I have the opportunity to buy 3 exhibition grade matching blanks.Is this a worthwhile exercise? How rare are sets of 3 blanks like this?
Mark

THREE MATCHING EXHIBITION?????? Wow!!! That would have been hard to pass up. Can you imagine a matched set in 223, 300 Win Mag, and a 375 H&H? That would be an incredible set.

Only you know if you want a set of three matching rifles. They are worth it if have a project in mind and want all three rifles to match as closely as possible.

If you are looking at buying them as an "investment", forget it. The rate of return would be terrible. They only have value to you if you have a need for them.

Depends on the cost..I have bought twin sets before for a match pair and sold them at my table at SCI to two different people, so much for planning, and both buyers have told me they have alway regretted not buying both rifles, a 300 Wby and a 458 Lott with awsome dark red red wood......

The 3 blanks would cost me about $2,700. For me this is a lot but I do dream of a matching 416 Rigby, 450 Rigby and 505 Gibbs. I was thinking of using the Montana PH actions. It would be a big commitment of money , the Montana actions are an unknown at this stage and the number of gunsmiths capable of such specialised work is very limited.
Mark

Mark,
that's a ton of money ..900 a piece.. and the PH action aint coming out anytime soon.

got any pictures for us to drool over?

jeffe

I did'nt think fast enough to take my camera Jeffe. I thought they were nice but the replies have made me decide against buying them. To really do justice to 3 blanks like this you would need to spend a lot of money on top the blanks which are expensive. To stay in keeping with such blanks I really should be considering one of the high end commercial mausers such as Prechtl. Think I'll buy some plainer blanks with the aim of building some nice working rifles based on the Montana actions I already own plus 2 Brno 602 actions.
Ah champagne tastes on a beer income.
Mark

Mark,
One of the nice things about OZ is that you have a great amount of english walnut to choose from.

I would drool for a huge english log, with 3 quarter sawn brother blanks in it!!

Don't fret "lower" grade... perhaps you'll find what you think is perfect and someone else sees as a lower priced wood
jeffe