So I have been reviewing ads looking for my next project. I found a Whitworth Alaskan with a fixed 4x Leupold.

From what I am reading these rifles are stout if a little rough which is not a big deal since I am going to use it as a base for my brush gun.

The price is about $400 with shipping which seems a little low....

Any opinions on this rifle?

For 4400 with a Leupold, go for it.

"A little low" would be a little understatement.

Not sure what model Leupold scope is on it, but setting that aside, this sounds like a steal if it's in good shape and shoots.

I am not a big fan of the factory stock or sights, and prefer a different safety. If they work for you and it feeds and ejects reliably, then that is an excellent price. If you have to work over the feeding, re-stock, change the safety and maybe the sights, then you are getting into new Model 70 territory.

They can make a trim rifle once done.

quote:

I am not a big fan of the factory stock or sights, and prefer a different safety

I prefer the old Whitworth style.

The scope is an Leupold m8 4x fixed.

The low price scares me, I got taken a few years ago bacause I didn't learn to my better judgement.

Let's see

You did't mention the caliber but I am assuming it's either a .375 H&H or .458
The MkX rifles are sleepers as they are built of good steel and usually had great barrels.
During the early 1970's they even built the same rifle for Mauser, with the Mauser banner on the receiver.
I bought one in 1981 and have carried it every year since as my backup rifle. For that price it is a deal without the scope and with a 4 x Leupold it is even better.

The action is worth darn close to that. Not sure on the scope.

I thought I got a winner, NIB Alaskan .458 from an estate for $600. Mine was a MK X with price tag still on it from 1978-$258. Original box manual etc. Had nice bedding, dual lug, decent wood. Recoil pad was hard as a rock. Long story short, it would not feed and eject, trigger adjustment screw broke off and a few other problems. So I put new pad on, put a M70 wing safety on it, new ejector, modified or got a new extractor. Oh yeah it also had a problem in the bolt shroud where it fired by itself if you manhandled the bolt (hence the bolt work and new shroud and safety). Also the bolt hit the comb on the stock gauging it. Finally got it to shoot (after lots of $$) and the open sights were waaay off elevation. Not a big deal if you are just going to scope it. After sinking a bunch of money into it I lost interest and sold it for.....$600. Maybe I should have kept it. The one thing I liked was the 30-06 length action, not a huge magnum action feeding a .458 WM. Nice looking gun but If I were the OP I would ask a few questions first, or be prepared to spend some money. Just my experience, others may vary. Good luck! For that price it may be worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
I am not a big fan of the factory stock or sights, and prefer a different safety. If they work for you and it feeds and ejects reliably, then that is an excellent price. If you have to work over the feeding, re-stock, change the safety and maybe the sights, then you are getting into new Model 70 territory.

They can make a trim rifle once done.

I've had several of them. Both in 458 and 375 . And Mark Xs in other carts. Some of them needed a little tinkering but that is ok. I already had a couple of them when I first read Phil's articles on his building his 458. That just galvanized my like for them. My 9.3×64 is built on a Mark X action. For a nice trim rifle the only other reciever I prefer is the stainless Ruger. . My current 458 is built on what started as a 338 Win Mag ss Ruger. What cart isyours in? The one thing the Whitworth provides that the Ruger doesn't is the H+H option. If its in 375.

My 458 took a little polishing to make it work 100% but after that, and 30 years of use, it is as slick as any bolt action gets!
I kept the MkX trigger as it is all steel and basically a copy of the old Sako trigger. But I removed the safety lever and added a two position lever to the bolt sleeve.

I also located another Mk X bbl action in .458 and purchased it as a spare and it is noticibly better finished than my earlier one and feeds perfectly.

I have had a few of them in .375 and they also work well but my favorite .375 H&H is the one Bill Atkinson built on a standard Ruger M77. All that required was a longer magazine box and the bolt stop cut back a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
My 458 took a little polishing to make it work 100% but after that, and 30 years of use, it is as slick as any bolt action gets!
I kept the MkX trigger as it is all steel and basically a copy of the old Sako trigger. But I removed the safety lever and added a two position lever to the bolt sleeve.

I also located another Mk X bbl action in .458 and purchased it as a spare and it is noticibly better finished than my earlier one and feeds perfectly.

I have had a few of them in .375 and they also work well but my favorite .375 H&H is the one Bill Atkinson built on a standard Ruger M77. All that required was a longer magazine box and the bolt stop cut back a bit.

Phil,

is it the one you are talking about?

https://www.riflemagazine.com/...?tocid=1186&magid=84

im thinking about a 300hh from a 300 win mag ...

Medved, that is the one ! I finally put it in one of the old canoe paddle stock and it has become a camp favorite.

I wish I kept it now. I was most of the way there

I have one in 458, bought it used but I doubt it had been fired more than a couple times. I ended up putting it in and a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock. The trigger was mushy on mine, but I found another Mark trigger that was crisper, eventually I'll get a model 70 safety setup. The action seemed a little rough, but after about 100 rounds it smoothed out. Its a great shooter now, and handles more like a deer rifle than a DGR.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Medved, that is the one ! I finally put it in one of the old canoe paddle stock and it has become a camp favorite.

thank you Phil.

Phil

I love the older Whitworths with the nice iron sights and a little better stock design..The fetch about $1000 last I heard..good guns. The experts tell you that they are totally opened up in front for the 375 and 458 and that's a no no, as it weakens the action.. but in my 80 years I have yet to see one come apart..Some peoples children are et up with theory.