Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Lefty trivia question

Does anybody know FOR SURE when the Remington 700 was first offered in left handed? I have a 1973 Shooters Bible, and it does not show a LH version of the 700. It does show a lefty 788, which makes me think it would have shown or mentioned the LH 700 had one been available. It is listed in the 1974, however. Does anybody have anything more definitive than that?

Thanks.

I bought a new one in 30-06 in 1975 and believe they were available about a year before that.

That matches up with my Shooter's Bible inference.

My curiosity has arisen because I just purchased a LH 700-based rifle that was made by the renowned gunsmith Lenard Brownell (he designed stocks for Bill Ruger and Kimber, and also was a manufacturer of scope rings, grip caps, etc.) Based on Lenard's serial numbering, it was made in 1975--just shortly after the Lh Rem 700 hit the street. He died of cancer in 1982, and only made about 47 rifles after mine. There can't be but a couple LH Brownell rifles ever made.

That’s a keepsake.

Curious what the LH market was back then?

Did dealers even stock LH on the shelf? Or order only?

My father bought me one in .270 off the shelf for my first centerfire rifle about 1975 or 76. It was at a small shop in Montana, more of a fishing shop than an gun shop, really. The LH Savage 110 was around (but kinda junky), and so was the Weatherby (at $369.50) so the700BDL at about $190 (depending on chambering) was the way to go.

Very nice snag on the LH Brownell.

I paid $ 205 for mine if I remember correctly off the shelf.

I purchased a lefty 700 BDL in 7mm mag in late 76 or early 77 as I had it upon arriving in Alaska in April 77.

Got my first one in January 1975. They may have been out longer than that but not for very long. Previously only Savage and Weatherby made LH bolt guns then the Rem 788.

Would like to see a photo of the Brownell rifle.