Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters A .577 with Great History - a Rare find

Thanks Carl and Stix, VERY MUCH for what is arguably the best post on this forum in YEARS. I still don't see where Buckstix did anything wrong. Carl?

Hmmmmm, I suddenly have a feeling that Buckstix is an old acquaintance with the initials HWS?

Maker of Buckstix flash hole cleaners, bullpup rifles, and at one time field trail labs?

Am I right?

Buck:
As to the history, follow my suggestions for the Military museum, Scotland Yard, and the Mormon Church to get info on the original owner. Between the three, you should find something on Robertson. The local Mormon church either has, or can direct you to another office that has, a huge computer base of their records. I would bet they have Robertson's name listed and his family. It would take some time as you would have to approximate his age and his location would be the UK--all guess work for 1868 when he bought the rifle. Begin looking in Scotland first, then down in England.

I do remember we spoke of the rifle when you were thinking of buying it but I don't know how you got my email or phone. We discussed the fantastic history of the rifle, some of the caliber, and the non matching hammers, pitted bores (mentioned in my article), restock and poor inletting at the top strap and Deeley latch, refinish, and being muzzle heavy. (I thought all UK rifles were balanced well but I just picked up a .577-500 no2 bpe with very heavy barrels that also balances far ahead of the hinge pin--although it balances just right with the shotgun barrels). Notice the position of the front sling eye in the photo of McNeill and where it is now. If memory serves, it is slightly different in its location.

As to the off face, I'm lost on this one. It was fine when I had it and shot it for targets. I know it went through three dealers and at least one owner who shot it. I don't have any knowledge of it going anywhere else, but it was out of my hands after I deposited it to the dealer in Anchorage. Later, I did speak with the owner in Georgia about reloading for it.

Anyway, look up Robertson and let us know if you find anything. I didn't bother to do this as McNeill owned the rifle as it is. Since it was no longer a 12-bore, I guess my interest was not stimulated to look further.
Cal

Buck?

Hello hatari,

Thanks for the reply.

Well, Hmmmmm, ... HWS ?.... perhaps, who are you? I dont know a lot of people from Atlanta.......anymore.

Funny who you might run into at the Campfire.

PM sent

Confirmed that Buckstix is the guy I know.

He's been a gun nut, and an entertaining writer in his past lives. Used to have stories in Gun Digest. He is a good addition around here. I hope he posts more good stuff.

Doc please advise yer Pard about the "suck levels" of envy 'cuz I have to say that he Ludicrous Sucks!!!

Ah Hell, I'll do it so he duzn't get offended

Standard envy-you suck
much higher envy-officially suck
mind blowing envy-turbo suck
absolute blinding envy,highest level-Ludicrous suck

Yeah, that falls into the Ludicrous Sux category. I couldn't get much greener oogling that rifle and story.

Hello hatari,

Thanks for the reply.

Its nice to hook-up with you again after all these years.

Please check out my many web pages giving the History of two World Famous Wisconsin Gunsmiths, and several of their rifles that are in my collection / study.

http://yostaction.com/vanadestine.html

http://yostaction.com/yosthistory.html

Here is my web page telling how I hunt Wisconsin whitetail deer with a cannon. - a real cannon - and how I went about building it, in memory of a "Medal of Honor" soldier.

http://buckstix.com/howitzer.htm

This is a "how to" page telling how to hunt feral cats - with a Mortar. Peta hates this web page.

http://buckstix.com/CoehornMortarHunt.htm

And here is the info about one of my books. It tells the story of a Famous Wisconsin Custom Knifemaker.

http://yostaction.com/vanadestine.html

enjoy

Oh hell, all you had to say was the mortar/cat guy.

Hello 280shooter,

Thanks for the reply.

So, you have seen my Mortar/Cat page? I'm closing-in on a million hits on my Howitzer Hunt page.

Very cool .577 Buckstix!

Just read your howitzer deer, and mortar cat stories, and damned near pizzed my pants! Hilarious stuff. Nice job!!!

Jeff

Hello akjeff.

Thanks for the reply.

I had some fun with those web sites, but at a cost. I've had the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Game Wardens visit me twice about hunting with a cannon, and I've had the Wisconsin State Attorney General weigh in on a Public Petition to the Governor, to close down my Cat Hunt page because of animal cruelty. Seems like the "stick-in-the-butt" Government officials in this State, don't have a sense of humor.

Not to mention Hate Mail from PETA.

I've even gotton Hate Mail from the "Spider Lovers of America" about my Camel Spider webb page. (another page, just short of a million hits)

http://buckstix.com/camelspider.htm

Oh well.

I'd seen the howitzer deer hunt web page years ago, but had never seen the feral cat hunting with a mortar. The mortar page is hilarious.

Hello 458 Lott.

Thanks for the reply.

That's the page that had the Cops stop by my house. Apparently the California PETA people contacted them.

The Cops wanted me to prove that all the cats was unharmed. I just laughed and asked if I could take their pictures for my web page. That started a whole new level of discussion.

I explained; "Life is a sense of Humor test - in the end we find out if we passed or failed."

As I told Buckstix, he should write more. He has a wicked sense of humor that fits in well aroundhere.

If you haven't read the links to the Canon and Mortar satire, you should for a good laugh.

I am sure the PETA people had virgin birth over the feral cat story!

Hello hatari,

Thanks for the reply.

I enjoy all the feedback from my web pages, both good and bad.

My favorite page is the Camel Spider page. I never knew I could get do much "hate mail" from spider lovers.


Take a look at some of the stories submitted by my readers.

http://www.buckstix.com/camel%20spider%20stories.htm

I'm probably 25-30 of those hits and have sent many that way. Great stuff.