Gents:

Does Gene Simillion sit in one of the lofty seats alongside the likes of Echols and Penrod when it comes to the M70? Does anyone own a Simillion M70 they could post pics of and discuss?

Thanks,

Jeff

I would rank Gene among the best. Many years ago he built me a Pre-64 and a Model 52. They were among the nicest rifles I have ever owned. His work is first rate and I do not feel that you could do better.

Gene did the metal work on these two rifles, and it is top notch:

thanks, charlie. whose bottom metal and triggers are those?

Both have factory triggers with the levers reshaped. The gray stocked rifle has Blackburn metal and the tan stocked rifle has Sound Metal Products metal.

thanks again. calibers?

quote:

Originally posted by jsl3170:
Gents:

Does Gene Simillion sit in one of the lofty seats alongside the likes of Echols and Penrod when it comes to the M70? Does anyone own a Simillion M70 they could post pics of and discuss?

Thanks,

Jeff

Yes. He and Mark actually collaborate on projects quite a bit.

Yes, Gene and his work are top shelf!

HBH

Gene has done three rebarrel jobs for me, on pre-64 70's and all are top shelf in every way. A 300 H&H, 35 Whelan, and a 375 H&H, all exremely accurate.

How did you take those long pictures? I like how they are big enough to really show the detail.

Yes he is in the same league as both smiths you mentioned. Mark does not do wood stocks only metal and synthetic.

Jeff, Steven Dodd Hughes features two rifles that Gene Semillion worked on in his excellent book, Custom Rifles in Black and White.

One is a Winchester Model 52 that was a collaboration with stockmaker Steve Billeb. It is the ne plus ultra of Model 52s, IMHO, and Semillion's metal work is ingenious.

The other is a Model 70 in .375 H&H Mag. The .375 is entirely Semillion's work. Superb in every way.

From these and other Semillion rifles I have seen, I would have to say that Gene Semillion is a truly gifted craftsman.