"A Magnificent Museum Quality Cased 297-250 Watson Bros. Rook Rifle - 1880s - Minty"

Hello All,

The fun part of collecting is finally obtaining that elusive treasure, and then sharing your find with fellow collectors.

Here's my latest acquisition:

Watson Brothers Rook Rifle - 297-250 Rook cal - Lightly Engraved - Side Lever - Ejector - 5 lbs 3 oz - 14-1/2" LOP - 26" Round Barrel - Island Front & Rear Sight - 1 Standing 2 Folding Rear Site marked: 50,100,150 - Presentation Stock - Checkered Butt - Horn Forend Tip & Grip Cap - Alligator Skin Case - Glass Oil Bottle - Parker Hale Patches

This is the Finest Rook Rifle I've ever had the pleasure to own.

As always, your comments are welcome.

Very nice !

The stock alone is a wonder, much less the rest of that lovely wand. Buck, what is in the Parker Hale box in the case? I was thinking it might be a receiver sight, but do not see an obvious attachment point.

quote:

Originally posted by rcraig:
Very nice !

Hello rcraig,
Thanks for the reply.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
The stock alone is a wonder, much less the rest of that lovely wand. Buck, what is in the Parker Hale box in the case? I was thinking it might be a receiver sight, but do not see an obvious attachment point.

Hello Bill/Oregon,
Thanks for the reply.

The parker box is a box of cleaning patches. Interesting is the glass oil bottle. Its converted from a vintage ink bottle.

Another interesting thing about the rifle is the ejector. Its so powerful that it launches the rare brass far off into the grass where it becomes lost.

A lovely little rifle for sure!

It is actually possible to make 297-250 cases from 22 Hornet, though it's a bit of a slog. Also, the earlier editions of "Cartridges of the World" offered a few handloading recipes for this round that were exceptionally wrong (as in at least 2X overloads), so be careful where you get your loading data.

quote:

Originally posted by bpesteve:
A lovely little rifle for sure!

It is actually possible to make 297-250 cases from 22 Hornet, though it's a bit of a slog. Also, the earlier editions of "Cartridges of the World" offered a few handloading recipes for this round that were exceptionally wrong (as in at least 2X overloads), so be careful where you get your loading data.

Hello bpesteve,
Thanks for the reply.

I have hundreds of correct Bertram Brass and hundreds of Buffalo Arms re-formed brass made from 22 hornet. I've been loading for this cartridge for years having a martini action Rook Rifle in the same caliber. I also load for 297-230 short, 297-230 long, and 297-230 magnum, and 300 rook.

From the rifles I have seen over here in England I imagine that yours is a later one, perhaps post 1900. The 'ears' of the extractor/ ejector are almost invisible, and there is a bit of a step between the breech area and the rest of the barrel.

That stock is miraculous! Much better than my similar Army & Navy.

HB

quote:

Originally posted by HistoricBore:
From the rifles I have seen over here in England I imagine that yours is a later one, perhaps post 1900. The 'ears' of the extractor/ ejector are almost invisible, and there is a bit of a step between the breech area and the rest of the barrel.

That stock is miraculous! Much better than my similar Army & Navy.

HB

Hello HistoricBore,
Thanks for the reply,

That's an interesting observation about the "step" where the barrel joins the breech. I searched "rook rifles" on google and could not find another rook rifle with a similar "step". Do you have any references?

Hi Buckstix

If you look at the book "The Classic British Rook and rabbit Rifle" by the late Colin Greenwood, on page 133 he reviews a .297/250 rook rifle like yours retailed by Gibbs of Bristol, which has the step in the barrel. He dates it as post 1907 because of the address engraved on the barrel. He says that a ring was sweated onto the round barrel for the rear sight.
He then goes on to show a photograph of the 1914 Webley catalogue with an identical rifle, so that is who made yours, I expect. If you send me a message with your e-mail address I can send you photos of the four relevant pages.

No other rook rilfes in his book have the barrel step. I expect it was the company's accountants trying to save money - just like Winchester in 1964.....

Hello HistoricBore,
Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate the copy of the interesting article.

Very nice indeed.

quote:

Originally posted by asdf:
Very nice indeed.

Hello asdf,
Thanks for the reply.