Sterling Davenport

27 January 2022, 03:29

eezridr

Sterling Davenport

came across an extremely nice looking 338 WM by Sterling Davenport.
Safari style: drop box magazine. barrel band sling swivel and NECG barrel band front sight.]
Pretty heavy dense English walnut XXX.
24 line checkering.
FN action with safety modified to 3 position type mod 70.
Pretty heavy at 9.25 lbs but just about perfect shape.
I know this maker is likely not a true artisan but really looks as nice as any Dakota.
What can be said about their work?

EZ

27 January 2022, 04:14

crbutler

He was actually one of the better guys for quite a while, from what I understand. He’s retired now.

I got a .318 WR on the secondhand market that he did.

Beautiful rifle, but I had some issues with getting it to feed.

27 January 2022, 05:33

4WD

I’ve had two. Bought on second hand market.
.375 H&H had feeding issues, safety not worked over for function.
.404 Jeffery arrived dead on arrival with a cracked stock in the pistol grip area .
Not a top tier builder in my opinion. Lacking attention to detail in stock layout and action work. A lot of his rifles look nice but have some quality issues.

27 January 2022, 05:37

DManson

I have a 416 Rigby on a Noreen action by Mr. Davenport. It’s a beautiful rifle that functions flawlessly. With very dense, nicely figured wood, it’s not a lightweight. (11 1/2# scoped) Quite an accurate and practical rifle, with excellent workmanship.

27 January 2022, 06:43

Craftsman

Sterling Davenport was an excellent custom rifle builder. I think his work was guild quality. At least every one I ever examined was.

27 January 2022, 06:47

eezridr

I may handload some duds (W/O primer and powder)
Cycle the action and see how it feeds.
It is basically a Browning Safari (FN) CRF action.
Identical to the one I have on a 458 Safari Grade with the exception the safety has been modified.

EZ

27 January 2022, 19:57

Craftsman

There is a Gun Digest book Titled 'Riflesmithing' written by Jack Mitchell and edited by Jack Lewis. It dates back about 45 years ago. It featured many custom rifle builders of the day, Dale Goens, Lenard Brownell, Al Lind and Sterling Davenport. It had a good number of how to articles most of which featured Davenport's work. I think his work was advanced for that time frame. He built his own stock duplicator too.
I had an original copy of this issue that a borrower failed to return. I was able to find a
replacement copy on Amazon.

27 January 2022, 22:18

bghntr416

I saw that rifle and was sorely tempted. If it feeds properly and shoots half way decent I think you got a very good buy.

27 January 2022, 22:33

Kolo-Pan

Sterling Davenport with his duplicator from the Riflesmithing book.

28 January 2022, 07:49

Craftsman

quote:
Sterling Davenport with his duplicator from the Riflesmithing book.

That's the book. Thanks Kolo-Pan

28 January 2022, 08:23

xausa

quote:
Originally posted by Craftsman:
There is a Gun Digest book Titled 'Riflesmithing' written by Jack Mitchell and edited by Jack Lewis. It dates back about 45 years ago. It featured many custom rifle builders of the day, Dale Goens, Lenard Brownell, Al Lind and Sterling Davenport. It had a good number of how to articles most of which featured Davenport's work. I think his work was advanced for that time frame. He built his own stock duplicator too.
I had an original copy of this issue that a borrower failed to return. I was able to find a
replacement copy on Amazon.

You should have tried eBay. They had two copies. (Now only one.)

30 January 2022, 02:10

Woodhits

Sterling built me a 7x57 a few years back when he was still working. It is a nice rifle and was a ton of gun for what he charged me. That said, I would not consider it a top-tier rifle in terms of build quality.

30 January 2022, 02:58

theback40

I have an extra copy I could part with.

30 January 2022, 03:20

yumastepside

I have that book, also the Jim Carmichael one, excellent books.
I always on the lookout for the Tommy Bish book if anyone has one....sorry for hi-jacking the thread...

Roger

30 January 2022, 06:39

Craftsman

I have a couple of Tommy Bish's books. Still some good information. Very good plans for building a good no nonsense bench.

30 January 2022, 22:46

Atkinson

He was as good as any of the best..I had a couple of his rifles back in the day..One sold at auction that belonged to my dear friend George Hoffman that I intended to buy or run the price sky high for his wife at the auction, they sold the gun the day before it was listed to be sold, upset a bunch of us bigtime..She needed the money and several of us needed the gun,especially me..It sold way too cheap as the buyers had no clue what it was historically...