Most beautiful rifle I've held.

[HaveGun]

While out shooting at my dad's range, he brought out his Jack O'Connor tribute rifle he had Al Biesen make for him in 1971 so I could snap some pics of it.

Based on a pre-`64 Model 70 and chambered in .270 Winchester (of course) it cost him $764 in 1971. Just a gorgeous rifle that he used to take his first Grand Slam with.

This is the rifle back in the 70's...



And this is it today. I apologize for the crappy lighting and background (my dad's butt...) but I was thankful I was able to get any pics at all of such a legendary rifle.











The thought of this rifle being mine someday is just overwhelming.

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[Andy54Hawken]

While many firearms are good to look at....some like your dad's rifle are works of art.
Thank you for sharing this rifle with us.
Andy

 

[CountryGent]

That is a magnificent rifle. 'gratz.

 

[Wombat of Doom]

Beautiful. It is not the style I generally naturally gravitate towards, but that one is art. (Old, archaic, and weird are my general actual preferences.) The metalwork is just enough without being gaudy, the wood is beautiful too.

 

[trevi]

Wonder what it cost to shoot that ram in the 70's?

Indeed, the rifle is beaut, and in my second favourite cartridge, too.

 

[BillyJean]

Absolutely amazing rifle and story. Your dad has great taste in literature, rifles, cartridges, and game. Great heritage.

 

[mbenz007]

That is a beautiful rifle! Al was a legendary gunmaker as was his son Roger who just recently passed. Heirloom quality! Great provenance, thank you for sharing.

 

[UnionMillsNW]

Fantastic rifle.

$764 in 1971 is almost $5K today (makes my heart hurt a bit but inflation would be a different thread)

What is most important is your sentimental value.

I have one of my Grandfather's pistols. He bought it for $25....today it's worth about $2K; but to me it is priceless.

I hope the rifle stays in your family and provides years of joy.

 

[HaveGun]

I just noticed in the photo of the engraving on top of the barrel, Al made a typographical error. It reads, "AL BIESEN GUNMAKER SPOKANE, WN". I wonder if he actually thought Washington was abbreviated "WN" instead of "WA", or if that was a one-off goof. Interesting.

 

[BigDog67]

I just noticed in the photo of the engraving on top of the barrel, Al made a typographical error. It reads, "AL BIESEN GUNMAKER SPOKANE, WN". I wonder if he actually thought Washington was abbreviated "WN" instead of "WA", or if that was a one-off goof. Interesting.

In 1971 I don't believe the USPS had standardized the abbreviations yet.

 

[mbenz007]

That is how Washington use to be abbreviated up to around 1973. Nothing Al did was a "goof", his craftsmanship is legendary and he was old school. That's how Washington was abbreviated when he started his business and he never changed his markings. My kind of guy, just because someone in Olympia decided to make it Wa. doesn't mean you have to change your ways to suit them.

 

[Rem725]

Late 1960s I saw a Sako 243 that was a gunsmiths final school project. The stock was hand inletted for a octogon barrel in a light myrtle wood, the fit was amazing. A simple and rather plain monte carlo design.

 

[4570neal]

You just can't beat a be piece of wood on a firearm, Al did some great work as usual!!

 

[Howard1955]

That's gorgeous.