Brevex Dress Rehearsal (Update)

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02 September 2008, 05:40

Toomany Tools

Brevex Dress Rehearsal (Update)

Here's a few shots of a project I'm working on. It's a Brevex (pronounced Brev-o for those of you in Rio Linda), and is now chambered in .450 Rigby. Still lots of work to do but I think it's coming along nicely.

John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!

02 September 2008, 05:54

srtrax

quote:
Still lots of work to do but I think it's coming along nicely.

Damn right it is, nice looking rifle!
Feel free to show us the finished project also...

_____________________
Steve Traxson

02 September 2008, 06:02

fla3006

Looks like it won't be much longer. I have a 500A-2 on a Brevex that's at about the same stage, should look somewhat similar.

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

02 September 2008, 06:36

.366torque

quote:
Originally posted by srtrax:
quote:
Still lots of work to do but I think it's coming along nicely.

Damn right it is, nice looking rifle!
Feel free to show us the finished project also...

I'll echo that! Damn fine indeed!

02 September 2008, 06:40

jeffeosso

quote:
Originally posted by fla3006:
Looks like it won't be much longer. I have a 500A-2 on a Brevex that's at about the same stage, should look somewhat similar.

Can't wait to see it, Forrest

opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com

02 September 2008, 07:25

Westpac

quote:
Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Still lots of work to do but I think it's coming along nicely.

Nicely indeed!

_______________________________________________________________________________
This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.

02 September 2008, 12:20

mstarling

Oh My! Yet another in the AR collection of Big Bore Eye Candy.

Coming alone nicely indeed!

Mike

--------------
DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ...
Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com

02 September 2008, 14:49

Arriba

My Goodness! Is that a real Brevex, the one made by Marcel Pigatti?

____________

But there are also unknown unknowns ;-)

02 September 2008, 16:39

Toomany Tools

It is a Brevex and it is stamped "Made in France". As for who made it I haven't a clue. It is only the second one I've seen and this one was previously barreled by P.O. Ackley in .460 Improved. I set the barrel back two threads and re-cut the chamber to .450 Rigby.

John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!

02 September 2008, 18:26

MHC_TX

What is your targeted final gun weight?

02 September 2008, 20:29

snowman

Thats a little more than "Comming along nicely"

03 September 2008, 00:35

vapodog

great looking rifle.....I love it

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03 September 2008, 01:41

CAS II

Looks great. I bet that wood really jumps to life with a little finish.

03 September 2008, 13:34

Edmond

quote:
Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
It is a Brevex and it is stamped "Made in France". As for who made it I haven't a clue. It is only the second one I've seen and this one was previously barreled by P.O. Ackley in .460 Improved. I set the barrel back two threads and re-cut the chamber to .450 Rigby.

Marcel Pigatti was a friend, we shot together for many years in Versailles. He was drafted for labour in Germany during WW2 and ended in the Mauser factory where he had to do the maintenance on machines. It was his first contact with armamement industry.
When liberated in 1945, he established a workshop in Levallois Perret near the river Seine, West of Paris.
He worked for automobile industry, funnily he never had a driving license but many friends to take him shooting.
He designed the Brevex (Name came from Brevet, Patent) for magnum rounds, starting with 10.75 x 68mm rounds first.
Roy Weatherby visited him and bought some of his receivers to make his first Weatherby Magnum rifles.
I passed one of these rifles a few years ago, I still regret it today, a real beauty in .460, with the most beautiful wood and engraving I have ever seen.
He died 15 years ago. He made rifles for famous hunters, like Dr Corson.
He was one of the best shooters I know.

03 September 2008, 14:18

bobby van der Putten

The action is worth over $ 4 000

http://www.dressels.com/id39.htm

03 September 2008, 14:25

DMB

That rifle is just MAGNIFICENT.. WOW. What beautiful lines, exquisitely done, with awesome Walnut too.
Please show us the finished rifle..

Don

03 September 2008, 18:55

TC1

Compliments to the chef. That's going to be a beautiful rifle.

Terry

--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

04 September 2008, 04:30

Duane Wiebe

Nice work!! Jim Carmichel gave me a heads up re Brevex actions. there's apparently not enough clearance in the R. side of the ring to single load....Famous barrel maker J Buhmiller, found this out in the field on an elephant hunt...came close to ruining his whole day. Just thouht I'd pass it on

12 September 2008, 07:16

.366torque

Any updates?

12 September 2008, 08:03

SDH

John,
In my shop that would be just about 60% done, with 40% left to go.
Looks good so far, the devil is in the details.
You don't need to be in a race to the finish line as some around here seem to think is of the upmost importance. I like to put them up on the wall of my office for a few weeks to contemplate what's good, and what needs further attention.
Best,
Steve

ACGG Life Member, since 1985

12 September 2008, 17:02

fla3006

quote:
Edmond: Marcel Pigatti was a friend, we shot together for many years in Versailles. He was drafted for labour in Germany during WW2 and ended in the Mauser factory where he had to do the maintenance on machines. It was his first contact with armamement industry.
When liberated in 1945, he established a workshop in Levallois Perret near the river Seine, West of Paris.
He worked for automobile industry, funnily he never had a driving license but many friends to take him shooting.
He designed the Brevex (Name came from Brevet, Patent) for magnum rounds, starting with 10.75 x 68mm rounds first.
Roy Weatherby visited him and bought some of his receivers to make his first Weatherby Magnum rifles.
I passed one of these rifles a few years ago, I still regret it today, a real beauty in .460, with the most beautiful wood and engraving I have ever seen.
He died 15 years ago. He made rifles for famous hunters, like Dr Corson.
He was one of the best shooters I know.

That's very interesting. Jon Speed mentions a Mr. Polanski in his book "Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles" as the progenator of the Brevex. Claims he was an engineer with Polish Arms at Radom, moved to France after WWII, purchased machinery from MAS to build the Brevex magnum action.

Speed also claims only a few hundred were made, Tom Burgess corraborated that with me and Tom was extremely knowledgeable about Mausers. I know of 3 early Weatherby 460s built on Brevex actions, one is in the Weatherby archives, this example belonged to Bobby Burns of Wichita Falls, TX:

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

15 September 2008, 08:09

.366torque

quote:
Originally posted by fla3006:

Up until now, you've had me salivating at the Mausers you own or covet. I don't like this one. It looks like it belongs to a "comic book superhero".
Sorry fla, it's just very different from what I've come to associate as your type of rifle.

15 September 2008, 21:05

fla3006

I understand. I wouldn't build one that way myself. But in the 50s-60s, California was the style, think 1959 Cadillac.

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

15 September 2008, 21:44

TC1

Isn't that a Weatherby Crown Custom? You can still get one almost just like it today if anyone likes it. The world came to a stop in the 1950's according to the weatherby custom shop! It's not my kind of weird but I can still appreciate it.

Terry

--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

15 September 2008, 22:12

fla3006

Is similar to a Crown grade, has all the gaudy bells and whistles. Was custom built for Bobby Burns in 1957, a prominant big game hunter of the day, a friend of Roy W. and an investor in his company, 3rd 460 made. I bought it for the action but decided not to tear it up after I researched it. Have since been offered ALOT of money.

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

25 September 2008, 04:43

Toomany Tools

Regulated the sights today and this rifle shoots! This target was at 50 yards, using 550 grain Norma factory ammo. My brother's eyes are better than mine so after I got the sight filed to where I wanted it he shot this group.

We had one more round to fire so this target was 100 yards out.

Also, I looked into the issue raised by Duane, who was told by Jim Carmichel that the Brevex couldn't be single loaded. I guess this one's different because I didn't have any trouble fitting the extractor so it will snap over a round in the chamber.

John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!

25 September 2008, 05:14

AfricanHunter

Thanks for the update! Nice shooting!