Originally Posted by AGS
Those guys advertise some really nice guns but they are always proud of them.

While the 222M has really nice wood and a better cartridge (was one of the contenders when the shorter 223 beat it out with the army) I prefer the overall treatment of the Hornet. Just looks more appropo of the period.

For as long as people have engraved firearms there has always been owners or engravers who just engraved animals for no specific relationship to the rifle's use. It's as traditional as engraving itself is.
I own a first model engraved Rigby Ballard in .40-63, which is Marlin's straight grip Rigby schuetzen rifle. It has a lion charging on one side of the receiver, and a nice buck on the other side. What either has to do with schuetzen matches is beyond me? But somebody wanted these animals on their rifle, and the factory aimed to accomodate their wishes!

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Vall; 04/16/23 12:19 PM.