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

I hope this does not belong to anyone on this forum. Anybody else think this stock looks way to good to be a Ackley job? http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155950856

It sure does not look like any Ackley stock I have ever seen. Most of his work that I am aware of has been much more "utilitarian". Possibly a Ackley barrel job with someone else's stock.

I have no intention of bidding, just been slow around here, thought I'd try to get some conversation going.

John

i think with custom gunmakers you can never say never.if someone had cash and wanted a rife like this they would build it.mc

Ackley was also known for providing material to students to build guns and then selling the gun under his name. The student got a project for the school and some cash to buy beans and pay tuition.

Chick Donelley told me about the practice and told me Fred Barnes use to do the same thing.

Could it be some famous Guild members school work.

As a side note Donelley passed away Christmas day.

Ackley had several shops, actually almost factories, in several cities and employed many, many workers over the years. I've seen utilitarian rifles with his logo and I've seen more of his rifles that were so ornately done with such poor taste that I'd be ashamed to show them. The workmanship on this one appears to be at least as good as the best of his work that I personally have seen. AAMOF the examples of his work that I've seen have been pretty pitiful IMO.

Traditionally at Trinidad, one or two especially-skilled members of most graduating classes are offered the chance to build a fine bespoke rifle. Usually for a presentation award, sometimes for other purposes. The school has always accepted some outside work for both pin money and shop demonstrations for the students, and I'm sure this is the practice mentioned in the post above. Ackley himself was associated with the Trinidad school only very briefly during the formative years of the program, soon moving his operation to Utah. Can't say that I blame him, Trinidad is kinda bleak at the best of times (VBG).
Regards, Joe

My quick impression is that might be a Monte Kennedy stock. If so, it would have his stamp in the barrel channel, or, less likely, under the buttplate.

I agree with Mark- it looks like a Monty Kennedy, stock and checkering.

Good shooting.

Some of Ackley's rifles remind me of the "styling" of a Remington 721/22, that is, no style. But man, do they ever work! Same with Ackley's stuff; clunky but affordable in its day, and you could get ANY caliber, including a few that probably are justifiably extinct, but worth the experiment. .228s come to mind....

That's when Donnelley was therre.