doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Wickliffe 76 Single shot Rifle

Any of you folks ever come across any of these? Would like to find a couple.

Jeff, Tom Ondrus is having them re-cast as I write this. There is only going to be 50 made to begin with to test the water. Having engraved a few & own one, I can state they are the most accurate SS rifle out of the box I have ever run across. Contact me at my home address & I'll give you the info you are looking for. Ken kenhurst@cox.net 910-221-5288

Wickliffe Rifles were made in Wickliffe, Ohio in the late '70's. I think that they had tax problems and lost the business. The mfg. equipment was bought by a local gunsmith, Ed Medves, and he would make a Wickliffe Rifle in any cal. until a few years ago when he passed away. I had Ed make one for me in .223 cal. . As Ken Hurst stated, they are very accurate and the action is extremely strong.

you are right Mig ---- the problem was that Tom Kocis who developed the rifle, needed a money man to back the business. He found one who knew nothing about the firearm business but needed to invest money in a loosing business for a write off. The rifle really took off --- Elmer Keith and Bob Steinler (writers) both received an off the shelf rifle within a few days of asking at the YO ranch where they wewre to hunt. Elmer told me it was the most accurate out of the box SS he had ever seen & they both loved it. When the invester discovered he was making lots of money , he immediately shut the place down. There were many, many orders still waiting del. but he wouldn't fill them. The parts were sold to others who wanted them, perhaps the guy you mentioned. Tom Ondrus now has the remains of these parts and has built some rifles, I have one. He is having some actions cast by original casting co. and I have put him in touch with another co. to use that is better. I have redesigned my action to imp[rove it's looks & lighten it. Perhaps in the future it too will be avaulable. Ken

Jeez! And I grew up right next to Wickliffe in Willowick, OH! The history of guns never cease to amaze me!

Mike Doerner

Mike - I grew up in Wickliffe and still live there. The Wickliffe 76 rifle Co. was on E. 289th St. off Euclid Ave. Ed Medves (the gunsmith I mentioned) lived in Willowick.

My father & his best friend are going to Oklahoma to the Biggest gun show in the country in a week or so, I am going to have him look around for a Wickliffe. If I can not find one there, I will run a add for some around here. I also would like to see a couple of the Rifles this new guy is building.Tom Ondrus Is the guy having new actions Cast?
Thanks for any info you guys can get me. Jeff Hren.

Contact Tom at cabletools@alltel.net --- tell him Ken Hurst sent you.

Hrenegade,
Your Dad and his best friend are headed to the correct place to look. I'll bet I've looked at a dozen or so in the past 4-5 years at the Tulsa show.

Ken, I would like to see how you've modified the action. They are definetly not.......svelt.

Regards,
Ken

Ken N. ----- send me an email and I'll send you pictures of both sides of action. Ken

kenhurst@cox.net