The term "rook rifle" covers a lot of territory. I'll agree .300 Sherwood might be your flavor. Nothing, but nothing, beats a picture in an instance like this!
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
I came very close to buying a Westley Richards rook rifle when I was living in Australia. It was a break open and just beautifully put together and in very good condition. They wanted $2,200.
I looked in Ken Howell's book - the .300 Sherwood would seem preferable as it is a longer, roomier case than the .300 Rook. oh, here is the completed auction: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=505272165 welllll... the .300 Sherwood dates to 1901, which supposedly is after this rifle was made.
Patrick, you GOTTA bring that up here and shoot!
Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
There is an article on Rook rifles in the latest issue of Rifle or Handloader, can't remember which one, that may shed some light on your rifle. It would be worth the read.
I saw that rifle on GB a couple weeks and almost pulled the pin on it then. Those small Martini actions were built by both BSA and Greener for the gunmaking trade, as well as building complete guns under their own names. Westley Richards ditto, but I don't think they sold their actions to the trade, and may have purchased actions from the other guys too. Nice snag!
Keep us posted after you have the rifle.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty