Author Topic: What is my mystery rifle's make?  (Read 1229 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Bigboar

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
  • Gender: Male
What is my mystery rifle's make?
« on: June 21, 2012, 04:11:07 AM »
What is my mystery rifle's make?  Any help would be apreciated.


bigboar



Offline Goatwhiskers

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 277
Re: What is my mystery rifle's make?
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2012, 11:23:42 AM »
Bears a strong resemblance to the high or low wall Winchesters except for the button on the right side, also the forend hanger is custom, as is the barrel and scope mounts.  If you pursue the project and the barrel is not marked, be sure to slug the bore and make a chamber cast as the gun sure looks like a custom job.  Goat

Offline hillbill

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3285
Re: What is my mystery rifle's make?
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2012, 12:18:59 PM »
yes resembles, but i dont think its even a custom hi-wall.looks like a odd duck to me. any idea on caliber?

Offline Winter Hawk

  • Trade Count: (47)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1947
  • Gender: Male
Re: What is my mystery rifle's make?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2012, 03:20:08 PM »
I believe Bigboar was talking about this same rifle in his other post, where he says it is .30-40 Krag.

-WH-
"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife." - D. Boone

Offline Frank46

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 707
Re: What is my mystery rifle's make?
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2012, 04:28:25 PM »
Bigboar, Looks to be missing a couple of the cross pins. one for the lever and another towards the back of the receiver. I'm still going with an extremely talented gunsmith or machinist. Who ever did this knew what he was doing. And I'm stumped as well as the other members who have seen your postings. try some pics with the lever all the way forward and from the top. you have the interest of myself and others. Frank

Offline Bigboar

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
  • Gender: Male
Re: What is my mystery rifle's make?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2012, 11:43:50 AM »



I think the mystery is solved:
Clerke "Hi-Wall"
[size=78%]It's a First model John A. " Bo" Clerke Hi-Wall. Bo was a well known Schutzen shooter,barrel maker,etc..This was his early model ,circa 1966-67,a later model was brought out in 1972. I have one of each,the earlier one a .225,the latter a 6m/m Rem.The 1967 model(usually marked CH ARMORY) had the safety on the right side and no tangs. The 1972 model had no safety and by then had upper and lower tangs, but still had a thru bolt for the buttstock.These had few parts in common with the Winchester model 1885 but were often reviewed as "hell for strong". From the 60's on there have been a great many modern "replicas" of older single shot rifles.The "Armory Hi-Wall" of 1967 came in standard,deluxe and schutzen form and also a side lever "Cannon Block" shotgun with a side lever like the Remington Hepburn.The 1972 model was called the Clerke High Wall. Bo listed several locations through that time,Van Nuys,Gardena, and Santa Monica among others.Clerke Recreation Products also made an inexpense small single and double action revolver in 22 and 32 and a starter pistol.Ads said the metal in these were 125,000 psi heat treated steel.These pistols are much more common in the market than the rifles.The earliest write-up I have of the model you picture was in Guns and ammo-September of 1967.Bo has said fewer than 200 of the model you show were made.Frank de Haas has a nice write up of these in "Single Shot Rifles-Their Design And Construction"-I read a few weeks ago that Bo has recently passed away-Mike[/size]