Unmarked Rifle Identification

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Jordanlf

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I'm trying to identify this rifle. 7mm/08 which means newer than 1980, Redfield (Denver plant) scope which I'm inclined to think has stayed with the rifle throughout it's life, putting it pre 1998. Pachmayr buttplate, no markings underneath. appears the gun was built with it. I've disassembled the whole gun and everything has the matching numbers "237". No brand, patent number, or markings of any kind are present on the rifle aside from the cartridge stamp on the barrel and the serial number on each part. this was purchased from an older lady who knew very little about it, but said she had owned it for a long time and it had never been registered. it's got a beautiful trigger, smooth bolt, overall I'm impressed with the gun, I'd just like to find out what it is. Any knowledge on it would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
 
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I think I've identified it. Its the Alpha Arms, Alpha I rifle designed by Homer Koon, who also designed the Omega III rifle. The Alpha I was designed as a no frills light weight hunting rifle that was initially chambered for the then new 7-08 and the .243. The rifle featured scope mount screw spacing the same as the Savage 110, the bottom metal was Teflon coated, it has 3 locking lugs to facilitate a 60 degree bolt lift, in a round receiver, and used 2 aluminum V blocks, one on either side of the the magazine well for bedding. Quite innovative for 1980.

To see a comparative photo . . .
https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-243-winchester--r21011-.cfm?gun_id=101099631
 
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I was going to suggest Googling "sleek guns with big bolt shrouds", but these days you never know what suggestions the internet is going to offer. Some work places have even have rules about that kind of stuff!!
 
Not sure, Boomer, I have 2 Alphas and the bolt isn't grooved, nor does it have the integral safety, the shroud is different from either the Omega or Alpha, nothing really matches except the bolt release. Doesn't match up with Otteson's "The Bolt Action" description either. But the photos do ring a bell with me, just have to think on it>
 
great job on the identification, thank you. now that i've started to research the rifles made by alpha arms, I see the one you posted, as well as this one https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/custom-rifles/alpha-arms-co--alpha-1-in-308-win.cfm?gun_id=100496022 and a few others i've come across listed as the "alpha I" rifle. But in my rifle it has the brown bolt shroud that's almost the same color as the stock, I haven't been able to find another one with that, and I don't think it's from aging. It looks very brown in colour.

In my brief searching all I can find any info on are the "grand slam" and "custom" rifles, neither of which seem to perfectly match mine either. (Could mine possibly be a custom that was spec'd like an Alpha I? or an Alpha I that just received a different bolt for some reason? also in all the catalogues and gun value books I've found no listing of the Alpha 1 at all. Despite them having all the other alpha rifles listed. for example, page 26 here https://www.selfdefensefund.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Price.pdf

Also does anyone know how the serial numbers worked on these guns? were they numbered 001-###X for each model, or was it just a count of how many rifles the company produced as a whole?

I find this rifle incredibly interesting, i'm just having a hard time finding any info about it's history.

Thanks for all the help thus far!
 
On further inspection i'm seeing this rifle here https://joesalter.ca/products/alpa-arms-custom-308-cal-rifle that looks almost identical, Aside from a couple little things. The brown bolt shroud on mine, the thicker pachmayr buttplate (which could be aftermarket on mine), and most notably, the barrel markings are very clear and fully identify the rifle. On mine, the only markings are clearly hand stamped and many of the numbers didn't even stamp very clearly (showing half of a number sometimes). having the rifle with me and comparing to photos I can say I'm fully confident it is an Alpha Arms rifle, the way it's all designed is 100% dead on, it's just the little things i'm uncertain about. possibly just the quirks of a semi-custom rifle I suppose
 
The brown shroud wasn’t on purpose. Certain guns/parts turn plum brown with age. Ive read it’s the metallurgy or contamination in the metal that just doesn’t take bluing well. I’ve seen some Remington bolt handles, and ruger actions turn the same colour.

Excellent find, cool rifle
 
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Yes the off colour shroud was not an intention, it is caused by the steel used...

It makes you wonder why the manufacturer would not put a name and model on it... fairly easy to do at their level...
 
Interesting, thanks for the info! But yes the markings are still the most confusing part to me. The alpha 1’s I can find all have clearly stamped barrels with the company name, and lots of other info. this rifle is clearly stamped by hand (not even that well) and only has the caliber and serial number. Maybe it was earlier in the production I guess. Still neat anyway.
 
Might have been rebarreled, but I’ve seen hand stamped barrels from remingtons custom shop - that doesn’t worry me in the least.
 
Well, guess I was wrong, ......... mine are Grand Slams and Customs, ......much more refined with different bolt shrouds and safety, plus grooved bolts for alignment, so this is a basic Homer design, and mine were built after he lost the company.
 
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