ricksengines
Sako-addicted
O'Brien, Ackley-O'Brien and H&R Ultra Wildcat Collectors you are not going to believe this one, but it is true. I recently acquired two Ultra Wildcat rifles, the first being the O'Brien Clone Ultra Wildcat in 222 rem (I've been searching for that one for a very, very long time and the second is a H&R O'Brien Clone in 17 Magnum. Yep, I said 17 Magnum and if you know your beans or read the thread that I put up a while back that discussed the history of the H&R Ultra Wildcats you know that H&R never produced a Ultra Wildcat or O'Brien clone rifle in 17 Magnum. But I can assure you that one does exist so judge for yourself.
Here are pics of the rifle and oh by the way I completely disassembled the rifle to clean and inspect it and the only markings on the barrel and action are the ones in the pictures. So let's get started:
This jewel looks like an Ultra Wildcat rifle with a couple of exceptions. I'll go through them as I discuss the pics.
Looks like an Ultra Wildcat doesn't it. But, did you notice the stock! Can you see the area just behind the rear of the bolt extending to a point just behind the front of the receiver. Instead of the stock being flat in this area there is actually a rolled grove there almost as if you could put your fingers in it if you were holding the rifle with your left hand in that area.
The stock has an H&R butt pad on it that is all original from what I can tell.
Now check out he barrel markings.
On the top of the barrel Harrington & Richardson appears to be roll stamped about half way down the barrel.
This is a very unusual Harrington & Richardson roll stamp. It appears to be al la O'Brien but lacks the standard address information including Worchester, Mass. It also isn't located in the traditional position which is along the left side of the barrel just forward of the chamber. The rifle also lacks the traditional Ultra Wildcat designator on the right side of the barrel.
The caliber 17 Magnum is engraved on the left side of the barrel just over the chamber area and the engraving matches to a "T" the O'Brien and Ackley-O'Brien engraving for the 17 Magnum rifles that they produced. Keep in mind that H&R never advertised that they produced a rifle in this caliber.
The last pic is that of the side of the L461 Action so you can see the serial number etc.
Now, as I said, there are no other markings anywhere else on this rifle. Could it be that after O'Brien transferred his company to H&R they made this one up as a prototype rifle but never put the caliber into production?
Now its your turn to try to help me solve the mystery behind this rifle. If it is a prototype are there any more like it there out there, an H&R in 17 Mach IV perhaps?
rick
Here are pics of the rifle and oh by the way I completely disassembled the rifle to clean and inspect it and the only markings on the barrel and action are the ones in the pictures. So let's get started:
This jewel looks like an Ultra Wildcat rifle with a couple of exceptions. I'll go through them as I discuss the pics.
Looks like an Ultra Wildcat doesn't it. But, did you notice the stock! Can you see the area just behind the rear of the bolt extending to a point just behind the front of the receiver. Instead of the stock being flat in this area there is actually a rolled grove there almost as if you could put your fingers in it if you were holding the rifle with your left hand in that area.
The stock has an H&R butt pad on it that is all original from what I can tell.
Now check out he barrel markings.
On the top of the barrel Harrington & Richardson appears to be roll stamped about half way down the barrel.
This is a very unusual Harrington & Richardson roll stamp. It appears to be al la O'Brien but lacks the standard address information including Worchester, Mass. It also isn't located in the traditional position which is along the left side of the barrel just forward of the chamber. The rifle also lacks the traditional Ultra Wildcat designator on the right side of the barrel.
The caliber 17 Magnum is engraved on the left side of the barrel just over the chamber area and the engraving matches to a "T" the O'Brien and Ackley-O'Brien engraving for the 17 Magnum rifles that they produced. Keep in mind that H&R never advertised that they produced a rifle in this caliber.
The last pic is that of the side of the L461 Action so you can see the serial number etc.
Now, as I said, there are no other markings anywhere else on this rifle. Could it be that after O'Brien transferred his company to H&R they made this one up as a prototype rifle but never put the caliber into production?
Now its your turn to try to help me solve the mystery behind this rifle. If it is a prototype are there any more like it there out there, an H&R in 17 Mach IV perhaps?
rick
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