I threw out a "teaser" photo of this rifle earlier in the year on the "Customs Afield" thread but finally got a chance to take some decent images of it.

This Fall, I was afforded the opportunity to buy a used D’Arcy Echols Classic rifle chambered in .270 Winchester. The rifle had been built in 1995 and the previous owner (who had commissioned the rifle) kept it in pristine condition.

D’Arcy was kind enough to send me his records on the rifle and we talked about the rifle’s history at-length. This rifle was built on a trued 1909 Argentine. The scope is mounted using D’Arcy’s own scope mount system which is as rock-solid as they come. This rifle was the first Classic to receive the I-beam treatment to reinforce the forend and prevent the wood from migrating. The rifle does not have pillars, it having been built before D’Arcy began installing them as a matter of course.

The rifle arrived in the midst of our deer season so I did some very quick load development to try to get it in the field. A near-maximum charge of H-4831 and 130gr. TTSXs produced three-round groups of just under ½” at 100 yards with the bullets seated .050” off the lands. Good enough for now.

As nice as this rifle is, I don’t keep safe queens so I took it out on several hunts both locally and elsewhere in the Southeast. I’d already put several does in the freezer by the time the rifle arrived and never saw a mature buck during the rut so I didn’t get an opportunity to use it on deer, though I did shoot a hog with it at a friend’s property in Florida.

I’ve finally cleared my plate enough that I will soon be able serious load development with the rifle, starting with 150gr. Partitions and something like a 140gr. SST. The idea is to have a good load for elk and other larger game as well as something suitable for the smaller bodied deer that I hunt at home. I’m headed to Alberta on mule deer hunt in 2018 and this rifle will likely make the trip.

Hope that you enjoy the photos.

Beautiful rifle. Enjoy your future hunting with this special treasure.

very nice rifle...Enjoy!

That's an amazing looking and shooting rifle!

I know it gets discussed (argued about?) a lot, but Echols might be THE preeminent gunmaker in the U.S. and certainly in the running globally. Spectacular example of his work and thanks for taking it out in the field where it belongs!

quote:

Originally posted by Clayman:
I know it gets discussed (argued about?) a lot, but Echols might be THE preeminent gunmaker in the U.S. and certainly in the running globally. Spectacular example of his work and thanks for taking it out in the field where it belongs!

He is in a small class of preeminent gunmakers here in the USA and maybe the World.

Love seeing his rifles in wood!

Damn nice rifle. Congratulations!

Very very nice.

One thing I like about his rifles is they have an understated beauty about them.

D'Arcy and Jerry Fisher are part of a very, very small club. They make rifles so well, so aesthetically perfect, that the guns need no bells and whistles to make them quite wonderful. These are purpose-built hunting rifles.

Man, by the looks of it he really knows what he's doing. Anyone ever heard of him?

That's about as good as they get.

super nice. Just about perfect.

Beautiful rifle
Thanks for sharing

Simply amazing! The beauty of the stock lines are stunning. Thanks for sharing!

Years ago a good friend had an Echols .270. Since I've stocked a few rifles I consider myself qualified to nitpik other maker's work.

I sat and fondled that gun for a long time. I remember that I couldn't find any errors, none at all... as far as I was concerned it was perfect.

As I recall my friend didn't have that much into the gun. If I had had any brains at all, I would have made it my mission to take it home with me.

I fondled one of his McMillan stock designs on a 375 about 18 months ago.

If he didn't built that stock for me, I don't know who he built it for. What a great feeling and looking stock.

I am self proclaimed thumbhole stocked rifle trash, but I could be swayed by a Echols stock.

You would look a long time to find something better. What a gorgeous rifle!

A heirloom to be hunted with and then passed down through the generations!

Woodhits: You are a very fortunate man. Well done on the photos as well. I bet it feels as fine in hand as it looks. I've never seen one in person, just photos. But, at a distance, like a fine watch.

Typical D'Arcy work.

Woodhits, Very nice photography.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
A heirloom to be hunted with and then passed down through the generations!

+1

quote:

Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
Typical D'Arcy work.

Woodhits, Very nice photography.

Dave

Thanks Dave, appreciate the compliment from a pro.

That's a beaut!

Very nice!

That rifle is truly outstanding! I love how the front of the bottom metal and wood are contoured together.

I like it - - a lot.

Dave

My eyes hurt - I feel like Moses looking at the burning bush - that is a spectacular rifle.

just the sort of rifle I would like as well

Each to their own, but I think this is close to perfect in form and finish. A proper rifle.

I know D'Arcy fairly well and consider him a friend. He is humble about his talents and speaks quite admirably about the work of a good many other rifle builders. Many times I have heard him say he admired so and so, and how he could learn a lot from them. And he has said that about a lot of them. We are blessed with the talent we have today.
But one day I ask one of the other top builders who he personally considered to be the very best of the best stock makers and he answered without hesitation, "D'Arcy Echols".

Well put 458WIN sir. I have no experience as many others on here with regard to handling or actually using D'Arcy's rifles. All I ever did was shake his hand at Las Vegas at the SCI show a couple years ago and it was an honor to be able to do so along with several other legends. This particular build reminds me of Al Lind's style about the grip area. The more I look, the more I appreciate the level of perfection. Yes we are blessed.