I would like to know the value of this rifle I'm thinking about buying. It is built in the classic english express style with beautiful straight grained english walnut, fine checkering, ebony tip and cap, trap door buttplate. The finish is very decent. The action has is a 1892 Steyer. It was assembled by Wilkinsons on Pall Mall st London in 1893 and chambered for the 375 NE 2.5". It has British proofs on the front ring for 40 grs. cordite-----320gr (bullet) max.

It has one standing, and four folding leaves and a sliding ladder type sight in front of that like many I've seen on cape guns.

From the pictures I have seen I would say that the piece is in good-very good condition.

I know that this is not a true heavy game rifle but I would use it for deer, hogs, and investment.

Thanks for any help,

-Catter

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Shoot the largest caliber you can shoot well, and practice , practice, practice.

Do you have a picture? Sounds like an exquisite rifle.

Eric

[This message has been edited by Mauser416 (edited 01-30-2002).]

It sounds like a great rifle, especially for your intended use.

I have always been skeptical about guns as an investment, unless you get lucky and buy just the right thing.

Buy the gun and enjoy it. But if you want to invest your money, see a stock broker.

Catter,
The .375NE 2.5" was not introduced until 1899. How could that rifle have been chambered for it six years before the round's introduction?

From H&H's website:" There were two early
cartridges designated as .375's which were eventually superceded by the .375 H&H magnum cartridges we know today. The first, a 2 1/2" cased flanged nitro express cartridge,
was introduced in 1899 for use in single shot and double barrelled rifles."

Something's fishy. The rifle may have been rechambered (or rebarreled) at a later date.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

The rifle was built in England on a surplus early mannlicher action. When I first skimmed past it I assumed it was for the .375 NE 2 1/4", or 9.5x57ms. This normally has a max bullet of 270 grs. The 320 gr proof is either an optimistic assumption or a misprint. If it is correct, than you can expect about 2000fps with whichever cartridge it is. The good news is that you can use a lighter bullet and get .358 Win type performance. I have seen Birmingham proof marks that were completely wrong in cartridge designation (even caliber).
It looks like an beautiful rifle, reminds me of a Mannlicher 1910 Take-down I once had.

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If you like this calibre, Champlin Arms has a nice (and cheap) double available that has been discussed on another thread.

JohnTheGreek

Does it say ".375 2.5"' on the barrel? As mentioned earlier, the 9.5x57 was called a .375 in the UK. I've seen a number of "British" Mannlicher guns built by MS with the "makers" name on them. (The same with 98 actions.)

How's the bore?, screws in good shape? Any extra holes drilled and tapped?

If you don't mind me asking, is this at McBrides by chance?

One more thing, the 1903-02 Kynoch catalog lists a .375 cal 40 gr charge 320 gr bullet load at 2000fps from a 30" barrel. No specifics were provided about the case. For what it's worth.