Hallowell & Co has listed under "new arrivals" a breathtaking 404 by Steve Heilman. Equally breathtaking is the price $53,500.00. I love the gun and the engraving is gorgeous but I cannot justify that kind of price for a bolt gun. I'm curious what the group feels would be a reasonable cost to replicate this gun? There is a lovely 358 Norma by the same maker for about $20K less also at the same location. Could it be a bargain?

WOW!

Where does the scope go?

I don't care if it only has one barrel, this is a beauty!

It seems to have all the craftsmanship of the finest doubles. Look at the beautiful extended tangs and engraving to drool over.

This might be the prettiest bolt trash I have ever seen.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
WOW!

It seems to have all the craftsmanship of the finest doubles. Look at the beautiful extended tangs and engraving to drool over.

This might be the prettiest bolt trash I have ever seen.

Love to see more of this beauty.

Von Gruff.

Worth every penny

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Hallowell & Co has listed under "new arrivals" a breathtaking 404 by Steve Heilman. Equally breathtaking is the price $53,500.00. I love the gun and the engraving is gorgeous but I cannot justify that kind of price for a bolt gun. I'm curious what the group feels would be a reasonable cost to replicate this gun? There is a lovely 358 Norma by the same maker for about $20K less also at the same location. Could it be a bargain?

Not sure what that rifle is worth but if I had that kind of disposable cash I would request pricing info from Hartmann & Weiss or Peter Hofer. I would not want to pay top dollar for something made to fit somebody else.

Yep,
Would hate to use a slip-on pad or have to add-on an orthopaedic butt pad to make one of these fit me!

www.hallowellco.com


Stephen R. Heilmann Custom 98 Mauser .404 Jeffrey $53,500

24" tapered round barrel with integrally machined full-band front sight base

(with hood), swivel stud and quarter rib (with 1 standing and 3 folding gold-

lined express sights regulated for 50, 100, 200 and 250 yards). Stocked with

highly figured California English walnut: ebony forend tip, 26 lines-per-inch

classic point-pattern checkering with mullered borders, double reinforcing

crossbolts, beaded pancake cheekpiece, steel trapdoor pistol grip cap,

inletted and sculptured rear swivel stud, and leather-covered recoil pad.

Hand rubbed varnish finish. Mauser 98 action with double squarebridges,

original-design Mauser safety with SAFE and FIRE inlaid in gold, integral

extended top and bottom tangs, completely scratch-made bottom metal

including lever-release floorplate, custom trigger, bolt handle and integral

shotgun-style triggerguard. Engraved by Terry Wallace: fine scroll on front

sight, swivel studs, quarter rib, action body, triggerguard and pistol grip cap.

Albrecht Durer's coat of arms on floorplate. Case colorhardened action,

crossbolts, floorplate, PG cap and rear swivel stud. 3-panel checkered,

sculptured bolt knob. Weight: 9lbs, 12oz. Built in 1990. Pictured on cover of

Heilmann's brochure. Over 500 hours invested in building this rifle---not

including engraving. Virtually new condition. Photo http://www.hallowellco.com/Heilmann%20404.htm

.

Stephen R. Heilmann Custom FN Mauser .358 Norma Mag. $35,750

24" tapered round barrel with integrally machined full-band front sight base

(with hood), full-band swivel base and quarter rib (with 1 standing and 3

folding gold-lined express sights regulated for 50, 100, 200 and 300 yards).

Stocked with highly figured California English walnut: ebony forend tip, 26

lines-per-inch classic point-pattern checkering, double reinforcing crossbolts,

beaded pancake cheekpiece, steel trapdoor pistol grip cap, inletted and

sculptured rear swivel stud, and leather-covered recoil pad. Hand rubbed oil

finish. FN Mauser action with Model 70-type safety, custom bottom metal

including hinged straddle floorplate with release inside triggerguard, custom

trigger and bolt handle. Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 - 5x20mm scope on Smithson

quick-detachable mounts fitted to custom Heilmann bases. Engraved by

Terry Wallace: fine scroll on front sight, swivel studs, quarter rib, action

body and triggerguard. Softly deep-cut floral quatrefoil on pistol grip cap.

Gold inlaid buck elk on floorplate surrounded by deep-cut acanthus scroll.

Case colorhardened action, crossbolts, barrel tie-down, bottom metal, PG

cap and rear swivel stud. 3-panel checkered, sculptured bolt knob and

jeweled bolt. Nitre blued screws. Weight: 9lbs, 11oz. Built in 1989. Virtually

new condition. Photo http://www.hallowellco.com/heilmann%20358.htm

Golly!
At one time it had Leupold QR's with the potmetal levers???
Glad that got fixed!
I would much rather have QRW bases cut integral into the add-on square bridges of this M98!!!

For that money I would order a London rifle.

Why would anyone take the built in QD scope mounts off and then color case a rifle of that quality? Very nice rifle! It would make a nice truck gun!

its gorgeous -- but imho, NO undocumented/historical firearm is worth that kind of money, with today's market of guns being available to be bought.. perhaps in 15 years, that will be the permiting cost, per gun, but not today

oh, yeah, insomnia SUCKS

One could get custom built and fitted bolt gun of equal quality from more famous maker for less. The asking price is a this gun must be on consignment.

$5,000 for parts + 500 man hours at $50 an hour = $30,000 tops.

Beautiful! A fine example of the Gunmaker's Art. If we all had the money, we'd all have one. And in 404 Jeffery as well!

quote:

Originally posted by GeoffM24:
$5,000 for parts + 500 man hours at $50 an hour = $30,000 tops.

A very good craftsman is worth a good meal more then $50 per hour. I'm not sure where they came up with tag of $50k+ for that piece. Almost afraid to ask but how much is new made of order one?

Original price for Heilman M98 404 Jeffery with faux square bridges and Leupold QR scope mounts:
parts/materials: $5000
labor 500 hours @ $61.50/hour: $30,750
New price = $35,750

Charge to remove scope mounts and refinish plus consignment sales premium: Add $17,750

New Arrival Price at Hallowell & Co.: $53,500

Number of shots ever fired through this 404 Jeffery rifle: Doubtful

Look on face of owner when it sells for 53.5 K: Priceless

I just looked at the site and its $36,000 and change not $53500

Yup,
Price has been dropped on both:

Stephen R. Heilmann Custom 98 Mauser .404 Jeffrey $36,500

24" tapered round barrel with quarter rib (with 1 standing and 3 folding gold-

lined express sights regulated for 50, 100, 200 and 250 yards), integrally

machined full-band front sight base (with hood) and swivel stud. Stocked

with highly figured California English walnut: ebony forend tip, 26 lines-

per-inch classic point-pattern checkering with mullered borders, double

reinforcing crossbolts, beaded pancake cheekpiece, steel trapdoor pistol grip

cap, inletted and sculptured rear swivel stud, and leather-covered recoil pad.

Hand rubbed varnish finish. Mauser 98 action with double squarebridges,

original-design Mauser safety with SAFE and FIRE inlaid in gold, integral

extended top and bottom tangs, completely scratch-made bottom metal

including lever-release floorplate, custom trigger, bolt handle and integral

shotgun-style triggerguard. Engraved by Terry Wallace: fine scroll on front

sight, swivel studs, quarter rib, action body, triggerguard and pistol grip cap.

Albrecht Durer's coat of arms on floorplate. Case colorhardened action,

crossbolts, floorplate, PG cap and rear swivel stud. 3-panel checkered,

sculptured bolt knob. Weight: 9lbs, 12oz. Built in 1990. Pictured on cover of

Heilmann's brochure. Over 500 hours invested in building this rifle---not

including engraving. Virtually new condition. Photo

.

Stephen R. Heilmann Custom FN Mauser .358 Norma Mag. $19,975

24" tapered round barrel with integrally machined full-band front sight base

(with hood), integrally machined full-band swivel base, and quarter rib (with

1 standing and 3 folding gold-lined express sights regulated for 50, 100, 200

and 300 yards). Stocked with highly figured California English walnut:

ebony forend tip, 26 lines-per-inch classic point-pattern checkering, double

reinforcing crossbolts, beaded pancake cheekpiece, steel trapdoor pistol grip

cap, inletted and sculptured rear swivel stud, and leather-covered recoil pad.

Hand rubbed oil finish. FN Mauser action with Model 70-type safety,

custom bottom metal including hinged straddle floorplate with release inside

triggerguard, custom trigger and bolt handle. Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 -

5x20mm scope on Smithson quick-detachable mounts fitted to custom

Heilmann bases. Engraved by Terry Wallace: fine scroll on front sight,

swivel studs, quarter rib, action body and triggerguard. Softly deep-cut floral

quatrefoil on pistol grip cap. Gold inlaid buck elk on floorplate surrounded

by deep-cut acanthus scroll. Case colorhardened action, crossbolts, barrel

tie-down, bottom metal, PG cap and rear swivel stud. 3-panel checkered,

sculptured bolt knob and jeweled bolt. Nitre blued screws. Weight: 9lbs,

11oz. Built in 1989. Virtually new condition. Photo

Big drops.

Way out of my pocketbook, but Steve can build me a rifle anytime. I don't know what some of you consider a name builder, but he ain't far off.
Butch

It'll never be in my finances to drop $53K or $36K into a gun. But, good Lord, is she beautiful!!!!!

To Quote Sam Spade:

"That's what dreams are made of!"

quote:

Originally posted by Paolo9,5x73:

quote:

Originally posted by GeoffM24:
$5,000 for parts + 500 man hours at $50 an hour = $30,000 tops.

A very good craftsman is worth a good meal more then $50 per hour. I'm not sure where they came up with tag of $50k+ for that piece. Almost afraid to ask but how much is new made of order one?

Yes but there is a lot of grunt work in those 500 hours which I'm sure is done by someone else at the shop getting paid far less then $50 an hour.

In the USA, it is worth what the highest bidding, bona fide arm's length third party willing buyer chooses to pay fot it, and not a penny more.

Looks like it has had a price adjustment.
Now at $36,500

H&H magazine rifle, NIB, about $43,000
WR, ditto, a little north of $33,000.00
Hartmann & Weiss, "POR"

And then there's David Miller....

Good hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
Way out of my pocketbook, but Steve can build me a rifle anytime. I don't know what some of you consider a name builder, but he ain't far off.
Butch

I would like to hear what his peers have to say, but IMO Heilman is one of the top metal-smiths. Billy down at the gunshop may not know who he is, but outside of Echols and Miller there are very few smiths who have any real name recognition with the unwashed masses.

That is not opinion, just fact......

quote:

Originally posted by DArcy_Echols_Co:
Worth every penny

Well, well, Mr Echols I think you wrote the above when the price quoted was $53, at $36 it must be the bargain of the year.
However I won't be buying it.

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:

quote:

Originally posted by DArcy_Echols_Co:
Worth every penny

Well, well, Mr Echols I think you wrote the above when the price quoted was $53, at $36 it must be the bargain of the year.
However I won't be buying it.

Worth and market value are two different things.

Beautiful. But as somebody already said, for that kind of cash I would buy a double for $10-12K and spend the rest on another hunt in the Selous. Or maybe take my 375 on 2 hunts in Zim.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
Worth and market value are two different things.

Gosh! I didn't know that.
If you read the question you will see Mr Echols aswered the question posed.

nothing is expensive,just relative.
I prefer an Heilmann,Echols,Ralf Martini etc, rifle over an H&H, mainly cause I value superior workmanship&refinement over brandname.
However I would not get full personal value from that Heilmann rifle, cause several of its features dont appeal to me.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
Worth and market value are two different things.

Very true statement, as is this one as well


"

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
In the USA, it is worth what the highest bidding, bona fide arm's length third party willing buyer chooses to pay fot it, and not a penny more.

"


Except it applies around the world, not just in the USA.

Any gun is only worth to me what I am willing to pay for it.

.

I think you need to figure in the 'artistic" value of the engraving as well.

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Heilmann at the ACCG show last time. Very nice man. Had a lot of nice wood for sale. I sure wish that there was some way that he didn't have to be in a wheel chair.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
I think you need to figure in the 'artistic" value of the engraving as well.

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Heilmann at the ACCG show last time. Very nice man. Had a lot of nice wood for sale. I sure wish that there was some way that he didn't have to be in a wheel chair.

The engraving is also irreplaceable since I believe Terry Wallace passed away a few years ago.
That rifle and others he has made make one pause and realize that there are not enough superlatives to describe Heilmann's work.

quote:

Originally posted by Trax:

I prefer an Heilmann,Echols,Ralf Martini etc, rifle over an H&H, mainly cause I value superior workmanship&refinement over brandname.
However I would not get full personal value from that Heilmann rifle, cause several of its features dont appeal to me.

Very well said. I agree fully on both points.