Gibbs Farquharson Casting Kit by Rodney Storey

11 January 2025, 21:45

Huvius

Not a Gibbs pattern action, more of a Jeffery PD style action - well, Gibbs did use a similar action on a couple rifles.
Would be a lot of work, skilled work at that, to complete but I’d think that a good complete original action would run 4-5 times that cost.

13 January 2025, 04:31

Michael Robinson

Looks like a reasonable facsimile of the Gibbs-Farquharson military action to me.

This would be a wonderful project for a skilled machinist.

15 February 2025, 07:34

Vol717

I sold that. Too much for my skills.

19 February 2025, 08:07

Craftsman

This set of investment castings appear to be the kit that Leonard Bull of Trinidad, Colorado produced. Leonard and Gordon Roberts taught a class at Trinidad to build a rifle from this kit a number of years ago. Leonard took an original action and built/machined a full set of injection molds. He had trouble finding a foundry who would produce the wax and castings on a small scale. I introduced Leonard to the owners of
Wichita Manufacturing here in Wichita Falls, TX. Later I acted as liaison between the two and assisted in shipping to Colorado. Leonard was a fine man and a brother Mason. He was a gunsmith trained in England, worked a number of years in Africa then came to USA and was an instructor at Trinidad. It would be interesting to know what happened to those molds. The actions were cast in 8620 and 4130.

19 February 2025, 13:18

Steve Bertram

quote:
Originally posted by Craftsman:
This set of investment castings appear to be the kit that Leonard Bull of Trinidad, Colorado produced. Leonard and Gordon Roberts taught a class at Trinidad to build a rifle from this kit a number of years ago. Leonard took an original action and built/machined a full set of injection molds. He had trouble finding a foundry who would produce the wax and castings on a small scale. I introduced Leonard to the owners of
Wichita Manufacturing here in Wichita Falls, TX. Later I acted as liaison between the two and assisted in shipping to Colorado. Leonard was a fine man and a brother Mason. He was a gunsmith trained in England, worked a number of years in Africa then came to USA and was an instructor at Trinidad. It would be interesting to know what happened to those molds. The actions were cast in 8620 and 4130.

Yes, and no. Everything you stated about Len and the action kits that he and Gordon put together is correct, but the above kit was not one of them. The kits Len put together were based off of the Westley 1897 action, the above kit is a Jeffery pattern farquharson. All the parts on Len's kits were intentionally over-sized to account for shrinkage and quite a bit of work was required to get the parts fit up and shaped, the above kit looks to be one produced by Rodney Story.

19 February 2025, 18:13

richj

Storei stuff/pics are still out there

http://kwk.us/FA/

20 February 2025, 07:55

Craftsman

quote:
Yes, and no. Everything you stated about Len and the action kits that he and Gordon put together is correct, but the above kit was not one of them. The kits Len put together were based off of the Westley 1897 action, the above kit is a Jeffery pattern farquharson. All the parts on Len's kits were intentionally over-sized to account for shrinkage and quite a bit of work was required to get the parts fit up and shaped, the above kit looks to be one produced by Rodney Story.

Thanks Steve, Very informative.

23 February 2025, 02:41

bghntr416

I imagine a number of these sold to guys that had the dream of owning such a rifle (and not the means) and were never finished. Just a guess...

23 February 2025, 05:23

Michael Robinson

Steve, isn’t the Jeffery pattern entirely derivative of the Gibbs military action? I believe Winfer thought so, but could be wrong.

23 February 2025, 17:15

Steve Bertram

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Steve, isn’t the Jeffery pattern entirely derivative of the Gibbs military action? I believe Winfer thought so, but could be wrong.

Yes, but they are commonly known as the Jeffery action, why I do not know. More correctly they are called the PD Farquharson, Public Domain, after the Gibbs patent expired. Pretty much a simplified Gibbs action, no removable trigger group, less parts, easier to make. I have a Holland in .30 Super on this action, it is a very nice rifle.

07 March 2025, 07:00

Michael Robinson

Yup.

I’ve never seen any Gibbs patterned Farkie that I did not love at first sight.

14 March 2025, 04:44

lee440

With these kits available I am surprised that no-one is machining them and selling them. I asked Rodney and he knows of none who will do it. I bought the Jeffery PD kit from him but it is beyond my skillset. I realize there is not a real high demand for these, but the World needs more Farkies!

19 April 2025, 18:03

Craftsman

quote:
With these kits available I am surprised that no-one is machining them and selling them. I asked Rodney and he knows of none who will do it. I bought the Jeffery PD kit from him but it is beyond my skillset. I realize there is not a real high demand for these, but the World needs more Farkies!

Leonard Bull died several years ago. There are a few castings left over and currently in an estate. Have had difficulty connecting with the heirs.

20 April 2025, 15:08

p dog shooter

quote:
Originally posted by lee440:
With these kits available I am surprised that no-one is machining them and selling them. I asked Rodney and he knows of none who will do it. I bought the Jeffery PD kit from him but it is beyond my skillset. I realize there is not a real high demand for these, but the World needs more Farkies!

Doesn't surprise me a low volume, high cost item, limited market.

When one can buy Ruger No.1s and get 99% of what a "Farkies" can do.

For a lot less money.

Just because something is old doesn't make it better.

20 April 2025, 17:04

Steve Bertram

quote:
Originally posted by p dog shooter:
quote:
Originally posted by lee440:
With these kits available I am surprised that no-one is machining them and selling them. I asked Rodney and he knows of none who will do it. I bought the Jeffery PD kit from him but it is beyond my skillset. I realize there is not a real high demand for these, but the World needs more Farkies!

Doesn't surprise me a low volume, high cost item, limited market.

When one can buy Ruger No.1s and get 99% of what a "Farkies" can do.

For a lot less money.

Just because something is old doesn't make it better.

Apples and oranges. There is nothing wrong with a #1 but the guys building Farquharsons are looking for something different than a #1. I would not say demand is low, just that a market for the casting kits is weak. I build quite a few vintage single shot rifles with several in process currently, demand for vintage rifles and actions remains quite strong.

20 April 2025, 22:09

p dog shooter

quote:
Apples and oranges.

More like a Honey crisp to a Golden Delicious.

Both apples just different.

20 April 2025, 23:40

Steve Bertram

quote:
Originally posted by p dog shooter:
quote:
Apples and oranges.

More like a Honey crisp to a Golden Delicious.

Both apples just different.

To your eye maybe but certainly in mine.

24 April 2025, 07:36

lee440

Steve and Craftsman, what would be a rough estimate of cost for a skilled gunmaker to take one of these kits and make it a finished action? I am curious if it could be a viable sideline(NOT Me!)

24 April 2025, 17:57

Steve Bertram

quote:
Originally posted by lee440:
Steve and Craftsman, what would be a rough estimate of cost for a skilled gunmaker to take one of these kits and make it a finished action? I am curious if it could be a viable sideline(NOT Me!)

Multiple thousands of dollars. Castings, especially this type, do not lend themselves to efficient mass production. No two are exactly the same, you do not have square and true surfaces to work with, much of it requires skilled hand labor and a knowledgeable machinist. Springs need to be made, screws as well. I would think at minimum a couple of weeks of work to get one ready to barrel.