Thread: An amazing Mountain Rifle

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

It sure is nice and I am a walnut blue man but I often wonder these super expensive rifles like this and Holland and Holland would they actually shoot any better than say a Shultz and Larsen Victory at likely quarter of price

So here’s the thing with top shelf customs…. I’m waiting on a beautiful walnut/blued rifle to have its bluing finished. I made the stock for it from exhibition grade wood, hand inletted perfectly, 24LPI hand cut checkering with mullered borders, hand rubbed oil finish, custom sling swivel base inletted into the stock, and yes, red recoil pad. The metalwork is a Rem 700 that has custom oberndorf style steel bottom metal, a hand built M70 style 3 position safety, custom M70 bolt release, Sako extractor and custom bolt handle. It’s been trued and now has a Douglas premium barrel with a hand made barrel band.
It really is top shelf stuff, and I would struggle to own a nicer bolt rifle. I have a friend that owns a Rigby highland stalker, and from a craftsmanship perspective is no nicer than my NZ made custom. To be honest, there’s bugger all hand work in the Rigby and it cost $25,000.
But here’s the thing; you can get the nicest custom that you want built, but it will only be worth bugger all because it doesn’t have Rigby/Westley Richards/Mauser/Holland and Holland engraved along the barrel. Just the facts.

That said, I will be taking my custom out this roar. It will get used, and its sentimental value will increase with every day I use it. I appreciate finely crafted firearms, and it really is a pleasure to use a rifle that is built for you and has been thoughtfully planned from start to finish. Sure your Tikka T3 will shoot deer just as dead and just as accurately, but they just lack the X-factor. Well for me anyway.