doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Rem 720

Enfield action, maple, checkering, and cheekpiece make think Linden.

I too thought Hartley when I saw the photos, some of his cheekpieces are kind of weird. I used to have a Mauser that wasn't marked in the barrel channel but my others are all marked with his name in the channel.

That was my first thought as well. However the 720 was not introduced until 1941 and Linden died in 46. I'm not sure how late Linden was still working. I think Hartley might be a better guess, or one of a multitude of unknown above average hobby gunsmiths. Either way, neat old rifle, and in a very usable caliber.

John

I can’t see the cheekpiece well enough, but maybe Robert Milhoan

Nothing really stands out on it to me as something from a 'name' stocker that I can think of.
I'd guess a hobbiest work.

Set trigger aside,,I only wonder that if it is such, how do you get your finger in behind it to 'set' it. Unless that's not the procedure for this particular one.
It does look like a trigger shoe with the 2 set screws. But it also appears to have a couple of pins thru it.?

I thought the checkering was a bit crude especially the borders and the Fleur de Lis carved outlines.
Not very smooth at all. Enlarging the pics gets you a better look at it.
Borders are not smooth arcs at all. The Fleur's are not at all complementary in shape, are of different sizes and not symmetrical in themselves.

Looks like 3 (or 4?) Fleur's in the forend pattern. But the grip pattern only has one each at the top. None at the bottom by the grip cap.
Seems like it should have been added there also as long as you're in a Fleur mood while checkering.

The stock relief cut under the ejection port is also a bit rough. Rounded to almost match the receiver metal at the rear yet vertical/squared at the front.
Not some things I'd expect on work from a pro or advanced hobbyist..

...but I can be wrong and maybe a big name turned out the stock

My mistake, I said Enfield and it’s clearly a 720.

I dont recall exactly when Linden stopped working? I’ve never seen the inside of a Linden, but I’ve been told it was at least as crude as the outside of this one. Typically his shaping and finish work was good. If this were one of his last rifles that could explain some of the issues mentioned above.

Neat rifle, certainly someone’s pride and joy when it was made.