If borders were no barrier. If two year waiting lists didn't bother you in the least,

To whom would you go to have a custom rifle built on the following actions?

Remington M700
Winchester M70
Mauser
Ruger #1

I'm wondering whether there is a consensus or strong opinions about who the absolute best gunsmith is for a given action.

H. C.

I don't really care for 700's, and am not sure who the expert is on the NO. 1. I think that D'Arcy Echols is considered a 70 expert. Mauser I think that there are any number of smiths that are tops.

I don't think I could have it all done by one person. Would have to "spread the love" around. Gary Goudy would HAVE to be the checkering person. Chic Worthing or Jerry Fisher for the stocking. Color case hardening by Turnbull, etc. So I guess mine would fit the money no object thing but go over the 2 years. :-)

Red

For an ultimate Remington 700 project, I'm having Mark Penrod perform one of his astounding best-quality, full-feature metal jobs on a Model 700 action I supplied for a fine .280 Remington that I'll have stocked by a first-class stockmaker in fine English walnut. When the metal is complete, it'll scarcely look like a Model 700....



Likewise for a Ruger No. 1 where I was going to go all-out, I'd have Penrod rebuild a basic action into something spectacular for a fine classic stock of French walnut by a top stockmaker. I can't think of anyone who does better No. 1 metalwork than Mark Penrod.



For either a complete, full-house Model 70 or Mauser 98, my choice is ridiculously uncomplicated. There's only one man that I trust completely and respect without reservation, and this man has produced the finest hunting rifles I've ever owned -- the very rifles I bet my hunting dollars on as well as my life, and that man is D'Arcy Echols. In my experience, there is no one better for any money, and no one operates at a higher level of honesty and integrity. Rifles that look good -- rifles that WORK, everytime.......



AD

Henry it would depend on what the custom was for. Show piece to catch a top grade hand carved stock and some engraving and inlays It would be any of the last three, I would lean towards an #1 with an partail octagon barrel, but I have a soft spot for them (257 Roberts) I would probally look for a Pre-64 Model 70 to do a 338 Win Mag on both would have a quarter rib. I would go this way over a over a mauser. Then agian mausers can be made really nice also. IMO a model 70 starts with cleaner lines than a mauser Of course scroll cutter would be turned loose on either, A bit, not too much. Four panel checkering on the bolt a little on the reciver and floor plate and a little on the barrel were it meets the action. Not that I have given this any thought Hahah. Plastic stocked, long range bean field deer thumper or a ultra light sheep rifle would be the Rem 700. Pretty model 70 or #1, 700 for function, but I do not hunt anything that will stomp a mud hole in my ass. Remingtons do not wear fine wood and engraving the way the other 2 do Questions like this gets me thinking, thinking always costs me money.

I would love to have a Mauser built for me by Jerry Fisher some day.

Ruger #1 how about John Mandole's kick starter conversion.

Stan McFarland does some pretty awsome checkering along with other great gunwork.

Winchester 70, maybe a working rifle by David Miller

Remington 700, how about Marty Bordson at Badger Ordnance

Along with the fine smiths mentioned in the posts above what about?

Stephen Heilmann
Mark Silver
Bruce Russell
Gregg Boeke

Included with Roger Kehr doing some engraving how about
Ron Smith
Eric Gold
Adone Pozzobon wow pics I really mean WOW
Steve Lindsay more wow factor here!!!!

There are a lot of very talented gunmakers out there that don't have their name in big lights yet. I'm sure that some may be reading this post thinking/knowing "I can do world class work" It's just up to the customers to give them great money for great work, not just big money for big names.

gunmaker

For the 700, Bill Leeper would be the gunsmith. I would have him build at least three, all based on short LH 700 actions. All the actions would be given the Leeper treatment including �Leeper Lumps� on the bolt body. One would be a .223 with a 23� stainless Ron Smith sporter weight barrel. The other two would be 22-250�s. One with a 26� heavy Smith fluted barrel, and the other with a 23� sporter weight barrel by the same maker. All would wear McMillan stocks.

D�Arcy Echols would be asked to build five rifles (for now) around LH Model 70�s. Four Legends chambered for the .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H, and .416 Rem Mag (I already have a 7 mag built by Mr. Leeper), and one classic chambered for the 280 Remington. Bill Leeper would be asked to build a 300 WSM on one of the new LH70SM actions built specifically for long range coyote killing, and would be given free reign to try and perfect that cartridge/action combo.

I�ll ask to be exempt from the Ruger and instead opt for an Echols built single shot based on Martin Hagn�s action.

Chuck

1909 Argentine Mauser refined to the utmost extent by David Miller. Blackburn Bottom Metal. 5 panel bolt knob. 2 position safety. Chambered in .338 Win Mag in Krieger Chrome Moly Barrel. Miller Scope Mounts. Stock by Curt Crum but in a very modestly figured piece of hard french walnut. Sadly, Lynton McKenzie is no longer with us to do some modest engraving.



Shortened g.33/40 Mauser cut to 250 Savage length and rewelded by Ron Lampert. Redone Blackburn bottom metal. 2 position safety. Stocked in a plain piece of good hard French Walnut by Jim Kobe.



I am not sure if he is still with us, but a Model 70 by Stanley Kenvin. No need to say more.



No remingtons.No Ruger number 1's. But possibly a nice Winchester High Wall in 22.-250 as done up by Bob Snapp.



Blue

If money were no object I wouldn't be reading this, I'd be out hunting.