My Whitworth is here.....

17 January 2002, 14:25

<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)
Virginia England

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.
Rod

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Rod's Place

18 January 2002, 07:24

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by 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.
#1
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.
#2
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.
#3
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)
Virginia England
L=Logo.....one on left is Interarms logo and one on right is CZ logo.
#4
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.
Rod

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
The barrel band front sling loop is correct, it is evident that it had a rear iron sight, because of the filler screws. The Magna-porting is worth ahout $100, and is a good choice, far better than an ugly,and noisy muzzle brake.
The peep in the rear base is also a good thing. Who made the rings & bases, and are they QD?

#2

The 375 H&H is correct and it should have a square recoil lug on the bottom of the barrel about 8" in front of the action ring. The caliber stamping should be just above the stock, on the left side of the barrel.

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.

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!

Good shooting with your new toy!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 01-17-2002).]

18 January 2002, 09:13

rlda07052

quote:
Originally posted by 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)
Virginia England
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.
Rod

Hey Rod,
I've got 5-.375H@H rifles.The best shooter of them all is my Interarms Whitworth.The best of luck with yours!
Richard
LET US PREY1

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rlda07052

18 January 2002, 10:20

<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,
Rod

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Rod's Place

18 January 2002, 11:28

Cannon

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,
Cannon

18 January 2002, 14:25

TAN4Y

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

19 January 2002, 06:22

MacD37

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.

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

19 January 2002, 06:44

MacD37

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. ????????????????

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

19 January 2002, 07:04

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by vibrasonic9:
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,
Rod

Rod, the back island, and three leaf express sight is available from Cape Outfitters. www.capeoutfitters.com It is $59.95 + S&H the front catapiller front sight, and bead is also there for $19.95

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!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art