13 3/4 lb Bench Gun

[Keb]

I picked this gun up from a friend last weekend and I know nothing about these things. I've taken it apart but I can't see anything that would indicate who made it. It does have a GR Douglas XX .56 cal barrel. It's 39 3/4" long x 1 3/16" wide with a false muzzle. Twist is approx. 1 in 56 by guestimation. Underhammer lock is pretty straight forward. The gun comes in at 13 3/4 el-bees. It also has Redfield Olympic (Front) & International Match (Rear) sights of which I've never used but I'm no target shooter either. Anyone know anything about this type of gun?  Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

[pilgrim]

     Seems like a "Chunk Gun".   (over the log)

[45 Bravo]

When you get into this category of guns, and weights, they are a lot of times custom built.

Aka like Mongrel would do if this type of rifle was his calling.

But his calling is foulers and guns for kids,(a noble calling too for the kids).

I would lay money on with the enclosed cap system, the looks of the hammer, and the double set triggers, it is probably a one off labor of love.

With a Douglas barrel....

Oh ant he front sight has interchangeable inserts for your liking, (various size rings, and post thicknesses.)

45 Bravo

[Papa]

keb,
What you"don't" have is a chunk gun. The false muzzle and adjustable rubber recoil pad take it out of that country. What you "do" have is a light bench rifle. Can't be sure who built the action but if it functions and shoots as well as it looks you could be in business for either light bench or craoss sticks. By the way, it is percussion, not a sealed ignition.
Mark

[45 Bravo]

By enclosed ignition I didn't mean sealed.

I meant surrounded by the wood and the steel cup to protect your non firing hand from cap fragments..

That is a neat setup, and just doesn't look like something on a production, mass produced gun.

[45 Bravo]

Get mike  to chime in here, he knows everything!!!

[pathfinder]

Yer gonna look awfull funny dragging ' that thing through the Deer wood's Joe! Don't look to me ya help, ya old Fart! Don't think Lloyd would be much help either!

Good looking gun though. Bench matches take too long fer this 'Ole Coon!

Gonna try it at Creedmoore shoot's? Can I watch?

LOL. It was good to see ya the other day, and I was right, wife was hotter than a Hornet! Cost me $78.00 at Atchetz to cool her off! Oh well, it was worth it. And Lloyd was wrong, that chunk of Cherry is perfect 1/4 sawn!

[beowulf]

thats a big gun ! reminds me of my first underhammer . it was a hopkins and allen with a 1 1/4 inch x 36 inch round barrel in .45 caliber ! no fore stock and no under rib or ram rod ferrules , heavy as heck , but accurate , very accurate !

[Keb]

Thanks for the replies. I know it's not a production gun. Just wondered if anyone knew who built these things. It's probably made in the 60's or 70's. Someone told me the sights were of value.

Ted, you'd better not ever expect to see me dragging this thing any place. Last I shot paper I had a black beard and could see, prolly 86 or 87 at Laingsburg. LLloyd is talking long range shooting in Grayling again. I'd like to go with him but I'm a little far away.

[mongrel]

This is one type I know nothing about. Bench shooters speak a language and have priorities that I don't understand. The gun looks to be what Ian described, a one-off labor of love, in my opinion by someone who knew exactly what he (or a customer) needed and built accordingly. Not to my taste, but a very nice piece of work.

[Papa]

I've got an underhammer that was built by Cecil Brooks with a Claude Turner barrel and P.I. Spence sights that goes over 45#. Not a bench gun but a dedicated chunk gun. Quite a load, doesn't see daylight very often. I think it has a 1 5/8" X 46" barrel in .45 caliber.
Mark

[45 Bravo]

Keb, to answer your question, yes the sights have some value.

If you don't want to go down the bench shooter road, or don't want to hire a gun bearer for hunting.

I am sure online you can find some groups that do that.

Some research in their forums an give you an approximate value if you decide to part with it.

As tight as the bench fraternity is, if the original owner was a competition shooter, it is possible someone has seen that gun before, or recognizes the style of the maker, and may be able to point you in the right direction..

Keep us posted..

[DandJofAZ]

Nice little bench gun...should buck the wind a lot better than my 40 cal. roundball bench shooter....nice peep/ post setup available with those sights.  Used to have double peeps on mine, but got so all I could see was the black.  Had to change to post front on 6 o'clock hold...

go out and shoot it  or send it to AZ and I'll take it to the winter nationals...

Doug