Help identify custom rifle

Do NOT rechamber!! Leave it as that wonderful old classic, the 300 H&H.
Looks like an M17 Action, from what I can see, but some better pictures of the
action would fully verify that. Nice looking rifle, OP! Dave.
 
Top load and unload and a one piece base make it slow to load and unload... but it has a very good look to it. Quality work.
 
Mauser98 said:
I’m not so sure it’s a 17/14 Enfield. There no evidence of a bolt release lever - custom or otherwise on the left side.
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No this is NOT an Enfield action , it is a Win mod 70 . I have a mod 70 here in the shop with the same style safety and bolt release . It has a blind mag which sort of looks like a P17 style stock but definitely not . Thank you all for taking the time to comment . Hopefully some one will have heard of this maker and I can perhaps find out more about it . Rest assured , the 300 H&H will be kept as the caliber !!!!!!!! ha Thanks again !!!!!
 
fastex said:
No this is NOT an Enfield action , it is a Win mod 70 . I have a mod 70 here in the shop with the same style safety and bolt release . It has a blind mag which sort of looks like a P17 style stock but definitely not.
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Flipper over and take a pick. Most of us would like to see the rest of that fine rifle.

300H&H brass is available but expensive. I used 375H&H brass in mine as well as some WW brand I scrounged up by groveling for it on the interweb.

What is the LOP on that? Looks quite long.
 
fastex said:
No this is NOT an Enfield action , it is a Win mod 70 . I have a mod 70 here in the shop with the same style safety and bolt release . It has a blind mag which sort of looks like a P17 style stock but definitely not . Thank you all for taking the time to comment . Hopefully some one will have heard of this maker and I can perhaps find out more about it . Rest assured , the 300 H&H will be kept as the caliber !!!!!!!! ha Thanks again !!!!!
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Nice rifle and a great cartridge! Yes, leave it in the 300 H&H, a very classic cartridge with lot's of reloading data, brass and factory ammunition. I'm having a Sako L61R re-barreled to this cartridge, which has lots to offer and will take any big game in North America.
 
sillymike said:
Now that think of it. Keane is probably not the maker's name but the original owner's name.
- And I wouldn't be surprise if there's a Keane Rifles #1 in 375H&H floating around
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An interesting thought for sure !!!! I had never given any thought to this but you could be right on . I just added a few pics of the action to show that it is not an Enfield type . Thanks again !!!
Brian
 
With a couple tweaks that would be a very nicer rifle.

I'd look for a hinged bottom, take the belly off and get some simple checkering.
 
Appears to be Win Model 70 action - no idea what bottom metal is fitted - could be M1917 bottom metal to give extra cartridge or two in the magazine? EDIT 11:00 AM: I am going to retract the next part in brackets - I don't think this is actually correct about the OP's rifle: (Rear bridge looks to be factory drilled and tapped for the #49A base - that was only used on the Model 70 in 375 H&H and 300 H&H). Would be good idea to install plug screws in that open scope base hole, and the two holes along the side for a receiver sight - keep threads intact and avoid "stuff" falling in there. As was mentioned, use proper hollow ground screw drivers and don't mess up screw slots worse than they are already.

Just my opinion, but almost a case study why one piece base not wanted on a top load / top unload rifle - that base taking up room to get long fat cartridges in and out with fat or half frozen fingers. Lots of longer tubed scopes available, especially older ones - can use two piece bases and get the scope rings directly over both front and rear receiver bridges.

It has a very cool "touch" in that the rear action screw hole has been welded over on that tang - possibly needed a different placement of that rear action screw if custom bottom metal, so nice touch to make a "blind" rear action hole.
 
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M70 with an enlarged magazine. 8 search engines on two computers turned up nothing for me. 300H&H is a Africa cartridge first chambered in the M70 in 1937; the cartridge lost popularity in the late 50s. Maybe British custom gunsmith?

I would change nothing but covering the screw holes.
 
I just tried loading this rifle , 3 went easily into the mag and by depressing the 3rd rd. a bit a 4th can be chambered , very smooth . I would really like to meet / have met the maker of this rifle . A real craftsman !!!!!!!!
 
fastex said:
Here are a few more pics of the under side of this rifle which shows that the "belly ' is not real , just the shape of the stock which suggests this .
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My bad. Strange cosmetic choice indeed. Did the old owner have no info on it? Its not that old a job, the lettering looks 1990s-ish. Did they grind off all markings?
 
One piece base is most likely on there to compensate for misaligned scope mount holes. I have a model 670 that suffers from that same problem.
 
Pretty sure this exact rifle was posted in an FB group a week or two ago, easy to remember a rifle like that, walnut and steel vintage rifles group....not sure if it was the same OP or not....I recall reading they thought rebarrelled and restocked m70, but might find some more info if you look over there
 
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