I know - I know pictures. ...
I have a very nice. I mean excellent workmanship custom bolt action rifle marked on the bottom of the barrel “RG West”. The web tells me “Bob” West taught at Trinidad and worked with or under P.O. Ackley.
Any info would be appreciated. I spoke to a gentleman in Washington who knew him but not the rifle.
Bob West was lately a member of the CGMG. He died a few years ago at a quite advanced age. At the time I met him, about 1977, we both lived in Eugene, OR. He did reboring and other barrel work at that time. He was one of the custom gun guys contemporary to Ackley, Kennedy, and Stiegal.
Octagon barrel. Precise wood to metal fit, tiny attention to detail like wood contour around safety and bolt release.
Very nice rifle.
Is that a left handed short action remington? I believe remington did not introduce the short action in left hand until fairly recently. But the checkering looks very 50's ish. I've seen that forend checkering pattern somewhere else (in fact I copied it on a Shilen 300 mag that I checkered for a friend back when I was trying to be a stock maker)...........found it. Kennedys book page 146. Leonard Mews Remington 721. Nearly identical pattern but the Mews is skip line.
Anyway, very interesting rifle. What is the caliber.
Thanks for posting.
John
So that leads to my next question. Who can properly rebore this barrel and make my 22-250 a 250-3000?
I knew Bob West pretty well as we both lived in Eugene for quite a number of years. He was an ACGG (American Custom Gunmakers Guild) member and last I saw him was at one of our shows in Reno.
Bob made some stocks but that looks a cut above his work. He made many more barrels and rebored even more than that.
He worked for Martin/Marietta (?) in Colorado for many years and retired from there prior to moving to Eugene. Bob was Left-handed like the rifle.
The stock makes me think of Larry Brace, another Eugene gunmaker, a good friend and mentor to me who did superb checkering. Larry did a lot of work that wasn't signed but you might look around for his initials?
It looks like a very fine rifle with old school quarter-sawn California English walnut.
Bill, I moved to Eugene in 1978 and left in 1995, I thought you lived in Grants Pass.
What is CGMG?
Lots of curves to that cheek piece that look very distinctive to me. I don't recognize it as anyone's work particularly, but I do recognize it as being different from all others I have seen. It is beautiful work though I can't say I'm all that fond of the pattern he used for the checking.
Steve, I lived in Eugene 76-78 while my wife did a graduate program at U of O. We moved to Ashland from there for the next 20-some years. Retired to Missoula. CGMG= Custom Gunmakers' Guild.
Don't know if he is still doing it, but some years ago I found myself with two Steyr-Mannlichers in 22-250. I sent one to Snapp's Gunshop in Clare, Michigan, to be rebored and rifled and got back a 250-3000 which is my favorite deer rifle.
I can recommend Dan Pedersen for such work. He did a barrel for me that I was quite satisfied with. His web site is:
http://www.cutrifle.com/
What a great looking rifle.
Nothing much to add.
I think I still have one of Mr.West's brochures somewhere from a visit to one of the Guild Shows in the (mid?) 80's.
I believe Bob Snapp is fully retired now, that's what he said last time I spoke with him.
Bob West rebored a number of single shot rifles with HORRIBLE bores (only reason I could afford them....) for me and I spent at least as much time in his shop during my post-doc summer at UO as I did in class. He took his time on rebore jobs but the results would SHOOT! I first met him in about 1975 and always stopped to see him when I was going up or down The Slab in Oregon. Miss him, his work and his disdain for gunsmiths who were afraid of lawyers.
From am obsolete ACGG Members Directory
Very cool, thanks for posting that! I had never heard of him before. Not sure what is more amazing, that he would take the time to shorten a remington 700 action, or that he would want to list it as one of his specialties. Obviously a very talented craftsman.
John
Well very cool. I HATE to mess with his work, but I need to find a way
To make it legal for deer. I hope I can get it nudged to 250-3000 without much risk!
So I have spent two years trying to get a call in to Dan Pedersen. For a good while he had a message that wasn't taking messages or accepting new work. At one point I was able to leave a message and I even sent a letter at one point, with no reply.
Any recommendations? I have a dozen other ways to shoot deer, but would still love to make this 22-250 a 250-3000.
Anyone know Dan and can get it in there? or have other recommendations?
Marks_21,
Turn a new barrel( or take off, if you need to) into it and save his barrel to go back in later.
Mike
A fine suggestion but I assume the octagon Barrel makes that costly ?
Who would even do that these days ?
Marks_21,
There are several people that would do it, but you are correct that it would be expensive, unless you were lucky enough to find a half oct. half round takeoff barrel( I have been lucky enough to find 3 over the years, 2 were free and one was $25), but it would likely be in a metric caliber.
Mike
Consider taking a look at Green Mountain barrels, especially their sales, for an octagon barrel. Still it would matter if it worked with your forearm and was in the budget to fit and chamber. But, if the case head size wasn’t changed, the cartridge options would open way up compared to a rebore, wouldn’t need the wildcat gear. Good luck with it.
