Most aesthetically pleasing bolt action rifle....

European bolt action rifles are on my hit-list, in particularly, the German and Austrian rifles appeal to me the most. There are only three North American guns which I like, Cooper, Weatherby and Winchester. Last Wednesday, November 12th, I killed a mule deer buck with a Krico Model 600, a German made rifle, chambered in the 30-06. I have high-end rifles, but give love to the underdog guns.
 
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Rigby is at the top of the list. They have a classic appearance.

Considerably more affordable than the Rigby but harder to find is the Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine. I had a few in different cartridges but held onto the 30-06. Beautiful rifles considering they were a reasonably priced production gun. Not sure why Sako even bothered with the 85 Bavarian without the iron sights. A close second to the Bavarian Carbine is the Hunter with iron sights.
 
For awhile there were a lot of scope ads showing their product mounted on M70 Fewtherweights and Kimbers. They were unlikely to be trying to make their scopes look bad😄
I wish Winchester still made the Featherweight Deluxe, or even better a Featherweight with French Walnut. And Kimber Super America is pretty sweet too!
 
A rifle is like architecture. When something isn’t right it looks off. Mounts, bolt handles, weird stock lines etc.

I’m an American Classic guy.
 
I am still looking for “1” favourite but I highly doubt I’ll ever narrow it down to a singular.
I find many have parts of them I like, but also have parts I don’t and it seems none of them have all the best of what I like on one gun…
The closest for me so far would include:
The Sako 85 Grey Wolf; beautiful lines, the black laminate blended with the stainless and just screamed cool to me.
The Smith & Wesson Icon had a great look but too plagued with problems…
The Weatherby Deluxe models in both the Mk.V and Vanguards always looked right to me and the wood is almost always stunning.
Lately though I’ve noticed my eye being captured by more and more Mauser 98 customs (and their derivatives), when done tastefully they are absolutely captivating.
So many beautiful ones, why settle for one…now I just try and avoid the ugly ones :)
 
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