Duane Wiebe built this gun for himself. I asked him if I could post these pictures here for you all to see. He agreed, so here they are. I hope you all enjoy looking at this beauty as much as I did. Duane can give you the details.

Looks great Duane. Interested to hear the details. Which scope, where do you get your red "silvers" pads? etc...

What's "spare time"? Bill

What a rifle should look like.

one of the nicest 09 Argentine conversions I have ever seen. Looks like a pretty severe drop from the Comb Nose rearward.

Pretty nice work for a hobbyist!
Butch

Oh My! (there I go again ... )

Damn Duane does lovely work!

Classy and very nice indeed.
If I lived close to Duane I would have a restraining order filed against me for sure as I would be in his shop every day.

MHC_TX
Talk Duane into showing us his new 500Jeff Takedown.

James

One thing missing. What cartridge is it chambered to?
Paul B.

Pretty sure it's a 6.5x284 Improved with a 47.5 degree shoulder A classic for sure.

This was fun for me! I've always admired the simplicity of the pre WW1 style rifles. The caliber is 9.3x62. One of the first I made was for Loud n Boomer's daughter, who bagged a fine Tule Elk with it a couple years ago.

I have a number on order and just got intrigued with this old timer. I'm told if the Germans had won the Boar War, we'd be shooting 9.3x62's instead of 375 H&H's. Recoil is very manageable, considering you're throwing a lot of lead down range. I'm going to give this a rifle a try on Pronghorn this fall.

The drop is not as severe as it looks...it's just over an inch more drop at the heel than comb nose....comb nose clears cocking piece by about 3/32"

The scope is a 1.75-6 Leupold in claw mounts. With the scope, the rifle weighs 8lb 10 oz. Barrel is 23" Kreiger. Bottom metal is modified 1909 Argentine. Red oil on the wood and linseed oil finish. Pad is one of those by Galazan.

The stock is made for me! It has a lot of cast off (3/16 x 3/8)...I'll not admit to being overweight, but haven't missed many meals either
LOP is 14 1/4" The excellent wood was purchased from Luxus

Spare time? Well, you just gotta do something for yourself now and then

Very nice Duane. I will have to get me one of those someday.

I agree with Forrest, what a rifle should look like.

Not hard to look at and looks like it would point like a Fox. I have always had a soft spot for round knobs and sometimes wonder why we dont see it more often. A path less traveled, I like it.

Many Thanks
HBH

Fantastic work, as always!
But I am flabbergasted over the position of the scope. It is the old German way of doing it, but I have never seen that you have placed the scope so far to the rear on any other rifle you have made?
Can I please ask if this is done for fit or style?

English styling, well executed - as it is on this rifle - is the best, IMHO.

This rifle could be a Rigby, but it's much better finished than any of the Rigbys I have seen.

Nice stock design.I don't like the round pointing shotgun grip.I believe this stock design retains more of its money value compared to other ones.

You're very observant, Bent. The scope COULD be about a half inch further forward, but seems to fit me about right where it's at. Over the years, I've seen a trend to a little longer LOP...maybe people are getting taller...anyway, I used to shoot a 13 5/8, but have become used to a little longer stock, what with "trying' guns while making them. This is 14 1/4...which would naturally move the scope back a bit

Duane: I wonder if it isn't the more open grip that allows longer lengths of pull than we previously used. A stock I made in the "classic" style of the 60's (when I made it) seems just right at 13 3/4". It has a much tighter grip curve than the rifle stock I made a few years back with the longer sweep to the grip. It's just right at 14 1/4". Seem to place my hand further back in the grip with the result I carry the rifle further a head when I mount it to my shoulder. If I move my hand ahead a bit when it's at my shoulder I am not aware of doing so as I seem to make proper trigger contact. What do you think ? Very nice rifle by the way and I like the Prince of Wales knob on that style of rifle.

Thanks, Duane!
Your answer is as good as it is logical, I never thougt about the fact that we tend to use longer stocks, but when I look back, I have observed the same. I still feel this would be to far to the rear to fit most people, but I also guess Leupolds forgiving eye-relief is helping.
But it is still a half inch higher than necessary, combined with that drop...
It can not be ideal, but some times comfort has to give way for style, I guess.

I really like the shape of the stock! You have made some amazing lines, combining your own style with classic tradition.

Good grief, I'm never going to have any money!

I saw the pictures of this wonderful rifle and got an instant little chubby. I called Duane to get some detail on doing a similar rifle in 404 Jeffery.

This is one fine looking "old school" pre-war rifle that is simple in design but absolutely appealing in functionality and beauty.

crl

it is very nice to see a top shelf American gunmaker that can build a high quality rifle in a style other than the "Modern Classic" style.

Wow, what a rifle.

I think I see some engraving on the rifle too. Is there any part of the gun business Duane doesn't do, and do well?

I haven't seen it!

Looks like a big step up from most $25,000 rifles that I have seen.

quote:

Originally posted by Bent Fossdal:
Thanks, Duane!
Your answer is as good as it is logical, I never thougt about the fact that we tend to use longer stocks, but when I look back, I have observed the same. I still feel this would be to far to the rear to fit most people, but I also guess Leupolds forgiving eye-relief is helping.
But it is still a half inch higher than necessary, combined with that drop...
It can not be ideal, but some times comfort has to give way for style, I guess.

I really like the shape of the stock! You have made some amazing lines, combining your own style with classic tradition.

Bent, I'm surprised at your reply. As a custom gunmaker you of all people should know that what is right for one person may be wrong for another.

I'm simply amazed at how many people are scared of stocks with a little drop, yes little. It really is the opnly way to acquire iron sights. Yet, acquiring a scope with the stock is not hard at all. Most of today's stocks are just too hogh in the comb to allow use of irons.

Very nice Duane.

Wow, a true classic British express rifle in a do-it-all caliber... if, perchance you ever tire of it, I know a tall, long-armed Texan it would fit!

Nice finish on the wood...

Disgustingly beautiful.

And in 9.3x62 just to make it all the worse!

quote:

Originally posted by Bent Fossdal:
Thanks, Duane!
Your answer is as good as it is logical, I never thougt about the fact that we tend to use longer stocks, but when I look back, I have observed the same. I still feel this would be to far to the rear to fit most people, but I also guess Leupolds forgiving eye-relief is helping.
But it is still a half inch higher than necessary, combined with that drop...
It can not be ideal, but some times comfort has to give way for style, I guess.

I really like the shape of the stock! You have made some amazing lines, combining your own style with classic tradition.

Bent: Appreciate your ongoing concern, but rest assured that I never let function follow form. I built the rifle to fit me, it does not have to fit anyone else... Duane

it is a very nice looking rifle. Now having said that may I ask a question? I have a 458 wm pre64 mod 70 stocked by Griffin & Howe. The trigger guard bangs hell out of my middle finger when I shoot and I asked G&H about opening the pistol grip to allow me to move my hand back a bit. Their response was negative. Any suggestions? Before anyone says you dont feel it while hunting: you do; I shot my last elephant 3 weeks ago and I felt every round this time.

The G&H style was a little closer, vertical grip. This waqs not the wrong thing to do, I did plenty like that,...you know...if the customer wants a blue suit, you turn on the blue lights.

Now what to do with your insulted social finger? A cheap fix might be one of those rubber bumpers. "Opening the grip will not result in a pleasing stock profile, either from looks or function...bottom line is a new stock.

You might look at the numbers, G&H guns are well respected and hold value....if unaltered... Have you tried a longer stock...maybe a thicker pad? Before major surgery, put a spacer...say 1/4" between wood and buttplate..might be JUST enough...even a slight more up pitch could help.


If you choose to experiment, I'd really like to know if anything helped

Duane,what do you think of using this stock shape for a 458 Lott?

Ahh...I assume you mean the G&H style/patern? I'd really want to extend the grip a fair amount. You want a breakeable "rule"? find the center of the trigger, make an arc of 4"...anywhere on that arc, the leading edge of the grip cap will give you sufficient room from getting your middle finger smashed...Some guys have hands that would make a catcher's mitt envious...I've gone way out to 4 3/4"...like I say, this is a breakeable "rule"...but better to go a little long than too short

Duane,

If I had to vote for the most beautiful rifle I've ever seen, your rifle pictured above would be it. It's just superb!!

Don

Kind words..thank you...Duane

Duane
There's something different going on with the floormetal

Did you file it out to change the bottom line of the stock to make a slim grip?

At first I thought you bent it, but after looking at the pics many times , the inside of guard looks more oval shaped than a standard 09 floormetal.

Very nice looking rifle! Where do you get your claw mount components? Any advice for installing claw mounts on a bolt action?

quote:

Originally posted by gunmaker:
Duane
There's something different going on with the floormetal

Did you file it out to change the bottom line of the stock to make a slim grip?

At first I thought you bent it, but after looking at the pics many times , the inside of guard looks more oval shaped than a standard 09 floormetal.

Keen eye, James! Acually, I made the 1909 into a pot belly configuraion by welding a strip to the top of the magazine box, cut off and welded the trigger guard up a bit higher to compensate, had to move the floorplate to the rear a bit to allow the modified release to work...of course, this created a gap at the front corners of the floorplate, so I had to weld that up too....Sh....too much work!!! But being a bit square-headed, I got the "look" I wanted

quote:

Originally posted by Marc_Stokeld:
Very nice looking rifle! Where do you get your claw mount components? Any advice for installing claw mounts on a bolt action?

I had the components on hand...at Euro vs $$ about 5 yrs ago...You can get special orders from NECG...I'd advise Recknagel parts..EAW are great, but the "claw" is semi fitted....very semi fitted! Recknagel's claw is pretty darn close to the way it's gotta be! I used to really like AKAH hardware, but they have "thrown in the towel" and are selling only parts on hand

I hope Reckangel continues to supply the trade, because making claw mounts from scratch prices the product out of reach...I did this a few years ago on a matched pair of guns for Forrest B...even made his knees buckle!