Anybody know anything about a cartridge called the .250 W&H Helldiver? A friend has 2 old rifles so inscribed that have since been rechambered to .257 WBY. The first is a full out custom job by Wallack & Holmes, Mayfield NY. It is based on a commercial Mauser action and has a beautiful stock with shadowline cheekpiece & fine checkering. Anybody familiar with the maker? The overall style leads me to believe they might have been a contemporary of Griffin & Howe. The second rifle is an old commercial FN rifle, identical to the Browning FN Hi-Power. Both rifles have Griffin & Howe side mounts holding old Kollmorgen & Redfield scopes. The original inscription on the first rifle reads "Wallack & Holmes, Mayfield, NY .250 W&H Helldiver" and then it is stamped .257 Wby on the chamber. The FN retains the original factory barrel and appears to have started life as a .257 Roberts. The original caliber stamp is crossed out and has ".250 HLDVR" stamped above it and "Weatherby Mag." below it.
The owner of these rifles bought them some 12-15 years ago because the price was too cheap to turn down. He's more into the tactical side of things rather than hunting rifles but he bought them for the actions and never did anything with them. He figured they were chambered for the Helldiver but it appears they were rechambered to the Weatherby because of ammo availability. .257 Weatherby drops right into the chamber. Anyway, we are curious about the Helldiver cartridge and Wallack & Holmes. Anybody got anything to add? Thanx.