Sorta tempted to use the "A" word when these two came into the shop.

But I won't.

They're both Cadets, one by Greener and one BSA, the small .310 centerfires from Australia.

This one has P. O. Ackley nicely engraved on the barrel, but we're not certain whether Ackley 'smithed the rifle or the label refers to the chambering. As far as we can tell, it's a .222 rimmed.



And what could be a better match than the Unertl?


This one's the Greener, a 17 Ackley Bee.



The metal work isn't as fancy, but whoever cut the stock knew what he was doing.

It's a damn near perfect American Classic, perfectly finished.

We have at least one client interested, but the boss is having a hard time pricing them.

Who could blame him?

flaco

i'd be pleased with either.... eye candy

I love the light color wood.

Very cool.

The "A" word... hmmmm

Accurate?

Aftermarket?

Artful?

Ambiguous?

Acquire?

Art... with a capital A.

My favorite is the blonde stock, it just knocks me out.

But I suspect the older rifle may be an Ackley.

I was hoping one of the experts would pipe up. Was there a characteristic engraving that Ackley used on his guns?

The font on this looks very familiar to me.

The stock style seems right out of that period, too.

Not to mention the Unertl. I hadn't spent much time looking through these, although we sell a few, and our clients use them.

This one is very bright and sharp.

Anyone with a strong opinion on a possible Ackley provenance?

Michael Petrov?

flaco

quote:

I was hoping one of the experts would pipe up. Was there a characteristic engraving that Ackley used on his guns?

Most of the guns I have seen featured a stamp "P.O. ACKLEY" most often with the caliber below the stamp.

I have posted an example below.

Additionally, if you contact Fred Zeglin at the link below, I am certain he can give a significant amount of additional details.
http://www.z-hat.com/gunsmith_research,%20Ackley.htm


JC

quote:

Originally posted by flaco:

This one's the Greener, a 17 Ackley Bee.





flaco

I m not a martini fan,but that one is very nice

The wood on the top one is Fajen Aristocrat and matches the general level of the rest of the rifle, i.e. good but not spectacular. IMO the lower rifle is far better-looking.

I certainly like those Unertl scopes. They usually aren't QUITE as bright as modern glass because of the improved lens coatings but the optical qualities of the materials and workmanship on them is superior to anything made today. A lot of the credit for the superior lenses is attributed to the especially-pure sand from which they were made, but the remaining quality credit came from John Unertl's lens grinding & polishing.

You have a pair of nice rifles!
Regards, Joe

I could live with either one of those rifles. I have a pair of Martini Cadets in 218 Bee, but not done to the level of finish as these two fine rifles.
I also have a Unertl 1 1/2", 24x target scope made in 1952, same year I graduated from high school. I did do a side by side comparison with it and a Mitchell 2 1/2", 32x I have. There really was no comparison as the Mitchell was far superior to the old Unertl.
But, for a period target/varmint rifle, Unertl's rule.

Don

Thanks, JC-

This is exactly what I was hoping for.

The engraving on our BSA matches that of the illustration you posted.

As to a preference between the two, I agree.

But my tastes have been shaped mainly by rifles posted here, and that means an American Classic stock in the kind of wood on the Greener.

The BSA, though, is a perfect example of the tastes of that historical era.

Best,

flaco

quote:

Originally posted by DMB:
I also have a Unertl 1 1/2", 24x target scope made in 1952, same year I graduated from high school. I did do a side by side comparison with it and a Mitchell 2 1/2", 32x I have. There really was no comparison as the Mitchell was far superior to the old Unertl.
But, for a period target/varmint rifle, Unertl's rule.

Don

Not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, more like apples to truffles, but I agree totally with your assessment. I believe the Mitchells are no longer made, however; I sure wish I had bought one when I could afford it.
Regards, Joe

I'm not a fan of the roll-over, but that dark feathered figure in the butt of the top rifle will steal my heart every time...