I was fortunate to pick this rifle up recently. It is not signed, but I believe it to be a Leonard Mews stocked rifle. I believe Buckstix is our resident Mews expert and can likely provide more information that what I know. I have been looking for some time for a Mews rifle. While Mews is probably best known for being the man behind the Weatherby style stocks, he was a well established stockmaker before Weatherby hired him. As near as I can tell, his earlier stocks were much more classic in style. I do not know the details of how the relationship between him and Weatherby developed, but you can certainly see why Weatherby might have chosen him to design the racy stocks he wanted for his line of hi-speed cartridges.

Mews was certainly not afraid to challenge conventional stock design. This stock shows several non-traditional features, the slightly acute angle at the front of the grip cap, the monte Carlo, the racy checkering pattern, and the fit of the forend tip. Yet in spit of all this, it is still a rather classic styled stock, form mostly follows function, and to my pleasant surprise, is one of the most comfortable and natural pointing rifles I own.

Another pleasant surprise was the quality of execution. Up till now I had only seen Mews work in pictures so I was not sure what to expect. The design may be unconventional, but the execution can hold its own against any of his contemporaries that I have seen. I have included a picture of a letter from Tom Shelhamer to Russell Smith in which he mentions Leonard Mews and his opinion of his work.

The rifle is built on a shortened military mauser and chambered for .243 which would have been the hot set-up when this rifle was built. Not my favorite cartridge, but very usable, and I think appropriate for a rifle by a forward thinking gunmaker such as Mews.

Again maybe Buckstix can add to or correct my information on Mews as needed. Most of what I know is from Kennedy's checkering book and some internet searching.

John

I don't know anything about Mews, except for the name but I sure recognize that checkering pattern from somewhere? I also know good checkering and how difficult it is to point-up each end every diamond right out to the edges. These look all pointed and there surely are a lot of edges and borders to the pattern. Especially without over-runs!
Along with the inletting this looks to be very exacting workmanship. While not a fan of all the stylistic features I can understand how this stock could feel great to shoulder, point and shoot.
The engraving also has a very familiar look to it. Animals popular to the era and oak leave that I've never cared for but again are so true to this time period.
Nice rifle John, I wish I you could hand it to me and I could feel its heft, balance and sight alignment.
BTW I'll bet the Mew's info is on the second page of Shelhamer's letter that did not reproduce?

quote:

Originally posted by SDH:

BTW I'll bet the Mew's info is on the second page of Shelhamer's letter that did not reproduce?

Yes, it is on the second page. I had it up, but made an edit and now it won't display. I'll take another run at when I get a moment.

Thanks,
John

PS, yep, it is those little partial diamonds along the edge of a pattern that really separate the men from the wanabees like me.

Nice find. Excellent workmanship.

Several examples of Leonard Mew's stocks are featured in Monte Kennedy's book "Checkering & Carving Of Gunstocks".

Long, long ago, a fellow board member here consigned a rifle with me to sell. The rifle just so happened to be a Mews built rifle, the very rifle pictured on the cover of the first Weatherby catalog. Neither of us had a clue until after the fact.

A few photos from Kennedys book for those who do not have a copy. And a redo of the second page of the Shelhamer letter since it does not appear to be appearing.

John:

Thanks for taking the time to share that correspondence and post pics of the rifle. Really enjoy the letter and getting a glimpse into the mind of one of the greats.

If you happen to have any close up pics of the forend tip it would be e great to see those. I am just a hobbiest, but planning to do a schnable in ebony and looking for some inspiration as to the form I want to shoot for.

Bob

Anyone know where Mews did his work...ie where was he based out of?

quote:

Originally posted by tarbe:
Anyone know where Mews did his work...ie where was he based out of?

Kennedy's book lists him being from 932 W. Summer St. Appleton, WI. However he also mentions working in California.