Anybody recognize this 303 sporter?

bdft

bdft

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I posted this in Milsurp but there might be some oldtimers that recognize this old sporter.

It began life as a No.5 Mk1, no question of that. The barrel has been shortened to 17" and it has been blued and fitted with a one piece stock. The seller says the barrel was made by Bevan King and King is stamped on the rear sight. No other marks other than the No 5 Mk 1 markings on the receiver.The stock is curious as it is plastic. Not the synthetic stock we see today but more of a hard plastic from the 60's. It has been broken at the wrist and repaired with epoxy. This is not an Epps conversion one piece stock. I own one of those. This conversion still utilizes the butt screw somehow. I can't get the buttpad screws out so I'll have to cut them with a bandsaw. Before I start hacking I was wondering if anyone has seen one like this. I doubt that I have any kind of valuable collectors item here but it is an interesting rifle that someone spent a lot of time and money on. I can't imagine the stock being a one-off. Anyone remember a manufacturer of plastic stocks in the 60's?

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gunrunner100 said:
Not to hijack the thread SC, but...
Is your 700 a medium or long action with a 257 barrel?
Reason I ask is I have a barrel from a Classic and thought about installing it in an action.
Click to expand...

I had it done on a long action and would the same over again. Seating out to 3" OAL is well worth the small weight increase.

If I just had to have a short action, I'd think about a 250 Savage.
 
You are absolutely correct! Bevan was a cool guy!

He was a very good friend to me! Back in the spring of 1995, he offered to teach me how to build barrels! I had just met him through another gentleman by the name of Jerry Fleetwood! We drove to his place to get bevan to make me my first custom barreled rifle by rebarreling my Ruger M77 in 25-06.

I was excited to see his shop, and how he did his craft! I guess he could see the passion I had for it!
I worked with him on the occasional weekend over around 6-7+ years! I would show up at his place, he would make me a coffee, and out we went to the shop! Light the wood stove, and set up the gear for the days projects. I would often cut the barrel blanks and drill and ream the bores he needed to work on.

He would start the rifling, as I completed the blanks. When the flush oil got too hot, I just let it cool as I watched Bevan work away at his lathe. He had such an interesting personality , and a great sense of humour!

I heard allot of stories about Australia, and his hunting! I stayed in one of his spare rooms in the basement right near his game mounts. He sure had some nice trophies!

Bevan had some amazing ideas and creative ways to solve issues with his own personal projects!

Bevan also talked a fair bit of his friendship with “P.O” as he said it. That was the one and only, original P.O Ackley!

Sorry about the run down memory lane! I miss my friend, and wish so much that I would have had more time to learn more of his skills!
 
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I think Bevan loved his work and enjoyed spending time with people. He also liked the classic cartridges. If you asked him to do up a 7x57 or 257Rob you were in like Flynn. A request for a WSM of some sort might have been met with a polite "NO". Any time I'd call, I'd expect a nice conversation with either him and his wife or both.

I met him (over the phone) many years ago through Ted Wagner. He stopped here in the Maritimes on a trip he made through with his wife about 15yrs ago, maybe more. I payed him some money I owed him for a bbl job and we had a very nice chat over a coffee. Was always good for a story or interesting tidbit. He mentioned trying to fix up a Humber Super Snipe car but it always sounded like he was too busy in the shop to make good headway with that.

Gunsmiths like him are going off the scene, esp here in Canada. Bevan was a cool guy. :)
 
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