Mysterious English Rook Rifle

[mbatten]

Greetings!

I'm attempting to find out more about who might have made this English 360 No. 5 rook rifle, as there's no maker's name engraved anywhere on the gun.

This rifle has a .366 groove diameter and will accept 38 Special cartridges. It has a nice piece of walnut with steel butt plate and horn forend tip.
There are London proof marks on the left side of the breech, but I don’t know what the small scrolled ‘R’ stamp means. There’s a single standing and single folding leaf sight marked ‘50 YRDS’ and ‘100 YRDS’. The muzzle has an unusual convex crown, with about 1/4” of unrifled and over-size bore inside the barrel.

I can shoot about a 4” group at 50 yards with hollow-based wad cutter 38 Special ammunition. I would like to try a larger heeled .366 bullet, but I’ll need a custom mould for that.

It may have been made by Webley, as it looks like many guns illustrated online and in The Classic British Rook and Rabbit Rifle book.

Please see pictures below. Your thoughts and comments are welcome, thank you!

mbatten

https://app.photobucket.com/u/rmbatten/a/a47a3b7c-bb47-4afa-b423-878d209ccbac

 

[9.3mauser]

Apart from what you already know, I can't add a lot of information. Built for the trade by Webley & Scott, it could have been retailed by anybody. Pre-WWI wholesale catalogue lists them for £5 5 0 for a plain non ejector, fancier grade was £7 & change.

 

[Ashcroft]

And the R stamp signifies reproof. It may have been rechambered or rebored and reproofed accordingly.

 

[mbatten]

Thank you gentlemen!

I thought the 'R' mark indicated reproof too, but it's missing the crown above as shown in references online and in texts.

 

[Hitzy]

There was a 380 Rook cartridge, maybe that was what it was chambered for. Maybe 38S&W would be a better fit.

 

[mctrigger]

Looks very nice. Let’s see a few more pictures for reference sake

 

[WR1894]

I have a couple the same action, the top one is marked Wesley Richards and the second down is marked T Murray and the bottom one is marked J Blissiet but on a different action

 

[mbatten]

Thanks - maybe, but the chamber cast would indicate 360 Rook.

 

[mbatten]

Thanks for the photo. The Blisset looks like a Tranter action.

 

[WR1894]

yes it is a tranter action.

 

[Hitzy]

Thanks - maybe, but the chamber cast would indicate 360 Rook.

360 Rook was what I meant to type...my bad.

 

[Ashcroft]

Thank you gentlemen!

I thought the 'R' mark indicated reproof too, but it's missing the crown above as shown in references online and in texts.

Well I checked my references and yup the reproof R has a crown, can’t find any reference to an R without the crown? But I’ve had at least two without the crown ( shotguns)?? Only official proof marks are normally in this area so perhaps the crown was overlooked, stamp misplaced so omitted, struck so weakly as to be very faint? Or perhaps a reproof from another country? I only have two reproofed guns here at the moment, the marks look like this……
First a Westley Richards ball and shot gun from 1900 that was rebored and reproofed in Birmingham in 1950. The crown mark is well defined.
The second one will test your ability to read proof marks, it’s a very early best quality Westley Richards A&D boxlock which went through original black powder proof in 1880, then it was reproofed for nitro ( smokeless powder) ca. 1904-1921 and then reproofed a third time in 1990 when it was sleeved. The crown mark is very weak on this one.

 

[a j cave]

Had 296,300,&310 martinis, they were all wonderful guns. Sleeved or rebored they were great. Limited to cartridge length.

 

[mbatten]

Thanks everyone, for your observations/comments/advice about this rifle. I enjoy the quest to find out more about its history and developing an ideal load. The exchange of thoughts and sharing of your knowledge is very much appreciated!

Happy New Year to all, and here's to brighter days in 2022!

mbatten