doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Need help on potential Farquharson buy

In a few days I'm going to look at a long range target rifle built on a Farquharson action. It's one of those rifles shot from a reclining position. The owner mentioned the caliber as a Gibbs proprietary cartridge but I forgot the bore diameter. It was above 40 caliber I believe. He indicated that he bought it at auction in England in the sixties. I know this is a shot in the dark, but are there any general guidelines as to what to look for? I know guns and can determine condition, etc., but I don't know much about the gunmakers who built rifles on Farquharson actions and I don't know which features might be valuable. My guess is that these reclining target guns are not as valuable as those rifles meant for hunting, all things being equal. But then I'm a hunter not a target shooter. I'll take photos and post them after the visit. Any advise offered will be appreciated. Please consider me a total novice in the Farquharson realm.

most likely a gibbs .461. Lots of details to look for, the winfer book would be a good investment. Take pics if you can. The target rifles bring big money if best quality and correct, especially when cased.
Steve

If you aren't sure who made it the Kirton book is a great one to have also. It covers about all the makers, whereas the Winfer books cover individual (for the most part) makers. The Kirton book is a good resource for identification, rarity evaluation, etc. I'd venture to guess that more than half of the guns refered to as Farquharson's are actually something else - and it can make a BIG difference.

If you are out of time I can help look up information for you. I have Kirton's book and Vol 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Winfer books. Vol 4 is on the way, but won't be here for a couple weeks.

I really like the Winfer books. And like you I need Vol 1 to complete myset.Whitey

Hello Whitey my old friend,

The calibre is most likely 0.461" Gibbs as has already been stated by SKB, but it could also be 0.450" No.2 Musket also a very popular target rifle round at the time, and chambered in many of Gibbs Rifles. (Brass is still available, but not cheap, but then, what is these days?)

I don't believe that Gibbs ever made a 'Cheap Rifle'. Gibbs, (an International Rifle Shot himself) believed in quality.

Kirtons book is very good, Winfers are possibly even better. The volume relating to Gibbs, (Volume 2.) is not as thick as some other of his other volumes, but it is worth every 'Penny' or 'Cent' you will have to pay for it. Provided of course, you can find a copy in the first place.

I've never known any books become so hard to find, in such a short time after publication, as those by Wal Winfer on British Single Shot Falling Block Actions.

The reverse prone position was, perhaps, more popular in Europe than in the USA. But, both Sharps and Remington, provided the option of using sight mounts at the front and the rear of their rifle butt stocks, on their Creedmoor target rifles.

Harry

A Farquharson actioned rifle set up for Long range target shooting as you describe will most certainly be a Gibbs Farquharson. The trade Farquharson did not come about until well after the day of the black powder long range matches. It will, as the others have suggested, likely be chambered for the .461 Gibbs. (which is undoubtedly the ugliest cartridge ever designed. <g>)

If original it will also likely have a Metford rifled barrel.

The two types of these rifles were the pure target rifles and the MBLs (Military Breech Loaders) The former tend to be finer finished. The later have a rear barrel sight as required for what were essentially military type rifle matches. Some rifles were set up for both disciplines. The earliest examples of these rifles had a side lever for cocking once in position. The underlever only brought the hammer to half cock. Probably a good idea when you are shooting whilst laying down...

As for value, the more original and more complete the set is, the more valuable. Such a rifle in fine condition with its full complement of sights (which will be in a case) would be worth a princely sum. If everything is junk except the action it would still be worth a couple $K.

Do post pictures.

Glenn Fewless

I just got back from picking up the rifle. It is a Gibbs-Medford Farquharson back position rifle in the 461 No1 Gibbs cartridge. The barrel is segmentally rifled in a gain twist. The rifle is a target action with a supplemental cocking lever on the right side of the action. Opening and closing the action lever moves the breechblock and brings the rife to half cock. The rifle is brought to full cock with the supplemental cocking lever. There is no safety. The front sight base is present but the sight itself is missing. The long range rear sight is present on the heel of the stock. The barrel bluing is like new. The action has traces of color. The wood is solid with a horn fore end tip and is a little faded with a ding here and there. This rifle came from the Kynoch collection. It was purchased in England at a Bourne auction in the early 1990s. A letter of provenance is being prepared to document this purchase. There is no case and no other accessories. The stock and fore end are hollowed out, presumably to meet a weight limit imposed by the target competition for which it was built. I believe that weight is 10.5 pounds. An added Silvers buttpad is present. The stock is very long and straight as appropriate for a back position target rifle. The barrel is about 36 inches long and probably 1.2 inches in diameter with a very slight taper. I haven't taken time to measure, weigh and photograph it yet. I first need to determine a starting point for selling it. I will post photos as soon as possible. From the patent use number on the barrel, as compared to the number from a rifle with a known date of manufacture, this rifle was built some time after 1883.

Vol423,
Sounds very interesting and certainly looking forward to seeing the pics.
Should we understand that you are handling the sale for the owner?

I am handling the sale. I will try to get some photos posted by the weekend.

Do you know the date of the Bourne auction?