C.I.L. Model 233 !! now with pics

[Grouse Man]

I picked up this little beauty recently. C.I.L. model 233, which is the box magazine version of the Savage/Stevens semi-autos, like the models 6 and 87A. The box magazine is unusual as most configurations were a tubular magazine. It also has a very nice red/orange tinted stock and a thumb-operated safety at the very back of the breach plug, rather than on the right side of the receiver. Anybody know when they were made? Can't wait to get out and try it.

Yes, it's a 'click-clack' "gill" gun. Is there a more accurate term to describe the action - manual bolt release, or something like that?

 

[kjohn]

I have a whole bunch of the old "gillers", all tube fed but one. It is a Stevens 85. The "clip magazine" models are not common. You have a real odd one in the CIL.

The first one I bought was an old Savage 6AB, purchased from the old E&D Sports in Maple Ridge. My nephew was a regular there and convinced the old guy working there to take us down to the basement. I spotted this old rifle through a doorway, noticing the "gills", thinking it was a military rifle. I shot the old rifle a few times, and didn't realize it was missing a wee spring behind the bolt knob. When I bought my second one, I found that the knob was spring loaded. Neat old guns. If you hold the trigger back after firing, the bolt will stay open until you release the trigger. I had around 12 or 15 of these rifles and have given some to new shooters, South Africans who I work with on a big farm.

 

[221fb]

There is a Krico semi-auto 22 on the EE that has a detachable magazine.
It has the distinctive Gills.
CIL imported from a lot of different companies maybe its a Krico import

 

[Grouse Man]

That Krico is stunning. Clearly a Made in Germany version of the same rifle design, but my 233 is stamped "Made in the USA".

 

[Grouse Man]

Pictures are always in order.

 

[Timberlord]

Interesting ... C.I.L. 233.
It's the first I seen this one.
Theres an unbelievable number of variants of the good ol click clack.

 

[Grouse Man]

The tubular models can feed Short and Long cartridges but you have to lock the bolt because they won't cycle it. I assume this box magazine wouldn't feed Shorts, but I can test on it.

 

[Grouse Man]

Test fired it on the weekend with several brands of LR ammo. Cycled them all perfectly. Fun little gun. Next is to try it off a rest and see what kind of accuracy it has. I wonder when CIL was marketing these babies?