I stopped at my stockmaker's shop today. He had a Wickcliffe rifle that a client wants to sell. Caliber is .270 Winchester. Barrel is 26" in a pretty heavy contour. Slick working falling block with a great trigger and wood looks like AA to me, with silver medalion inlaid into the grip cap and some etched carving on the receiver. I really couldn't make out the model number because the objective of a Vari XIII pretty much hides everthing but the Manufacturer. I don't think the rifle has ever been used. It doesn't have a mark on it.
I have some questions for you SS gurus:
How accurate/dependable are these rifles? Are parts available anywhere? Will the action handle a .270 Weatherby? Now to the question of value: According to the 27th edition of the bluebook, this is probably 76 Deluxe grade worth about $460 at 100%. I watch the on-line auctions closely and sometimes real world prices and the book seem to have a very loose correlation. Is that the case here? The owner wants $800. Any and all input would be appreciated. I once had a gorgeous #1 in .270 and the thing would not shoot woth a hoot. I don't want a repeat experience. Stoney

Stoney, the Wickliffe was pretty much the Stevens falling block. Some shoot, some don't. Not really any way to predict accuracy, but the quality of the barrel is about as important as anything else.

Shuttleworth makes a Stevens repro that is as good as any of the originals. They are pretty well represented on the BPCR ranges and seem to shoot well.

Seems like all single shot rifles with two piece stocks can be a little fickle accuracy wise, but the field handling and good looks make them worth the trouble.

Something about the Wickliffes were nice. Maybe it was Elmer's write-up.

I dunno.

Josh

They have not been made for about 20 years, so parts would be iffy. Evidently, there were a lot of parts left over when the "factory" went out of business. The parts were sold at auction and various rifles have been put together by several gunsmiths since then. Some I have read about are questionable, but others are supposed to be good.

I saw a three barrel, easy-switch, version that someone made, selling for $1,000 about a year ago. Unfortunately, something was not right with it. Every time I opened the action, it would not close. The person selling it showed me a trick, sticking my finger into the action and pressing on a part to get it to close. I am sure that that was not the way it was intended to be. I passed.

parts for the wickliffe are in stock and available.

they look similar to a stevens 44 1/2 but much larger and stronger. some unique features : removing one screw allows the entire trigger group to be removed. can be made to extract or eject by simply turning a set screw. trigger is adjustable for pull and overtravel.

these rifles are the most accurate out of the box as per elmer keith. they were all shot at the factory and approved before they were shipped. they outshoot rollers, high and low walls, ballards, sharps etc

if anyone can post the pics here i can supply orignial factory material photos to show what the rifle does for a shot group before it left the factory.

pls note : this is probably the strongest action available - it can go to 458 win mag or 458 lott with no modifications. also will take up to 500 nitro . so it's plenty safe for the 270 weatherby

they can easily be made into a takedown model and a multi barrel set in different calibers. the one 3 barrel set that didn't work referred to above was not assembled by the wickliffe rifle co but could probably be fixed

e.r. shaw made the original wickliffe barrels and can supply barrels for them in any caliber they make.

the original wickliffe action kit available is fully machined, hardened and blanchard ground - ready to be polished, blued then assembled - takes about an hour. price $410.00 ppd

the NEW MODEL WICKLIFFE has a top tang added to securely mount your buffalo sights ( peep sights)
price on the new model with the tang is $535.00 ppd

the original stock was a monte carlo type for use with a scope. a new straight comb stock is available with or without cheekpiece. all stocks are pistolgrip type and available in right or left hand.

for parts or action kits contact the Wickliffe Rifle po box 126 austinburg, ohio 44010

e mail ftondrus@hotmail.com

We're building a 500 S&W on one now, with a 26" octagon barrel and our own walnut from a modified Wick pattern. The actions are great and if interested, we can build one for you in whatever caliber you desire. We also have an unfired original Wick in 7mm Mag that the owner is asking $1600 for. I know, that's a lot, but try to find another original unfired one!
Walt

Has anyone got a picture of these new Wickliffes?

Tomo, these actions are stronger than the #1's? I was under the impression that the Stevens set-up left block contact area a bit short compared to some of the more modern single shots. Something about the cam deal. Care to fill us all in? A light weight 257 Weatherby might be nice.

Josh

Hello Tomo

How would you get on exporting one of the action kits . . . can it just be packed up and sent, or is it the usual export paper war drama (and expense)

Cheers - Foster

Josh,

In my humble opinion, the new Wickliffe is stronger than a Ruger #1. I have the first new model upper tang action sold...after convincing Tomo577 that it would be a good thing to offer. The receiver is 1.335" across and takes a 1" barrel shank. A local gunsmith here in Boise has six of these on his bench under construction. One will be a .475 Royale, aka .475 Gibbs. They go together easy, with about an hour of a competent gunsmith's attention. The sides are generously sized for engraving. The trigger can be adjusted down to about 1.5lbs that I know of personally. If you want to build a gorgeous big bore rifle this is the only way to go...unless you can find an original "Farqy".

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Idaho, that Wickliffe sounds intersting. What about a light weight rifle? Is it strictly a big, bore heavy weight incarnation?

Josh

I don't know if the rifle I'm looking at is the usual configuration, but the barrel is a heavy varmint profile-kinda unusual in a .270 Winchester. I talked to the owner. The rifle was part of his dad's estate and has never been fired. Scope is an older Leupold. Mounts look like Warne. The rifle is heavy.

Hello

Has anyone ever weighed one of these - Tomo once told me he thought they finished at "about 3 lbs", but it would be great if BUCKMT could weigh the one being worked on for a definitive answer.

Cheers - Foster

josh a re: your nov 24 post

i have pictures of the wickliffe actions and original rifles . if someone can post them i will e mail to you .

contact me at crown-press@hotmail.com

the wickliffe only looks like a stevens 44 1/2 . it's internal parts and functioning are totally different.

you can remove the entire workings by removing one screw.

trigger is adjustable for pull and overtravel.

because of the action size and weight it will never be a featherweight. we do have a design to eliminate some weight from the action. i'll try to get them both weighed and report back on it.

Wickliffe originally offered a 22 hornet model with a light weight barrel - also a 223. i believe these were 22 " barrels - they were in the light weight sporter configuration.

that 22" configuration was also an option in cals 243, 308 and 30-06.

the 22" models weighed 6 3/4#

all the 26" barrels were heavy sporters. these rifles weighed 8 1/2#

Tomo, I sent you an e-mail. I am interested in seeing some pictures of the actions.

Thanks
Josh

tomo

I still have the two pics on my webspace. Hope this is OK.

shootz@pipeline.com




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richj

thanks for posting the pics. if you'll send me your e mail i'll send a couple more for you to post. thanks, tom

action pics.