Could anyone please tell me who marks their barrels "F. R. Wells?" Thanks.

The late Fred Wells maybe?

That was my 1st thought. I must admit I don't know how he signed his work or his middle initial.

There is also Frank Wells. No relation to Fred and I can't remember if F.R. means either one. Frank was a Jr. if I recall.

I have a Fred Wells barrled M-S, and his name/initials are not on it.

quote:

Originally posted by tin can:
I have a Fred Wells barrled M-S, and his name/initials are not on it.

I had one of Fred's LH Mag Mauers and it was marked Wells and Wells. Rachel engraved it, but the engraving was signed by her. seperately

yours must be worth more

I'm thinking that because it was just a rebarrel job (but a unique one, a stainless scout barrel with integral machined scope bases) and not a start-to-finish Wells product, he would not have marked it.

His passing is a great loss.

quote:

Originally posted by Tanker:
Could anyone please tell me who marks their barrels "F. R. Wells?" Thanks.

Do you have just a barrel, or a whole gun? I THINK "F.R. Wells" is Frank Wells, of Tucson, but I have often been wrong before.

Anyway, if you have a whole gun with that marking on the barrel, I suspect it is tellng you that it is a Frank Wells-made rifle, not a Frank Wells barrel. Though I haven't seen him for 15 years, he was primarily a very sound rifle-stocker, who also turned out whole custom rifles. He was NOT a barrel-maker, at that time anyway.

Frank is still in business as far as I know, so you might try looking him up through directory assistance for Tucson, and just give him a call. I'm sure he would tell you if it is a product of his.

It is a complete rifle in 458 Lott. Other than the makers mark on the action, F.R.Wells is on the barrel.

Alberta Canuck is correct. That is Frank Wells from Tucson. He is a top notch gun maker! I believe he trained Patrick Houlihan from Tucson who also makes gorgeous customs.

Do you have a phone number for Frank Wells? It does not appear to be listed. Thanks.

Frank Wells has more or less gone off the radar screen. He sold off most of his parts and blanks on eBay a few years back and now his web page is off the net.

I think I heard from Mike Scherz that he may have moved from the Tucson area but that is a dimmemory and may not be correct.


Every once and a while I see one of his guns on Cabela's in the 10k-12k range.

Great. So he isn't even available to answer a question? Does anyone know how to verify his markings or work? Thanks.

There is a .375 H&H for sale at Cabelas signed F. R. Wells
I don’t believe that’s Frank’s work.
Some people that know Frank’s signature like Tom Turpin might be able to help you.
Morris Hallowell sold a lot of Frank’s rifles he might know also.

Good luck,
Roland

This is a long shot, but it might work if nothing else does for you... That is, go over to 24-hour Campfire fora and ask Ken Howell if he still has contact info for Frank. Ken & Frank were pretty good friends when Ken was editor of Rifle & Handloader magazines. Ken MAY have kept in touch with him...he tends to do that with valuable contacts in the business.

(Ken is the guy who introduced me to Frank...and I had Frank build me a .45-70 on a Siamese Mauser, with one of his stocks, as a result of that meeting.)

I appreciate the help. I may have trouble finding these fellows but will try. It would be nice to know who built my rifle. A stamp is easy enough for someone to place on a gun but a builder may remember his work. Thanks.

Call Patrick Holehan in Tuscon 520-745-0622. He is a custom maker who learned from Frank Wells.