Here on AR in the past, it seemed we were always celebrating new double rifles, or just new rifles on a fairly regular basis. That seems to have passed us by as unless I missed a few, Michael Robinson's new Hyem is one of the only new guns shared on the forum.

Anyway, I've received a new to me Searcy in 470 NE this week. I purchased it from Steve Bertram who was a pleasure to do business with.

It may be too late in the year to organize a hunt but I'm going to try and properly blood the rifle this October. We'll see.

Here are a few photos to enjoy.

Nice rifle, Todd! You are welcome to come to my place and give it a workout any time you want (except this weekend ).

Excellent piece there, Todd. Congratulations.

Looks good! Is it a back-action or boxlock?

Congrats Todd, that's a fine looking rifle!

Nice. I’d he still with us?

i would post pics but very difficult on this forum. Just mounted an RMR on my 500. My 100 y.o. .470 staying pure though..

As far as I know, Butch is still around but retired now. This is a used rifle so not one that he built for me.

In fact, this one is a little short in LOP and my eyes aren't what they were so after a range session this upcoming weekend to get acquainted, it's off to JJ for a spacer and mounting an RMR.

The last time that I saw Butch, in Boron CA. he said that he was looking forward to retiring and spending the time with his grandkids. He owned a fast food restaurant there at Kramer's Corner that made him more money than the rifle business ever did so he's probably enjoying his life now.


Todd,

Butch gave me one of his "Searcy Rifle Co." ball caps 20 years ago. I've never worn it and it still had the tag on it. I know that I saw it after I moved here to Kentucky, so if I can find it, do you want it?

Beautiful rifle Todd!

Great looking rifle!

There is something about sidelocks, even just their looks and even if the sideplates are just ornamental, that really sets them apart and above.

Is this one a true sidelock?

That’s a real beauty, Todd.
Good hunting!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Great looking rifle!

There is something about sidelocks, even just their looks and even if the sideplates are just ornamental, that really sets them apart and above.

Is this one a true sidelock?

I don't know that much about the rifle yet but when I first contacted Steve about it, he said it's a true sidelock and not just side plates.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
The last time that I saw Butch, in Boron CA. he said that he was looking forward to retiring and spending the time with his grandkids. He owned a fast food restaurant there at Kramer's Corner that made him more money than the rifle business ever did so he's probably enjoying his life now.


Todd,

Butch gave me one of his "Searcy Rifle Co." ball caps 20 years ago. I've never worn it and it still had the tag on it. I know that I saw it after I moved here to Kentucky, so if I can find it, do you want it?

Hello Frank,

Sure, I'll take it. I'll PM my address.

Thanks

Looks like a legit sidelock to me! You can see the pins in the lock plates. I count 5 but hard to tell exactly from the pics.

quote:

Originally posted by bghntr416:
Looks like a legit sidelock to me! You can see the pins in the lock plates. I count 5 but hard to tell exactly from the pics.

I just looked at it and I count 6 pins. There is one in the photo that appears a bit dark and hard to make out. You might be able to see it better in this photo:



I've owned and shot numerous box lock DR's in the past. Honestly, I know a lot more about shooting them and developing loads for them than their internal functions. I wasn't specifically looking for a sidelock when I found this rifle ... really just looking to pick up another double and this one struck my fancy.

The Sidelock mechanism is completely new to me so I'm open to being educated.

Does that 'fillet' of side-plate metal extend along the bar, Todd? If so, it should be a bar-action sidelock, with the mainspring in a girder-like bar. If not, it's probably a boxlock but could possibly be a back-action sidelock. IIRC Rigby and H&H have favoured the back-action SL because it leaves more metal in the bar for added strength in double rifles.

To get a real understanding of these things, seek out Burrard's 'The Modern Shotgun' Volume I, first published in 1931 but reprinted and updated several several times since.

Looking at the side plates it appears a back action side lock- the bolsters appear to sit where the mainspring would sit if it were a bar action ( I.e. in a mortise under the table on the side of the bar).

Holland’s use back action side lock whereas the Rigby rising bolt uses a bar action and relies on the loop barrel extension fitting into the rising bolt (bite) on the break-off for added strength, in theory the back action is stronger as it does not have the main spring cut outs in the bar, but all types work incredibly well and have done so for more than a century.

Just got back from the range with the rifle for the first time. It shot well. 25 yards was about 1" to 1.5" apart. 50 yards was more like 5 or 6 but that's more than likely the fact that I just can't see the target, front, and rear sights effectively any longer past a certain point.

Off to JJ now for the RMR.

One comment is that I've shot a few 470's in the past and quite a few 500's. I hear guys say the 500NE recoils more, some say significantly more. I've never been able to tell the difference in recoil between the 2 calibers. Shooting this 470 today confirms that again. I just can't tell a difference.