Some time ago, I bought an unfinished project from an estate. It was a 2-rifle set of Heym Magnum Mausers (actions 41 & 42) that were barreled, with quarter ribs, hooded sights, claw mounts, B Nickel scopes, and 2 nice stocks that were inletted but never finished. The project was started in 1989 by Lowell Manley, and was later turned over to Alfred Galifent in PA when Lowell fell ill or passed on. Alfred made some progress but became disabled and never finished. I bought the set from the estate, complete with new cases, dies, and bullets for the two calibers; 505 Gibbs and 416 Rigby.

Duane Wiebe is nearing completion on the project, and keeps teasing me with photos of the stocks, metalwork, and such. These things are MASSIVE! The barrels look like 12ga slug barrels. Stay tuned...these things will be awesome!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Duane Wiebe ... keeps teasing me with photos of the stocks, metalwork, and such.

Tease us!!!

Pictures, we need pictures !

I have been anxiously awaiting to see this pair!

They looked good before being handed over to Duane I can't wait for the finished product!

Lets see some pictures!!!

Best
Dave

quote:

I can't wait for the finished product!

You and me both!They are turning out to be spectacular. Just waiting for the barrels to come back from bluing before final assembly.

quote:

505 Gibbs

Hubba hubba... what a horse of a caliber...and yeah...I'd like to own one one day. Can't wait for pics...have a feeling they will look just like they are supposed to...and probably shoot that way too!

I like to take all the credit or all the blame, but can't do either on these rifles. Two previous gunmakers passed on while working on these..I figured lightning doesn't strike THREE times, so went ahead with the job of finishing them up.



A 505 Gibbs and 416 Rigby. These are truly massive guns. the 505 weighs 15 lbs 10 oz and the 416 tips the scales at 13-4.

I'll have to say that the inletting was truly superb. The "bottom metal" is a huge assembly that is inletted from the top.... when you turn it over to look at the bottom, the inletting would probably not allow smoke thru.

Shaping was a problem because the inletting was right down the middle..I went with quite a bit of cast off to come up with a cheekpiece. The wood was probably California English...very dense and resisted all attempts at Alkenet Root stain.

While these are very innotative actions, I feel the designer had way too much time on his hands. The bolt sleeve alone has 12 parts and you better have a .9mm allen wrench handy...I never bothered to count ALL the parts..can't count that high anyway!

This metal has been sitting around about 30 years and I suspect now and again someone sprayed them with WD 40. There was "gumbo varnish" inside everything and a solid cake under the dovetailed parts.

Some of this had worked it's way under the solder joints and I gave up after three tries at rust bluing...there wasn't enough degreaser on the planet to clean this out. After some despair, I contaced CAS II. He applied a coating that is very nicely done and a very accepable color. Problem solved!

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:


A 505 Gibbs and 416 Rigby. These are truly massive guns. the 505 weighs 15 lbs 10 oz

That's what Trackers are for, right? :-)

Great looking rifles! Congratulations!

Lets see some more pics.

Duane, what else can you tell us about the Heym Mauser actions?
I have never seen one in the flesh.

Best Regards,
Dave

Truth is that I don't know much about them..my first hands on experience.

A handsome job Duane.

Correct me if I am wrong here....do my eye deceive me or does the rear of the action have a hinge in the tang area?


Dave

FedEx just delivered the Heyms to me here, and I've just finished uncasing them. I have one immediate comment....Mr Wiebe SUCKS as a photographer [ :-) ]! These rifles are so much better looking in person that the photos he posted don't even look like the same pair! The wood, even though the blanks were quite different, now look like they came from the same tree...a dark honey color with black and brown mineral streaks running from butt to forend. The metalwork is massive, exquisitely finished, with all sorts of little touches that you don't notice at first glance. These are truly heirloom pieces. I'll see if I can get "appropriate" pix to post...the ones above just won't cut it!

Biebs,

Lets see those pics! These are really special & unique rifles...!

Duane,

Why would Heym add that treatment to the action tang?
No criticism intended in my question.

Best,
Dave

They're coming up shortly!

David C: I really don't know...Maybe Chris over rt Heym in Dallas will chimne in.

I don't know what happened to the rear tang there, but it is not currently hinged.





The older bottom metal "system" was a little complicated.



Fortunately that has been resolved. Here is the current version shown in 404. Each mag box is caliber-specific today.

On behalf of Biebs:

Might I say Mighty Nice!!!

I sent a PM to Duane earlier and then looked in my AD book. If the serial #'s are 10041 (Rigby) & 10042 (Gibbs) I did machine the stocks and then 100% inletted the barreled actions for Alfred. These were returned to him in early fall of 1999.
Always wondered what became of them.

These are magnificent rifles Biebs.

Perfection is a concept invented by those who could never achieve it and achieved by those who know nothing less. All the hands that made these truly are a 'perfect storm' of the gunmakers art. Fantastic!

D'Arcy, I guess everyone had a hand in these at one time or another. I have a file of pictures and correspondence on them 2" thick...I'm sure you're in there somewhere. Lon Paul remembers them as well, and I see letters to Reto Buehler from the original owner, as he searched for someone else to continue the build after Alfred's time had passed. I'm glad that Duane was able to bring the guy's dream to completion.

I've read further into the documentation on this project, and see that the blanks were obtained from Roger Green. The Heym Magnum Mauser actions are noted to be the first received in the US. I also see a letter from Reto Buehler that he was in receipt of the stocks and barreled action, dated in 2008. I sent him an email to see what his recollection and involvement were in the job.

These are really great looking rifles! A very special pair of big bores!

Biebs your photos show a great deal of the detail and emphasize the rich stock colors & contrasts.
However, I could stand to see more...close ups & details!

Do I have the pedigree correct?

- Lowell Manley
- Alfred Galifent
- D'Arcy Echols
- Reto Buehler
- CAS
- Duane Wiebe

Merry Christmas!
Dave

I think that about covers it! PM sent.

Your a better man than me, I never could of trusted FEDEX or anyone else on that pair. Especially during XMAS season. Those two rifles would of gotten a road trip from me. Once again I suffer from rifle envy...

Lee, I sent Duane out my Tuffpak, along with 2 well-padded rifle slips plus about a dozen bath towels. I think they could have attached a chain to the Tuffpak and dragged the damn things back here back without hurting them! :-)

WOW.
What incredible workmanship, Biebs those rifles are a real tribute to the gun makers art.

Thanks, Tim. Yes, I'm already quite enamored of them!

BIEBS
And the race is on we will be taking bids after the first of the year.
Only real interested parties please reply.
Looking for retirement additive income.
Donald Trump were are you.
You really did not think you would have them long enough to enjoy let alone shoot or hunt with them. Biebs always say's everything is for sale JUST SHOW ME THE MONEY
Larry

I have been known to have a short attention span when it comes to rifles. :-)

Biebs,

Great looking rifles and wonderful story behind them. Good on ya for seeing them completed.

Many Thanks
Brett

Brett, yes, I feel good about that in a way. Someone had a dream 22 years ago and put it in motion. Since then many have passed on, including the first 2 gunsmiths who partook in the build, and eventually the owner himself. Now their dream has come to fruition, completed by a top-shelf builder whom I'm sure they all would have approved of to carry the job to its completion.

Biebs

Great looking rifles.

Duane

Your work is above par as always.
On the crud removal, a trick that works for me in tight places is Hydrogen Peroxide. The peroxide will boil the crud right out.

James

Jon, very nice guns... Now the proof of the pudding is in the eating.... Hahaha!

Karl, bring on the Jumbos!!!