Most graceful rifle ever made???

[hkcavalier]

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.

 

[44wheelman]

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

 

[ISCS Yoda]

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***

 

[Jessie]

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.

 

[Jessie]

I like the 64, too.
Bob

That's one beautiful stock!

 

[Jaymo]

Armalite AR7.





Just kidding.

I'm fond of the Winchester Model70.

 

[Softhackle]

Photogenic rifle

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

 

[tndrfttom]

Mine is a 64A

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.

 

[sheepdawg]

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.

 

[Jaymo]

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

 

[Texas Star]

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!

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.

 

[BearBio]

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"

 

[REM 3200]

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

 

[petepeterson]

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.

 

[CajunBass]

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.

 

[Texas Star]

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 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.

 

[Drm50]

Class

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

 

[Camster]

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

 

[Kframerbluvr]

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...

 

[Jessie]

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

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