04 February 2002, 12:11
ForrestBJust in Time
I had been expecting delivery of a mannlicher stocked 7X57 mauser any day now. On the African forum, Loud-N-Boomer taunted me about fondling the rifle in Duane Wiebe's shop. I had given up on the rifle arriving before my last hunting trip of this season when I left the office last Thursday. Being forgetful, I had to run back up to my office for some papers I had left behind and found that the UPS man had arrived! The rifle was here, so I brought it along as I left for South Texas Friday morning. Five shots off the bench and the rifle was sighted. The sixth shot out of this rifle took the buck pictured below. I think I have a new favorite rifle. You can copy and paste this address if the picture doesn't show:
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/ForrestB/Wiebe%20e-mail%20deer.jpg 
[This message has been edited by ForrestB (edited 02-04-2002).]
04 February 2002, 13:04
SamBWow! Very, very nice! Congratulations!
04 February 2002, 16:16
dan belisleForrestB, could you possibly post them in another manner? Or email me a picture? i'd like to see your pictures and all I get is a message telling me I'm forbidden to. Thanks, - Dan
04 February 2002, 17:40
ForrestBHunting-Pictures.com seems to load but Webshots doesn't so I've changed the links. Looks like I'll be using Hunting-Pictures from now on.
06 February 2002, 05:55
<Terry P>ForrestB,
That is a nice deer and the rifle is fantastic. How about some details about the rifle?
Terry
06 February 2002, 06:14
loud-n-boomerForrest:
I told you so, I told you so 
:P! Great deer, now just don't let your daughter see the rifle, or if she is like mine, she'll lay claim to it, and you'll have to get Duane to build another one 
.
06 February 2002, 06:23
<Don G>OUTSTANDING, and it is mild!
Don
06 February 2002, 07:42
ramrod340That is a beautiful piece of work. The lines are very nice. What is the barrel length?
06 February 2002, 08:41
<rolf>ForrestB.
Now that�s a nice pair!! Can�t figure out which one I�d like the most.
Regards/Rolf
06 February 2002, 09:14
EterryI agree with rolf, I would be proud to own either one.
Good luck and good shooting
06 February 2002, 10:14
ForrestBTerry and Ramrod-
The details are: The action is a G.33/40, bottom metal and trigger are Blackburn, PME 3-position safety, Krieger barrel is 19". Duane Wiebe did all the work including sculpted scope mount bases, 4 panel checkering on the bolt handle, octagon to round barrel with an integral full-length rib and front ramp. The rear sight is an adjustable aperture sight that fits into the rear scope base. The rear sight and a hex key for removing the scope are inletted into butt under the trap-door buttplate.
There are so many neat touches on the rifle (Duane gets credit for all of them). One is that the front sling swivel is inletted and instead of being rigidly attached to the barrel, it can slide on a dove-tailed grove on a hanger soldered to the barrel. This allows the mannlicher foreend to move around like they want to do.
As always, Duane's work is impeccable. Get out your checkbook and dial (530) 344-1357.
I like traditional fine arts like paintings and sculpture, but when I see the prices I pay for an original painting or bronze or stone sculpture it makes a custom rifle like this look cheap. I'm aware of no other endeavor in which a world-class craftsman/artist grosses the equivilent of $30-40 per hour of labor. Something is not right but I'll accept the benefits.
06 February 2002, 16:40
CraftsmanThat rifle clearly illustrates that gunsmithig can be a true form of art and skilled craftsmanship blended together.
A bruiser of a buck! With such a great story.
" It just don't get no better than this "
06 February 2002, 20:18
<rolf>ForrestB.
You don�t happend to have some more pictures of the rifle in question and for that matter some of the other custom rifles built for you?
I�m of now before the dripping from my mouth shortcircuits my board.
Regards/Rolf
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07 February 2002, 02:26
Major CaliberAwesome Rifle, I love it. Manlicher stocked rifles are so lovely.
07 February 2002, 02:28
ramrod340ForrestB
Thanks for the information. A true work of art.