Cross posted from the Gunsmithing Forum:

A friend showed me this rifle on the range a few weeks back. I don't know very much about it, but I thought somebody might be interested in seeing a few pictures...

What little I do remember from our conversation about the rifle:
- apparently this is pretty much a "one off" bolt action rifle Krieghoff had built. I believe the original idea was to market these in the States as a match for the Krieghoff DGR double rifles. The idea seems to have come to nothing, and my friend located this on a gun rack at Krieghoff's.
- length of pull seems to have been extended a bit, thus the funny white spacers. Not quite sure how long it is now??
- the trigger was very nice for a big bore.
- not sure what action this is - I don't think it is a Prechtl.
Other than that, I don't have much information - except that my friend mumbled something about selling the rifle, should the right offer come up.

Enjoy - mike

Mike,

Although I like the rest of the rifle, I see that Kreighoff unfortunatly used their usual engravers to make this cartoon buffalo.

Beautiful rifle. Is it just me or does that Magazine floor plate assembly look too short and fat for a 416 Rigby?

No, it's not just you but it could be camera distortion. Just looking at the extended front ring, the action looks like a Doumolin magnum action. The bottom metal looks one-of-a-kind.

I don't necessarily disagree regarding the engraving of the floorplate. In fact, I thought Krieghoff had displayed surprising restraint, and stayed away from the more Germanic style engraving. Alas, it only lasted until the floorplate...

It is funny to note, though, how perceptions differ. Like them or not, these engraving types are quite expensive. I don't know whether it is the mere cost, or whether the typical Continental custom rifle customer really dotes on this type of engraving? In any event, when my friend sent me the pictures of the rifle, he sent me multiple of the floor plate engraving. It appeared he considered this a (or *the*) highlight of the rifle. I don't necessarily agree, but I'm certainly not going to argue a point based largely on taste. I can recognize certain common Central European traits in this...

- mike

Very nice rifle. I'm definetly a less is more guy when it comes to engraving. For what the floor plate cost, I could have bought another rifle.

Great workmanship, but I would prefer a traditional recoil pad arrangement instead of all of those contrasting spacers. As for the cartoon buffalo, a disc grinder will take that right off.

it is great execution of workmanship but i also don't like the spacer treatment of the recoil pad, the gold critter, or the scalloped bolt handle. but that is why baskin & robbins makes 31 flavors of ice cream to make each of us happy.

Mike,

Thanks for posting. An absolutely stunning rifle!

How Much?

That is probably a rifle that can be had for many thousands of dollars less than it would cost to produce. I would tolerate the floorplate, ditch the recoil pad spacers and go hunt stuff with it.

JMHO,

John

Thanks for all the comments guys, I'm happy some of you found this interesting.

I was also somewhat taken aback with the "rainbow" effect of the white-black-white spacers used to extend the LOP on this rifle. I have not measured the LOP, so I don't know what the scoop is. I will say this, though, Europeans tend to shoot longer LOPs than what is commonly found on North American rifles. Why?? I honestly don't know, tradition or scopes with shorter eye reliefs, perhaps?? In any event, if this rifle was originally intended for the US market, that *could* be a reason why the European owner (or Krieghoff?) chose the extra spacers?? I would personally have looked for a different arrangement, but I guess that is just one of those things. I personally don't care too much for red pads either, and I know a lot of people really like those...

bulldog563, I happen to know approximately what the rifle was sold for. But I'd prefer not to post that here, lest this turns into a discussion about whether the rifle was worth the price or not. That was not the purpose of my post, and obviously the price must have been worth it to the owner. If you are really interested, PM me, and I'll supply you with a mail address of the owner.

- mike

OMG, that's a BEAUTIFUL rifle I must say! What did your friend pay for it?

Has anyone priced what it would cost to have claw mounts installed on the square bridges, like what has been done on this rifle?

Who does claw mounts like these in the US?

- stu

I just did a search and at least partially answered my own question - http://www.champlinarms.com/services.cfm

Who else does claw mounts?

I just managed to figure out who built the rifle for Krieghoff: Ziegenhahn & Sohn - one of the Suhler smiths.

- mike

Mike,
thanks for all the information, very interesting and beautiful rifle

For a collector it would certainly be a valuable rifle since it's more or less one of a kind....

Cheers
/JOHAN

Just looking at the reciever,
I appears to be a large ring, but instead of stepping down in dia. behind the front ring, it has continued on to the rear. Not seen that before.