Author Topic: Anyone know about a Dan'l Fraser falling block? (Read 2252 times)

Slash5 · « **on:** December 16, 2003, 02:12:10 PM »

Scored big at the weekend gun show. Picked up a Armi San Marco, Dan'l Fraser & Co., Black Isle Scotland falling block. Just like a tiny Ruger model 1.
Anyone know anything about it?
I assume it is a replica made by Armi San Marco of a Farquharson action originally made by Dan'l Fraser.
It is marked with a 290 and CAT #4689.
Beautiful little gun, case hardening on the receiver, folding leaf sights.
I'll have to post a picture.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2003, 09:19:41 AM »

Sounds like a neat find. Dan Fraser Co. was a well known English "Best Quality" gunmaking house. Their Farquharson's that I have seen are really something special. Pretty rare and definitely expensive.

I don't know anything about the Spanish or Italian De Marco company though.

Can you tell us more about the rifle? Rimfire, centerfire, chambering, overall impression of quality, etc... Would be great if you could post a picture, I'd like to see it.

oneb · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2003, 06:19:58 AM »

Slash5,

I recently found an ad in an old 1989 issue of Predicison Rifle magazine on those mini flaling blocks. At the the time they were being marketed by Cape Outfitters in Cape Girardo ()sp?) MO. I went to their web site to see f any were still avaialble andthey are curently in turmoil over a change in ownership.

please let us know more about yours. 1B

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2003, 06:45:54 AM »

The Cape Outfitters kits are, amazingly, still for sale. In a recent issue of Gun List, I saw an add for them. I've never heard a report on how good they were. Anybody else?

Jeff Vicars · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2003, 08:11:51 AM »

The receiver has to be heat treated.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2003, 08:27:51 AM »

Jeff,
Do you know if there are heat-treat instructions included? Temps, cycle times, quench rates, heat up procedures, etc...?

marlinman93 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2003, 02:45:21 PM »

The Cape Outfitters thing is almost sorted out, and hopefully the kits will be part of their line again.
Jeff Mayfield, who was Cape's sales manager when the owner died, has taken over as the new owner.
The company is now called, Jeff's Outfitters, and they have a web site at www.jeffsoutfitters.com No online ordering yet, but they are very close to getting that up and running.
Hope this helps.

Double D · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:33:05 PM »

Yes, I remember them, the Daniel Fraser Highlander rifle. Cute little gun. I had several of the kits. We built several in the shop.

Frank DeHaas wrote them up. His report matches ours results. Firing pins constantly broke and the sear constantly wore out and they wouldn't stay cocked.

Cape Outfitters sued American Single Shot Association and Rifle Magazine over articles written about this rifle. The suits were later dropped.

Get a copy of A Potpourri of Single shot rifle and Actions by Frank DeHaas for the details on all the problems with these little guns.

I suspect that with the closing and liquidation of Cape Outfitter's you might see a few of these floating around.

Fellows dont waste your money on them.

Jeff Vicars · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2003, 06:03:07 PM »

No heat treating instructions were include with the kit I bought and did not complete.