The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores My Whitworth is here.....Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| <vibrasonic9> |
Now that I have it in hand, I can give a better description and you fellas that know more about them can tell me if I got one of the more desireable guns. It's got the barrel band, and screws are in the barrel where a sight used to be. It's now set up with a peep that's part of the scope bases. It's got Cal. 375 H&H Mag. stamped on the barrel. There are some other markings on the barrel, but I can't make them out as they are half-covered by the stock. The action has Whitworth on the side and top. The safety is a tang type. The side of the action is stamped: (L) Alexandria INTERARMS Manchester (L) L=Logo.....one on left is Interarms logo and one on right is CZ logo. It's also been Magna-Ported, has Pachmayr pad. Looks to be in real good shape, some handling marks...but overall, pretty nice. Thanks for the help. ------------------ | ||
|
one of us |
quote: Vibrasonic9, New rifle, HUH? over all it sounds like what you have is a WHITWORTH AFRICAN EXPRESS rifle. A few things puzzel me, however! #1 #2 #3 The stampings are correct on the action and IMO what you have is a modified Whiteworth African Express, the recoil pad has been replaced, that's evident. The stock should have a steel grip cap, and a black simulated ebony foreend tip, with NO white lines anyplace. The one thing that doesn't jibe with the whole scheme is, and I may be misunderstanding you, yor description of the "SAFETY" as a "TANG TYPE"?????? The safety should be a SIDE safety just back of the bolt handle on the right side of the cocking piece shroud. Just ahead of this safety on the action there should be two screw holes, with filler screws in place. This is for a reciever sight. I have never seen any MkX action with a tang safety. Also check the screw hole spaceing on the barrel for the rear sight. If the two holes are spaced 2.2 inches apart, then they were for the EXPRESS sight base of the African Express rifle. If it is an Mark-X Alaskan , the spaceing will be around 3/4 inch. I have never seen an Alaskan model that was stamped WHITWORTH, only the African model. The Whitworth Express rifles were barreled, and stocked in England, by Whitworth rifle co. All the others stamped Interarms, were made from barreled actions made by Zanodi Crvena Zastava, in Belgrade , Yugoslavia, and stocked here. #4 Rod I'm alomst certain you have the African Express rifle, and if so all the modifications made to it are the proper ones. There is only one more that needs to be made, and it will cost you about $150. The safety needs to be replaced with one on the cocking piece like a Mod 70, which blocks the fireing pin, and you will have as good a rifle as there is, chambered for 375 H&H. You can spend more money, but the difference in price will not indicate a rise in quality to justify the cost. I'm sure you are thinking of useing this rifle in ALASKA, and if so, you might think about getting a synthetic stock for this rifle, for the Alaskan rain, and save your walnut stock for drier climates. Even the very reasonabley priced (about $100) RAM-LINE stock is a great hunting stock for wet weather. If you hunt "5" days in Alaska, "10" of them will be in rain!
[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 01-17-2002).] [This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 01-17-2002).] | |||
|
| one of us |
quote: Hey Rod, ------------------ | |||
|
| <vibrasonic9> |
Yeah, I wrote tang safety for lack of knowledge of proper nomenclature...it is as you described...to the side of the action. The sight had the 2.2" spacing on the screw holes. The stock is also as you have described. The rifle is only new to me, but looks to be in fine shape... I would like to know where I could get original type rear sights for it though. The rings and bases are QD. I have $585.00 inthe rifle....that's rifle, shipping and transfer fee......out the door. Thanks so much for the help, ------------------ | ||
|
| one of us |
Mac, You seem pretty well-versed on the Whitworths, I'd like to hear your take on mine. I got it new, I believe in 1991. It was definitely sold as a Whitworth African Express, and I still have the original box marked "Whitworth African Edition". It has the Whitworth stock, complete with "Whitworth" stamped red rubber recoil pad, the case-hardened grip cap, black forend tip, and the 3-leaf (1 fixed, 2 foldiong) island rear sight. It also has the recoil lug mounted on the barrel. There are a couple of features, however, that don't match your description. The action is stamped "Manchester, England" but not "Whitworth", and most notably, it does not have a barrel-band, but instead has a sling stud on the forearm. Thanks, | |||
|
| one of us |
MacD37 I still have the .458 whitworth we talked about and have been thinking about keeping it and restocking it with a RAM-LINE stock. I know it will not just drop in but do you have to open up the action or just open up the barrel channel and the barrel lug. Would you glass bed it after? Thanks TAN4Y | |||
|
| one of us |
TAN4Y, the stock will have to be tweeked slightly, just a nip here, and there and it is a drop-in. The barrel chanel will not have to be opened up for the Recoil lug, in fact it will have to be glassed in. on the back of the lug only. The sides, and front of the recoil block should stay free of glass. A wooden dam will have to be placed in the stock about 3/4" behind the recoil lug, and the cavity filled with glass beddingaround the lug. You see the stock is basicly hollow, with cross webs for stifness. The recoil lug falls in between these webs. It is a necessary,however to give glass support to this block, to avoid breaking front action screws. This is a problem with SAKO 375 H&Hs in synthetic stocks, as they have no recoil block on the barrell, and the action is too streight, and can move back under recoil. Relieve the sides, and front of the block so they can move. All the movement you want to restrict, is the rearward movement. The barrel channel will have to be opened up a little, but only to free float the barrel enough to run a dollar bill easily between the barrel and the stock. The Ramline stock is not a pritty thing, and the recoil pad that comes on them isn't worth beans. A Pachmeyer decelarator is easy to install on the origenal bosses inside, the taken down with a belt sander and some fine sand paper. The tip of the top of the stock, the (NOSE) just behind your thumb of the trigger hand will have to be sanded down some to clear the bolt lug on the bottom of the cocking piece. I've heard a lot of people cuss the Ramline stock, and called a tupper ware stock, but I don't let that kind of snobbery bother me. I have two rifles in Ramline stocks, and they shoot far better than they did in walnut, especially after ten days in the rain. when you consider the synthetic is a "SPARE" stock to be used in foul weather, while retaining the walnut for drier climates, the $125 completed Ramline is a bargin. ------------------ | |||
|
| one of us |
Cannon, the only explanation I can offer is, they may have offered a short run of the African Edition at the end of their production without the barrel band. 1991 would be at the last of the production from Whitworth, though many were sold years later. I have never seen one with out the barrel band, but then I have never seen one of the Whitworth African models chambered for 7mm Rem Mag either, but there were a few made. I get the feeling you did not buy this rifle new, if not the barrel band may have been removed. Some people who use their sling for a "SHOOTING SLING" do not like the front swivel on the barrel, and mount one in the stock. Most, however, leave the barrel band intact, eventhough they don't use it. Also, there should be some sign that the barrel band had been there, if this is the case. ???????????????? ------------------ | |||
|
| one of us |
quote:
Fax orders are processed overnight, that no is, fax 573-335-1555 Phone No is 573-335-4103, or 573-335-6260 Rod, you will learn to love this rifle, and find yourself useing it a lot! ------------------ | |||
|
| one of us |
Thanks for the reply, Mac. The gun was definitely brand new when I got it, so I think it's safe to say it never had a barrel band. I think your late production explanation is the most reasonable. Cannon | |||
|
| one of us |
quote: That would be my guess as well! ------------------ | |||
|
| one of us |
MacD37 I really appreciate you taking the time to give me such complete dirictions on how to fit a Ramline to my gun. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores My Whitworth is here.....
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia
