and made available their skill and made many contributions over and above what the rifle is probably worth.

I think this sort of project is the most fun since it has been a community piece. My rifle is an effort made successful from not only old friends but new friends and several key A-R members and their encouragement.

This project pretty much started with borrowing a M70 rifle that belonged to Dan (500G) on my safari with Buzz Charlton. I loved that rifle and it certainly loved me but Dan would not sell it to me (no matter how much I whined and begged), so I knew it was time to cut the umbilical cord and make one for myself.

So what I started with was a trade with Frank Martinez for a Winchester .416 I had purchased that I decided was a bit much for me. He had a decent Whitworth in .375H&H and we swapped.

I was pleased with the wood that came with the rifle and did not do much to it. Yes, I know there is better out there but, being a working girl, I decided my money was better put towards all of other work I wanted done.







I consulted with several people who were more than helpfull and I am forever grateful to. Our Vapodog and .500 Grains were the most influential of the A-R crowd but many others were contacted over this long span of time and I thank those of you who also answered my call for help!

Now on to the rifle and its metamorphosis!



I hired two different gunsmiths due to my change in residences during this period of time.

Vapodog sent me a nice piece of ebony due to my dislike of plastic on a firearm. So the original stock was corrected by William's Gunsight in Davison, Michigan. I also had them glass bed the rifle and correct a broken screw on the recoil lug. Next I had them cover the cross bolt in ebony and remove the original safety and fill in the hole left in the stock with more walnut. The Winchester style safety is a big improvement.



I think William's did a pretty good job considering I did not pay for a refinish job on the wood. I also had them shorten the butt end of the stock by 3/4 of an inch as well. At 5'9" tall it was a better fit for me to bring the gun down to a 13" LOP.

You will notice William's also shortened the barrel to 22 inches and had to shorten the fore end of the stock. I had them remove the old front sight knowing I was going to replace it later on. They did a trigger job, slicked the interior, added the Decelerator pad and also crafted the sling swivel. I did not go with a banded swivel since I had the barrel shortened, I thought doing so might make the gun look too bulky, after all it is a girl's gun. So the smith crafted what you see here.

William's sling mount and real ebony:



Original front sight:





NECG front sight work:



This is the original rear sight but I believe NECG reshaped it (nice!):



Before Williams finished all that work I took a new job in Vermont and moved to the Green Mountains. Once William's finished with the above chores I took the rifle to NECG since I live an hour away from them.

A very kind co worker of mine who is a South African gave me a grip cap and I had NECG engrave it as shown. They did some extra work it seems (thank you guys!). I do not remember the rear sight having the weave pattern and pointed front edge that it now has. NECG also shaped and engraved the same pattern on the new Masterpiece banded front sight. At least I think they did, I do not remember the Masterpiece sights coming shaped as such! There is a fiber optic bead for the front sight, to me a huge improvement over the original hard to see brass fixture.

Original grip cap:



Donated and fancied up new grip cap:



I also had NECG add the EAW "Quick Loc" scope mount. They sighted the rifle in though I did not request they do this (nice touch!).

Vapo's jeweling, EAW mount and ebony crossbolt cover:



Lastly, I had NECG rust blue the gun and our Vapodog added his signature with a very beautiful bolt jeweling job. I have to say, if you want a jeweling service done he is your man, I had my bolt back in a week! The detail is very fine.

Yep, this project cost some serious coin but it is mine. I am probably not worthy but I hope someday to try it on (to me) the ultimate of big game trophies, another elephant.

Time to go to the range.

Thanks everyone for helping with this project, it means much more to me than just buying something off the rack!

Very very nice! I have 2 Whitworths, not as nice as yours.

Very nice rifle Ann! I always enjoy my rifles better when I personalize them with my own custom touches and you did it to perfection on your gun.

Ann,
You should be justifiably proud.....you did very good! It's very tastefully done!

Very, very nice. All that participated did excellent jobs.

Ahhh ... very, very nice! Congratulations.

Very, very nice. I have a Whitworth 375 I have used since 1974, great gun but not as nice as yours. I know you will enjoy using it.
Larry

OOPS, my bad. I mean since 1994.

IMHO the Whitworth .375 H&H is the best for the money out there. Yours is much nicer than mine
and very tasteful. No one will be suprise who has read your post for anytime at all.
Congrats.

Ann

That is a very nice looking rifle.

Nothing wrong with that wood either.

PS the Speer 235 gr bullet over 60 to 65 gr of IMR 3031 is a great deer/pig killer/plinking round.

I have used that type of scope mounts and they always went back to zero for me.

Hey Ann,

I love my Whitworth 375, but yours takes it to a whole new level!

Congrats,

Bob

Very Nice! The only thing that rifle needs is a little sister in 7x57.

Ann,

Very nice. Great touches

Ann, it's a fine rifle worthy of its owner. I'm happy to hear you're so pleased with the way it turned out. All the work looks top rate.

Beautiful rifle Ann. I've been putting a lot of rounds thru your old green one. Great shooter.

I love Whitworths! I wouldn't have changed the wood on that one either!!

I think one word sums it up. Sweet!!!!

Neato!

That is a very nice rifle. The accents make the gun. You did good.

Terry

Ann,

You did great, it's an awesome rifle. It will be a pleasure to own.

Ann,

It looks like the rifle came out great! And a Mauser is better than a Model 70 any day.

Nice.

Thanks for the kinds words, I appreciate them!

Ann,

Great work! Congratulations. Well done.

Hugh

Cheers!
Canuck

Ann, a classic rifle for a classy lady. You should be proud.............and by the way, thanks for the bison hunt, it was wonderful............JJ

Very nice indeed. I especially enjoy that bit of engraving and I know it shoots.
Frank

very nice rifle...i like the addition of the winchester style safety...

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Ann,

And a Mauser is better than a Model 70 any day.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures: So what I started with was a trade with Frank Martinez for a Winchester .416 I had purchased that I decided was a bit much for me. He had a decent Whitworth in .375H&H and we swapped.

Well that 416 is on it's way to my safe! Too late now but you could've downloaded that 416 to a sweet shooter and still a better killer than a 375. Not here to preach or rain on this parade tho!

Frank Martinez is one helluva guy, gracious and generous. For him to swap you was very nice indeed. He sold me the 416 at a very, very fair price. And he did not have to do that. He did it because he's good man.

I don't think Frank mentioned it on AR yet but he has something very cool indeed that he will likely be sharing with us soon. My lips are sealed.

Beautiful rifle Ann! Congratulations!

Congratulations, Ann! Well done mods on your whitworth 375 H&H. I have two of these rifles, both 375H&H, one in a synthetic stock for the Alaskan rain, and the other in wood for Africa. They are great rifles, and every one I have ever owned, or shot are accurate, and very reliable! Your's turned out well! NICE!!!!!!!!!

Ann,

Class act all the way around! It is a little light on the caliber, but other than that it's a beauty

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the continued positive comments. I hope to take it to the range this week. In particular to test just how good the scope mounts are supposed to be.