After three years in the making, the matched-pair of Mausers in 300 and 375 H&H have finally arrived. Ralf Martini and Duane Wiebe have really outdone themselves. I'll let the pictures do all the talking. Any detail that does not look perfect is purely the fault of the photographer, not the gunmaker.

That's bleeping incredible!!!

Very nice is an inadequate understatement.

Damn Forrest, sent my pacemaker haywire, felt like I was jumpstarted with 220 There are not words to describe those two and "true" red pads, nice touch.

If only the devil would offer me a deal, exquisite!!!!!!

I think exqusite would be the proper adjective.

Congratulations on a fine pair of rifles & choice of cartridges.Some things are worth the wait.

Wow!!! (and that too is inadequate)

To quote my son-in-law, "Suh-weeeeeeet"!
The story you told in a previous post about how this rifle project was "hatched", is among the funniest pieces I have ever seen on AR. Congratulations, Forrest.

That's definitely a matched pair! You've got some beautifully wood there, what kind is it?

Forrest,

Your rifles are magnificent. And your choice of calibers, both of them classics, is perfect.

Holland & Holland themselves, even in their heyday, would have been hard pressed to approach the level of artistry and fine workmanship seen here.

Truly spectacular.

Damn Forrest, I got to see those rifles......Nice.

This is the best part of the internet.

Incredible, I just can't think of anything to say other than that.

Holy Shit!

Those rifles are absolutely amazing!

I tell you...between this incredible pair and the series that are built on M70 actions as well as the single shots and that gorgeous 416 Rigby of yours....If you sold tickets and charged admission to your gun room I'd buy a season pass!

Your collection of rifles just blows me away....!!!

So what hunts do you have planned for them?

Regards,
Dave

Forrest,
Those are absolutely incredible. Is one of those barrels the swamped one that I bid on in Reno? Whether or not, it certainly found an incredible home.

Best looking guns I have seen posted on AR I reckon !!

Very nice!!!

I had to wipe the drool off my computer screen!

Forrest,

Looks like the definition of perfection, X 2. I love those barrels. I'm with Billy, got to see them sometime in person.

Hog Killer

What can I say that hasn't already been said Well????

I know you're proud.

Thanks for letting us see them.
Terry

Hi Forest!

It`s absolutly sweet applepie for my eyes to watch your rifles. It`s nice to see that no compromise have been made in the components and in the craftmanship. That is for me real custom work of the "creme della creme".

Truly beautiful, concept & execution. Good hunting with them.

What was the source of the actions?

ForrestB

Fantastic rifles. I hope they will see some action in the hunting fields

Cheers
/JOHAN

VERY nice Forrest. First time I've seen that particular treatment of sculpting the wood under the bolt stop.

Here are a few more photos. I apologize to you dial-up guys for the large file.

I have a new appreciation for real gun photographers, getting quality pics is tough. The "kudu dandruff" is killing my detail shots.



How do you drill a square hole and hollow out a squarebridge for the claw mount mechanism???



I limited Charles Lee to lettering and trim work as I wanted to keep the working-gun look. He threatened to go on strike unless I turned him loose on the grip caps, so he could show his full talents.





All the inletting looks like this.



Blind tang screws are tough work on a Mauser. Even Steve Heilmann told me he won't do it any more.



I'm in awe of what some of our best gunmakers can accomplish. Most anyone ranked in the top 1% of their profession can live like a king; these guys do what they love for less than journeyman wages. I feel lucky to have any involvement at all in helping these projects along.

Really superb. How you gonna top that now? Maybe one of their single shots?

Ralf Martini did the barrels, including the one Chic tried to steal out from under me. Duane Wiebe did everything else except the engraving which was done by Charles Lee.

FLA, I wish I had done my custom singleshots on the Hagn action, but I don't think I'll have another singleshot built. They just don't appeal to me the way a bolt gun does. But never say never!

No one should worry themselves about these two becoming safe queens. I hunt with every rifle I own, or I get rid of it. I don't have any trips specifically planned for these two, but I figure I'll have to get them to Africa sometime soon.

The actions are '35 Chileans that Duane squarebridged.

The california english stock blanks came from Steve Heilmann's stash.

Somebody plan another Band of Bubba's event and you can see them in person. Maybe we can plan something at a range and we can do the barrel break-in "Tom Sawyer" style.

ForrestB

I am one of those on dial up but please don't stop posting pictures of you exquisite firearms.
It is a joy to see such beautiful work.
I would like to see you post the pictures of your Wiebe takedowns again. I lost my copy in a computer crash.
Can you give us a brief description of who done what on these rifles. Thanks for sharing.

James

Absolutely stunning! Quite the crew you had working on those, couldn't think of a better bunch or more deserving owner.

I'll take a season pass to. I know I can't touch

Can we just look sometimes? I'll drive to see those.
Beautiful

That's an incredible pair of rifles.

They are truly gorgeous rifles, I love the stock work and the anti-glare work done on the top of the metal surfaces, I am guessing it was the engraver that did that?

Could you explain to me the reason for going with that type of scope ring setup? What does mounting the claws on the barrel rather than the action and putting the scope on the bell do differently for the fucntion/accuracy?

Thanks for sharing, feel free to post more pics and some of the rest of the collection to, for comparison reasons

Red

Beautiful rifles! Let me know if you'd like to take them out to Bayou Rifles Range and shoot them.

Oh My,

The only thing better would be to have the opportunity to wear them out on game.

ForrestB
Nice rifles.
We might even let you bring those to a Double Rifle Shooters Society Hunt.
Just as long as you tape them together.

quote:

ForrestB: Somebody plan another Band of Bubba's event and you can see them in person. Maybe we can plan something at a range and we can do the barrel break-in "Tom Sawyer" style.

I´ll gladly help whitewash that fence!

After looking at the second set of pics, I think I'll go out in the shop and thow the CZ I'm working on it the trash.

Billy,

If you are going to throw it out, just box it up and send it up to me. I will even pay the shipping.

Hog Killer

Kieth,

Its not real fancy, you probably wouldnt be interested.............but I better go get it out of the trash.

Man, what a pair of materpieces! almost as nice as the "pair" on Fjold's little movie leader jorge