rifle

Springfield Armory’s M14 (A1). To Wieland’s eye, it is better looking than either its predecessor M1 Garand or its successor, the M16 (AR-15).

The M14. Unsung. Much Loved.

To read John Lachuk’s piece in the 1965 Gun Digest, you’d think the M14 was…
Peter Hofer’s Jaguar Double in .500 Nitro Express
Peter Hofer’s Jaguar Double in .500 Nitro Express

Peter Hofer’s “Jaguar” Double in .500 Nitro Express

In 1984, a handsome French professional hunter invited me to a remote town on the…
Double rifles of the quality of this W.J. Jeffery, built between 1929 and 1939, do not come along every day. Just seeing and handling such a rifle is a privilege.

The Fate of the Jeffery

A few of these missives ago, I alerted readers to the presence at the Rock…
Mannlicher Model 1903

Introducing the Ischler

This is not, admittedly, a puzzle that has me lying awake nights, but for many…
rifle
If ever there was an American classic, this is it. This rifle brought $7,475. Photo courtesy Rock Island Auction

The Latest From Rock Island

Rock Island holds three premier auctions every year. These are the sales where you see Wild…
rifle
This Stevens Model 47 Schützen rifle, in .25-20 Single Shot, was Wieland’s first impulse buy at Rock Island. It popped up on the big screen late on the last day, looked good, the bidding stalled, and Wieland took it home. He now has half a dozen more Stevens rifles of the same vintage, has written more than a dozen articles about them, and is pursuing yet another this week. Ah, well.

Rock Island Preview

This is the week of Rock Island’s second premier auction of the year, and I…
rifle
Blaser R8 fitted with a 6.5 PRC barrel and a Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10x40 Summit riflescope. About as good as a modern big-game rifle can get.

The Emperor’s New Cartridge

It has been my happy lot for the past week or two to put through…
Cutting off .66 inches from the .40-65 case became quick and exact using a proper drill press.

The Care and Feeding of Heidi

A couple of enquiries have arrived, requesting details on exactly how I manufactured ammunition for…
The Werndl action with its rotating breechblock closed. The quality of the materials and workmanship is obvious, and the action itself is ingenious.

A Heidi Report

In my first Sporting Note a couple of weeks ago about Heidi, the sweet little…
A Jagdstutzen built on one of the small Werndl actions, probably in the 1880s. The only name on it is Jos. Heinige of Vienna, most likely a high-end gun dealer.

Puzzles Upon Puzzles

It was the name “Werndl” that first grabbed my attention, attached to a very pretty…
SHOTGUN
Now fitted with a new Lee Shaver Soule-pattern tang sight and Hadley eyecup, the Stevens Model 49 Walnut Hill is ready for the range.

The Stevens Mystique

Everyone needs a purpose and, for many years, one of mine — a minor one,…
rifle
A top-quality rook rifle from Joseph Harkom, one of Edinburgh’s finest makers (later absorbed by Dickson’s). In all likelihood, it was made by W&C Scott to a design by Holland & Holland and (perhaps) finished at Harkom’s shop at 30 George Street. It’s chambered for the .300 Rook.

Rooked

A “rook,” as in “rook & rabbit” rifle, is a black bird, found in England,…