D'Arcy I was reading through "Steel Canvas" and one of your rifles was pictured on pg. 301. Article said it was a large ring mauser that you collaborated with Jasper Rabourne. Did Rabourne do the engraving on this? If you can remember this rifle could you comment on what you built this up on, and some details of this rifle. I really wish I had a better pic of the bolt handle, so I could see the detail on this. Was it a combination of knurling and engraving?

I'm certain that rifle is the very one I examined and handled at D'Arcy's booth at SCI, and that might have been at the 1993 convention, I don't quite remember now.

I'm also certain that Larry Wilson mislabeled that rifle as being built on a large ring Mauser 98 action. In reality, it's a pre-64 Model 70 action barreled and chambered in .338 Win. Mag., and it's correctly described as such in yet another R.L. Wilson book, "Winchester, An American Legend", on page 364.

That bolt handle really is cool, alright!

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Allen,

You could be right, on the pre 64 Win part. Unfortunately the picture is small and picking out the details is difficult. If its a Winnie he changed out the bolt handle though as its a 90 degree drop and and has no rearward sweep. But looking again bolt shroud doesn't look right for a mauser either. And I can see a serial number on the front left side of the actions like Winchester did.

Boy what a pretty rifle though, simple, elegant, not overstated in any way, just class act all around.

Interesting Sidenote: I bought 2 RL Wilson books on the bargain stacks at 2 Different Barnes and Nobles in the Oklahoma City area. They would likely have them in other cities also. They had both "Winchester, An American Legend" and "Steel Canvas" for $19.95 each. Both are beautiful books and an absolute steal at $19.95. If you are near a Barnes and Noble you ought to check for them...........DJ

The rifle is a Pre-64, Model 70, 338 Win Mag. The only engraving is on the exposed screws, bolt knob, grip cap and lettering. This minimal, yet excellent engraving was done by Mitch Moschetti The action was owned and cleaned up by Jasper Rabourn. I bought the action from him then installed the barrel, made the scope bases, swivels, installed the bolt knob etc. The bow and floor plate are Burgess. I managed to some how make the stock and rust blued the parts. The rifle then and today shoots as if possessed.

I built the rifle for my Dad in 1986 for a planned Leopard/plains hunt but he died before the hunt took place. The rifle has a new owner and has been in the field quite a bit and always done it's job.

Thanks for the info. I think one thing that I like so well is the minimal engraving, just enough to really dress it up, not enough to get gaudy.

One pretty rifle.

I love the "minimal" look of that .338 as well. Everything is there that is needed, yet there's just enough decorative work to add class, distinction, and artistic interest. The wood is great mechanically with wonderful color, yet it's not too loud, either. You can tell that this rifle was built for business, built to be used for real hunting.

My kind of rifle..........

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