Favorite Weatherby Generation

There was one of dad's buddies who had bought five new Weatherby's.
Last time I talked to him, about ten or so years ago, he had three left.
Bought early 60's N.I.B.
And to think I can't remember his last name to find him......if he
is still on this planet.
I'm thinking these three would be a good score.
 
The most collectable and varied would be when Weatherby built guns on the FN Mauser and the P14/P17 Enfields ,as they are varied and unique quality pieces.
The most collectable are the couple hundred built on the SHultz & Larsen in the 1950's for the 378 Weatherby, very very very NICE!
I also believe some French Brevex magnum Mauser were also used for certain cartridges and special projects.
The JP Sauer German MK5's were very well built and fit and finnish is always good.
I was not a fan of the Japan MK5's till I held my friends 416 WM the othe day, one of the most balanced well stocked guns I have been very surprised with!
I also love the Semi 22rf berreta built gun, very nice and shoots well, one of the nicest piece's of Walnut I have every seen on a Weatherby!

cheers dale Z!
 
International Harvester said:
What about freebore differences? If one is using the rifle for utility purposes and not collecting how would that factor into the choices?
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For reasons of practicality I tend to avoid the German models with their slow twist barrels, as you are limited with the heavier bullets. In a hunting grade rifle I'd just grab a Japanese version and not worry about anything - including freebore.
 
After working on the 3 later models, I've seen one on a P17 and none of the rest, I vote hands down for the Japanese version. I bedded a German Sauer one for an outfitter in the Yukon and it looked like it had been inletted with a hatchet. I inquired as to the origin of this rifle and he told me he had bought it brand new and it had never been apart, it also had never shot all that well, hence the bedding job. My own first 340 was a Jap one and I was impressed with the fit, finish and inletting on that rifle. I would highly recommend the Jap version to anyone wanting a used Mark V. The newer US ones I've only taken one of them apart and it was typical machine inletting, needing a bedding job and the trigger was atrocious compared to the Jap one, with minimal one could do to it.
 
track said:
The Vanguard is "not" a Weatherby, it's a Howa with the Weatherby name stamped on it............and that is factual. Weatherby's flagship action is the Mark V. I like the German, Japan and USA made, they are all made great.
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That is a little like calling the new M70 an FN, not a Winchester.

Yes, the Vanguard line is manufactured by Howa in Japan but, if you go to the Weatherby website, and/or their forum ('Weatherby Nation'), you will see that Weatherby considers the Vanguards to be REAL Weatherby's. And like it or not, in today's global economy, where things are made and by whom is unimportant.

And yes, the Mark V line of Weatherby's are still considered to be their "flagship" but fancy stocks and engraving do not really enhance quality; indeed, most Weatherby owners and the Weatherby company concede that the Vanguard line is at least as well made and usually more accurate. Why would this be? Well, perhaps it is because the Howa is actually a direct copy of the Sako Finnbear rifle, with receiver and barrels made using machines imported under license from Sako: http://www.weatherbynation.com/spikecamp/conversation/24/vanguard-history-part-i/0/?wap2

So, if you want to say that "the Vanguard is not a Weatherby", then it would be just as correct to say that the Vanguard is a Sako with "the Weatherby name stamped on it". The quality of construction and the accuracy of Sako Finnbears is legendary (I can personally attest to that as I own 2 of them), and Howa and Weatherby have benefited from this evolution. So much so that, if you visit the Sniper's Hide forum, you will see that (as well as Sakos) the Howa/Vanguard actions and barrels are highly prized and used by many expert gunsmiths to make extremely accurate tactical rifles.
 
-Savage- said:
That is a little like calling the new M70 an FN, not a Winchester.

Yes, the Vanguard line is manufactured by Howa in Japan but, if you go to the Weatherby website, and/or their forum ('Weatherby Nation'), you will see that Weatherby considers the Vanguards to be REAL Weatherby's. And like it or not, in today's global economy, where things are made and by whom is unimportant.

And yes, the Mark V line of Weatherby's are still considered to be their "flagship" but fancy stocks and engraving do not really enhance quality; indeed, most Weatherby owners and the Weatherby company concede that the Vanguard line is at least as well made and usually more accurate. Why would this be? Well, perhaps it is because the Howa is actually a direct copy of the Sako Finnbear rifle, with receiver and barrels made using machines imported under license from Sako: http://www.weatherbynation.com/spikecamp/conversation/24/vanguard-history-part-i/0/?wap2

So, if you want to say that "the Vanguard is not a Weatherby", then it would be just as correct to say that the Vanguard is a Sako with "the Weatherby name stamped on it". The quality of construction and the accuracy of Sako Finnbears is legendary (I can personally attest to that as I own 2 of them), and Howa and Weatherby have benefited from this evolution. So much so that, if you visit the Sniper's Hide forum, you will see that (as well as Sakos) the Howa/Vanguard actions and barrels are highly prized and used by many expert gunsmiths to make extremely accurate tactical rifles.
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I read information from text books and not "talk" forums. There are text books on the history or about the history of the Weatherby firearms and a little blurp about the Howa Vanguard. Roy Weatherby did not design the Vanguard, Howa did. He only put his name on the Vanguard so that people could afford a Firearm with the Weatherby name stamped on it. Sorry to be a burden of bad news, but it is a fact and the truth.................... the Vanguard is disguised as a Weatherby, and made by Howa.
Here are some of our Weatherby's, the true Weatherby's, the Mark V action, and they are shooters as well.
 
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I'm a huge fan of Weatherby rifles and own many. While I've owned a Weatherby Vanguard (one, and admitidly it shot awesome) I've never really considered them a true Weatherby.

It may sound eliteist but for me Weatherby is defined by the MkV. As a Weatherby fan and a fan of quality guns of all makes, the recent shift in market focus to "price point guns" has been rather dissapointing. If you've noticed Weatherby's brochure's and Website has been Vanguard dominated the last few years. I realize they are a terrific means to introduce the Weatherby name to a new generation of shooters but as a Weatherby purist it has been disappointing to see the MkV take a back seat.
Now the good news; This year I was fortunate enough to attend SHOT show and visited Weatherby's booth a few times. I was fortunate enough to corner Brad Ruddell and ask him point blank why the MkV has been relegated to the shadows and why hasn't there been any new models introduced? He assured me that there will be a definite shift in focus back to the Mark V line now that production has been brought "in house" and to expect new models and renewed vigor in the MkV line-up. He also claimed these will be the finest Mark V's compared to any generation previous.

As far as which generation of MkV is best? Most would probably lean toward the German Weatherby's but I prefer the Japanese rifles because they are everybit as well made and you're not paying a premium for German manufacture. The Earlier Saaco U.S. made Mark V's are also excellent shooters. In fact I have yet to own a poorly finished or bad shooting MkV, contrary to popular internet opinion.
 
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track said:
I read information from text books and not "talk" forums ... Sorry to be a burden of bad news ..
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If the "information" is factual, then why would it matter whether the source was in a book or online?

And as for your "bad news"? .. Sorry, but I do not understand what you are talking about.
It matters nothing to me if someone feels that one line of the manufacturer's rifles is "true" and another is not. (I am not a Weatherby owner; I only own Sako rifles).
As a unbiased but interested outsider, it is my view that BOTH Weatherby rifle lines are each in their own way excellent.
 
track said:
I read information from text books and not "talk" forums. There are text books on the history or about the history of the Weatherby firearms and a little blurp about the Howa Vanguard. Roy Weatherby did not design the Vanguard, Howa did. He only put his name on the Vanguard so that people could afford a Firearm with the Weatherby name stamped on it. Sorry to be a burden of bad news, but it is a fact and the truth.................... the Vanguard is disguised as a Weatherby, and made by Howa.
Here are some of our Weatherby's, the true Weatherby's, the Mark V action, and they are shooters as well.
Click to expand...

The Japanese built Weatherby Mark V's were also made by Howa, so , I guess they aren't "Weatherbys" either..:)

So, then we should call the US made Mark V's from the 90's Saco/Weatherbys as they were made by Saco Defense in Maine.


all in all,...just names....




So, I guess we should call the new Model 70's "FN Winchesters", like the old FN Brownings....:)
 
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