Yesterday I decided to comparatively test a few lenses for my Pentax K3 DLSR camera, to determine which would be best for photographing long guns. Not that it mattered all that much technically, but I thought about which rifle in my collection would be the "poster child" for the experiment. I've got a lot of rifles, but after some thought I selected a Model 64 Winchester, made way back in 1936.

The rifle is a graceful beauty, a prime example of workmanship as it existed at the Winchester plant in New Haven in the pre-war years. All the parts mate perfectly, the action is slick, and most of all, the proportions of the rifle are quite photogenic. It just looks right and in my mind is as good eye candy as you will ever find in a rifle. The peep rear sight was a rare Redfield option from the factory. It's in .30-30 Winchester caliber, and has a 24" barrel.

At any rate, I determined that the sharpest and most distortion-free lens in my kit was the Pentax SMC-DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited. Exposure was f/8, 1/10 sec., at ISO 100 for you photobugs. Unfortunately, I had to extend the center column on the tripod pretty high and get on a short stepladder to access the camera; 35mm is not exactly wide angle on an APS/C format. It actually equates to 52.8mm in a conventional 35mm film camera.

...and here's the picture of this gem, taken in the shade on my back patio:



Here are some period brochures for the Model 64, which is built on the time-honored Model 1894 action. This may give you some perspective on the gun.

Here is a page from the Winchester catalog of 1939:



And here is a catalog page from 1945:



At any rate, I was glad to narrow down my lens choice for future photo shoots, and to share with you my nomination for "most graceful rifle." Comments welcome.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Not all that much different from my Model 71.

I don't have one but my nomination is for a Mannlicher-Schoenauer Carbine with a full-length stock. fell in love watching Ramar of the Jungle re-runs after kindergarten!

Nice rifle and I really like Winchesters in general but my vote goes to the 1885.

My vote goes to the Remington Hepburn, although I no longer own one. Second up would be the 1885 Hi-wall, though that too has gone away in favor of old S&Ws. Your 64 is quite lovely!

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Randy
Provenance nerd

That was a high dollar rifle in 1939. It does look like a fine well balanced rifle.

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Have Gun Will Carry

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Eccentric old coot

By graceful, if you mean photogenic, I'm thinking fine wood, great metal/fit/finish and nice lines. I'd go with a nice flintlock, then a lever, or a double rifle. Iggy was quicker on the trigger.

Beautiful rifle, John, but I nominate the Savage 99. I love the lines and the action; and even though I can no longer hunt, if I had the money I'd buy a nice one.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Those are sure pretty rifles, but this one aint such a dog either! Anschutz Sporter .22 LR

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That is truly a beautiful rifle. My tastes (not needs) run to larger calibers so I would prefer a Winchester 71 in the same time frame. or the light weight 86 of the same configuration in 33 Win or 45-70, from the earlier era. Those MS spoon handle sporters are the eye candy of bolt guns. And for a Single Shot candidate, the 1885 High or Low Wall gets my vote, even over the Remington Creedmore or Sharpe's. For some reason the semi-auto world just won't get an entry from me in the beautiful rifle pageant. Very many interesting rifles, but not many with graceful beauty. Ivan

The Savage 99, in the K version, is extremely photogenic. It has just enough engraving, just enough checkering, and deluxe wood. It is, in my eyes, the most beautiful production rifle ever made.

To my regret, there is no K in my collection of 99's; however the G has the same lines, but without engraving or deluxe checkering.

For a factory rifle the stock on this one is amazing and it sold for the standard price as the rest of this model.

Savage Model 114 American in 270 Win

I like the 64, too.
Bob

For a classic rifle it's hard to find more graceful lines than a proper scheutzen.


For modern guns my vote goes to the Dragunov.

They are sleek and purposeful.

When I think graceful, I think smooth rounded flowing lines, in which case the Savage 99 has it all over the Winchester lever rifles. That's not to say a 64 isn't a great-looking rifle, it's just that graceful isn't a word I'd use to describe it.

Iggy has the right idea up there, too. Those old blackpowder rifles are the definition of graceful. Rick, too, with the scheutzen.

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SWHF #448

On most rifles I never liked how the wood would just so and leaving the barrel exposed. Some were better than others like those with extended tubes.

I vote SMLE

Also have one in 25-35 99% and think I'll hang on to it for a while.

The Winchester Model 94 is my favorite rifle of all time, and the Model 64 is my favorite variation of it. I don't own one yet.

This is the most graceful I own:

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I'm glad to see fans of the Savage 99. I just don't know, because there are so many types and configurations. The English fine falling block single shots, and the famous brands of sporting Mausers are quite elegant. The most graceful rifle that I personally own is probably my modern Win. Model 70 Featherweight. I really like the Winchester 61, partly because I think the Model 42 is the most graceful shotgun.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I agree about the Model 64. Nice full frame picture although detail is challenged by the size of the typical lap top screen. Here is a partial of my 64 with a a suitable companion, a Model 24-3.

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Rush

My vote is the Mannlicher-Schönauer, like the one seen in Public Enemies.

Not as fancy as some, but just looks balanced and "right" to me.

Don't have a 64, so I'll nominate the 1892, my '86 is a nice one too.

There are quite a few gorgeous rifles out there, depending on how much handwork goes into them, wood quality, etc. But my reaction to "most graceful" is not necessarily the same as my reaction to "most beautiful". The only truly graceful rifles are leverguns or, perhaps, a single shot. The lines flow smoothly with no break up on either side, the same can be said of the blued steel. Offhand, I'd be hard pressed to pick a 64 over a 94, or even a 92, 73, or 86, but the sleek lines of these guns do definitely lend themselves to the term graceful.

Whether they are the best looking guns of all time is a different discussion.

Nicely done Paladin!

***GRJ***

I have my Grandads' 64 in .32 special.
I love that gun and its in near new condition.
He took fine care of it and taught me how, also.
Always thought it was funny how my Dad commented that " He likes the big caliber guns". I guess back then( pre WWII) it was 30/30, 30/06 or .32 special for most all Eastern hunters. Of course there was the 45/70 but I never knew anyone that had one till much later.

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“Look life in its iron face”

That's one beautiful stock!

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“Look life in its iron face”

Armalite AR7.





Just kidding.

I'm fond of the Winchester Model70.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

The rifle I like best is the 303 British Lee enfield that brought my dad home from wwii. he said that rifle saved his life. Thats why I am here today. Nothing fancy just a good reliable fire arm

When Winchester reintroduced these in the early 1970s they called them the Model 64A. They came from the factory with a sling and QD swivels. When two appeared in the local gun shop in 1973 I had to have one because they just looked "right". I got it, added a receiver sight, and have enjoyed it ever since. To top it all off it's the most accurate 30-30 I've ever shot.

It my not be the most graceful rifle ever made but IMHO it is the most graceful lever action ever made.

Admittedly I'm partial to Mausers. I think they don't get much more graceful than this Swedish FSR M96 made in 1912. It's quite accurate too.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I'm quite the fan of Lee Enfields (especially the #4 Mk2) and the Swedish Mausers. My favorite Mauser is the M38 Swede.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Good call, but I watched an old , "Ramar" episode or two recently and I think Jon Hall actually had a rifle based on a Mauser action, but with a stutzen style stock. I wish that the film resolution had been better.

I couldn't tell which rifle his pal Howard had, but both seem to have worn Colt OP .38's with six-inch barrels. Can't be sure they aren't M-1917 or other New Service guns, but I think, Official Police. I can't see the front sights well enough to differentiate. But I THINK those are Colt .41 frames, not .45 frames.

I love the Mannlicher-Schoenauer and had a M-1908 8X56mm that I really liked, but ammo was hard to find. Besides Ramar, Dr. R.C. Andrews used M-S rifles as well as Savage .250 M-20 rifles. I was a big fan of his, although he died when I was a kid and I never met him.

I guess my pick for a sleek rifle is either the Winchester M-70 Fwt. Classic currently made or a fine classic rifle on a Mauser or M-70 action stocked by someone like Dale Goens.

As for the Model 64, the fancier Deer Rifle appeals to me more than the basic gun. It's in a catalog page pic above.
Ditto for the M-71 .348 fancier version.

I also admire classic British magazine rifles made on Mauser actions by Rigby or H&H.

May have been off on my ID=it has been almost 60 years. I do have to agree somewhat on the Rigbys . Certainly "classy"! The just exude class but I don't know about "graceful"

I agree about the Model 64.
I lost mine in Katrina.

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

94 Winchester is a gorgeous rifle.

I've never even handled one, but I think the Ruger No.1 takes a pretty picture, as well.

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Because of the metric system?

I'm not sure which it would be, but I'm willing to bet it would be English, a side by side double, and chambered for something large.

I'm thinking Holland and Holland, or Wesley Richards.

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John 3:16 .

I watched two more episodes of , "Ramar" on YouTube last night. The rifle had a normal bolt handle. I couldn't see the rear of the action well enough, but think it may have had the distinctive Springfield '03 cocking knob. Couldn't see Howard's action well. Ramar's rifle had a Monte Carlo stock, probably by Bishop or Fajen.

He may have had more than one rifle in the series. Lord John Roxton had at least two, maybe three ,on, "The Lost World." One was built on either a Pattern 14 or Enfield 1917 action. It had that distinctive safety. One was said to be a .416 Rigby and looked the part. They made an exact plastic replica of it for scenes where he didn't need to shoot. He dropped it on a cave floor once and the sound it made was amusing, to anyone who knew what it should sound like.

I think he may have also had a Sako Safari Grade in some episodes. Now, there's a nice rifle, much like a custom one from a London maker. I think they're pretty sleek.

Those of you who haven't watched, "Ramar of the Jungle" are missing a good jungle adventure show. It's obvious where they dub in animal scenes, but technology then was primitive compared to now.

I am glad to see some guys know what a classic rifle looks like.
Personal choices aside all the major makers made some beautiful
rifles in the day. I'm tired of plastic and stainless, they are built
like military weapons. They will do the job they are intended to
do but they have no class. I have several old Wins. Marlins and
Rems. I also have had many custom bolt actions from Krags to
98s that were works of art. Younger guys make fun of me for
paying $600-$800 for an old Winchester when I could have
bought a new gun for same money. Some day I'll be laughing
all the way to the bank.

Older Winchesters, older Whisky, Younger Women

Browning .22 automatic take downs have it going on in my opinion.

Dang it, you stole my vote!!
They are a beaut for sure, especially the higher grade ones. You don't see them around as much anymore...

Oh, I don't know, but I'd say that if it saved your Dads life, which created yours, that's pretty damned fancy!

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“Look life in its iron face”

We wouldn't mind hearing that story,Softhackle.
I'm me,because my dad couldn't sleep well in the naval hospital that he was in when he returned from the South Pacific in 1945,and he apparently had the best sales pitch with his nurse,who later became his wife and my mom.

You mean like this one? ;-)

I have lusted after a 1930's Griffin & Howe remodeled '03 Springfield with a Whelen designed stock and Lyman 48 receiver sight my entire life. I think they just nailed it.

Model 88 Win. Just saying !!

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NOT SO FAST,, NOT-- SO-- FAST

Remington model 24 and Winchester 1905

Those Winchester 64's are fine looking rifles. I have a Buffalo Bill Commemorative Rifle and a Golden Spike Commemorative Carbine that were given to me by my parents and an uncle when I was a teenager. I never plan to sell them so I shoot them and they aren't that valuble beyond a regular 1894 from that time period. I particularly like the looks and feel of the BB rifle with it's twenty six inch octagonal barrel.

There are too many beautiful rifles to name. Some are beautiful because of their rich wood and embellishments...Some because of their precision and accuracy...Some due to their historical role. I think it's like chosing the most photogenic beautiful woman...They all have their appeal and beauty.

I was at my club range today. There were several younger fellows on each side of my table shooting some pretty fancy AR 15 types. They were all interesting and I own one myself...Nevertheless, the most beautiful rife on that line to me was my old 1943 Springfield Armory M1 Garand. The design, functioning and history make it beautiful to me. Just thumbing in a clip of eight of those big, pointed cartridges and slapping the bolt forward to chamber the first round and the satisfying ping of the empty clip being spit out is music to my ears...That old rifle with the worn metal and banged up stock is the most photogenic to me.

I have always liked the looks of the M-71, but it looks a lot like the one you listed, so I won't argue much.

I'd vote for a Mannlicher..........

Todays CZ FSs (Full Stock/Mannlicher)..... are a great looking and a great value...... mauser action in 3 sizes...... rimfire, Mid size (.223/7.62x39) and full size.(.243 and up).... many with outstanding wood.

pick one

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NRA Life
USPSA/IPSC

The 1920 Savage ranks highly as far as I'm concerned. It's about the lightest, most dainty production centerfire rifle I'm aware of.


The 99 Savage gets honorable mention as well.