Weatherby?

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heronfish

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Ever been caught up in an auction and then wondered what the heck you just did?
Well that happened to me.
I know nothing about this gun other than it is chambered in 257 weatherby and is a m1917 action.
Since I bought the gun, I have been trying to read on early weatherby Customs, but the information the net is scarce, other than to say there are no records of the early customs done by weatherby. I have shown this gun to two individuals here on gun nutz, and they can't agree.





So now I ask the good men and women of gun nutz to help me out here. Is this a very old weatherby custom on a p17 action or someone trying to copy Roy? And is it worth anything, or is this a wannabe beater that should sit behind a tractor seat and rust?
 
Go to the Guns America site and type in what you have under the search feature.
Maybe something will show up?

Edit....... I do believe you have a custom built rifle there.
Someone talented enough to pull of some fine woodworking skills.
 
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I don't know any more about it than you do, but I never heard of Weatherby ever building a rifle on a pattern of 1917 action.
It sure is a beautiful looking rifle, maybe too gaudy for my preference, but I wouldn't put it behind the tractor seat as a coyote getter, either.
 
I remember reading somewhere that some of the very first original rifles built by Roy Weatherby were on M 1917 actions.... if only I can recall where I saw it.
Now I won't sleep tonight...
 
Kevan said:
I remember reading somewhere that some of the very first original rifles built by Roy Weatherby were on M 1917 actions.... if only I can recall where I saw it.
Now I won't sleep tonight...
Click to expand...

Just remembered !! There is an article in Gun Digest 2013 that confirms that Weatherby used Mauser , '03 Springfield , and M 1917 actions in his early efforts.
I would imagine that heronfish's rifle would be sought after by serious Weatherby collectors ?
 
While its certainly Weatherby-esque I dont think its a Weatherby rifle. Have seen early Brevex action Weatherby's etc and this rifle doesnt quite fit the mold. I dont recall ever seeing a roll-over cheek piece on a Weatherby produced rifle. Might be wrong though...
 
I also read that weatherby used some P17 (M17)'s for some of their early stuff, but hard to say, don't mean to talk poorly of that rifle, but the engraving on the wood doesn't look of really high quality, but perhaps it was something done to a very early piece, and it looks like the bolt handle and bottom metal have been replaced, so some work has been done to it. The bottom metal may tell you more about it's origins.

Does it have a drop magazine? can you post more pictures of the bottom metal and mag or feed well?

I'm kind of inclined to think you may have an early weatherby actually, regardless, I'd take it out shooting, the 257 would be handy for shooting long ranges out of a tractor and it might be handy for that too.
 
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I'd go to a US based Weatherby forum and post some pictures, there is definitely someone there that'll know.

Just looking at the pics I'd say it's probably not a Weatherby job. The trigger guard/floorplate looks to be stainless or a polished in-the-white. The inlay's don't seem to line up, the oak leaf engraving is roughly done and of the Weatherby's Customs pics I've seen, pretty much all use walnut with rich figure and grain with a glossy varnish type finish. The engraving is also unfinished, you can see where someone outline the pattern but didn't complete it (pic#2).

In other words, I don't think it's quite gaudy enough to be a real Weatherby. :D
I'd turf the stock, throw on a synthetic and use the he** out of it as the 257 is an awesome caliber.
 
Maybe try the Weatherby Collectors Association. They might be able to provide more info. I don't think it is a Weatherby. As pointed out, the engraving and stock work does not look up to their quality.
 
Just to further muddle things or maybe make it clear, this gun does have a matching serial number on the right side if the action abd in the bottom of the barrel
 
I generally find the leaf type wood work to be a European feature... not too many North Americans go for that style of checkering.

I agree that the carving does look a bit "home built". But it may be a Euro custom rifle. If it shoots well, be happy with it. A fine example of the styling vision of that time of guncrafting.
 
The weatherby guys suggested it may be a Winslow. And given the cheek piece, I think they may be right.
Now I just have to figure it what that is worth.
 
http:/ /www.fieldandstream.com/pages/winslow-arms-wildly-impractical-yet-works-art

Some interesting read here.
Not sure if I should of broke the linkie pew or not..........
Fruck, better do it.
 
heronfish said:
The weatherby guys suggested it may be a Winslow. And given the cheek piece, I think they may be right.
Now I just have to figure it what that is worth.
Click to expand...

The article says they were all based on mauser actions though...

I suspect you are going to likely find the source by way of the magazine and bottom metal, I've never seen one like that.

edit; it may be a hoosier stock http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/images/s_1917_sporter_01.jpg
http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/rifle_stocks.html

I think I've seen parker hale deluxe 1100's or 1200's that look like that, but they usually were mauser actions and didn't have as much engraving, but the stock inlays were similar methinks.
 
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Would any of you be able to put a ballpark value on a custom like this?
The only markings on this gun are the calibre designation, matching serial numbers on barrel and action and a capital R that shows up in a few places.
 
heronfish said:
Would any of you be able to put a ballpark value on a custom like this?
The only markings on this gun are the calibre designation, matching serial numbers on barrel and action and a capital R that shows up in a few places.
Click to expand...

If it shoots a decent group, with the scope and mounts I'd say as it is $600-800 asking price (just my opinion), if it is in fact an early weatherby and you could prove it with some sort of documentation, you could double or triple the price to the right collector, though you may have to wait a year or 5 to find the "right collector".

I sold a similar looking rifle (1917 in 300 weatherby) without quite as much "gawdy stock engraving" and no metal engraving for around 350-400 a few years back.

Please take some more pics of the bottom metal and the magazine that is on it though, I'm really curious what they used.
 
Weatherby did offer rifles built on Enfield action in 1956 as per there Catalouge!
You could supply your own action or they could supply an action for your rifle!
You could also have your choice of Mauser or Springfield action to have your rifle built.
There is a list of prices to alter your action from milling the action, opening bolt faces, altering magazines, polishing and bluing the action, installing timney triggers, etc.,etc
Also you could send your Win model 70 to be rebarrel'ed or rechambered and restocked?
Anyway, the stock on your rifle is wrong as American black Walnut was the wood used during this period.
I looked up in the Weatherby inlay patterns, and saw no inlay that was similar to yours?
Cheek piece looks all wrong for any Weatherby of this period?
Nice looking rifle that was top work at the time it was made, I really like it :)
Cheers Dale Z
 
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