doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Restoration

John Dubiel made a lot of stocks when he worked for Hoffman Arms. After he went out on his own his rifles are hard to find. This rifle had the typical scope job. The front and rear receiver were drilled & taped for a scope the bolt handle was both bent and ground off on the top. The Lyman 48 was removed and a piece of wood that went across where the bolt went was glued in. The wood was ten cut out for the bolt, I don't remember if the receiver was ground down as well. If this was not bad enough they then mounted a whiteline recoil pad. The only wood refinish was done around the Lyman 48 and bolt. The work was done by Monte Mandarino, MT.

This is a rifle from an unknown maker and not the best work in the world. It has an engraved floorplate with the owners name and nice buttplate and long-slide 48. When I removed the electrical tape and pulled the piece of flat bar inletted into the side out the stock fell into two pieces. This was not a rifle I could justify spending any money on so I did the work. There was also a piece of wood missing from the toe of the stock. I made a mistake when I inletted the wood into the side I should have rounded off both ends and not left them square, it would have blended in much better.

Yes, I'm sure checkering would enhance the gun, but I just love the feel of the smooth grip. I may break down and have it checkered some day.

I rather like the "Unknown Maker" rifle's lines. I think it's what Amber(?) used to call a "good citizen" rifle. Not the best but better than factory and showing some craftsmanship and character. A worthy rifle for restoration. It would be interesting to know its history.

Jerry Liles

I like it also and I am really enjoying this forum. I was up until 4 am catching up on all the new stuff. I wish my ex wife would give me back the early '03 she got in the divorce. I thought it was just a "beater" but now my eyes have been opened as to its fitness for shooting and it would be a great one for transformation to early style sporter. I love shooting with Lyman 48 sights as they are much quicker than a scope, at least for me.

Someday we can have a thread about the "Unknowns" there is certainly no shortage of them out there. Some are as good as anything I have seen, others not so much.

As one nears completion another shows up, this arrived this afternoon. More about it and what needs to be done later. Never a shortage of nice older rifles that have been screwed with.

All the metal will have to be re-polished and rust blued. The back half of the buttstock has been in water or something and most of the finish is gone. Buttplate (trapdoor) is very dirty with a little rust so it needs to be refinished. Anyone have a set of "German" sling swivels they would part with, prefer the narrow ones?

Email sent, swivels are either 7/8" or 3/4", regards, Joe

there is no shame in a helping hand or to kiss the ring---poooh