Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters "New" FN .270

Picked up my Gunbroker score today, an FN custom of sorts. 21" barrel with recessed square crown, M70 safety, hinged FP that looks to be a Jerry Fisher or copy with the almost right-angle release button. Engine-turning on bolt, extractor and follower. Stock is a bit wild for my tastes but nicely done with extensive very fine checkering, maybe 22-24 lines per inch, and ribbons, and a very thin grip, plus a checkered schnabel. The biggest mystery is the name Morton stamped on the bottom of the stock behind the grip cap, which is plastic. Never heard of a stockmaking company, stockmaker, or gunsmith named Morton.

The rifle is in excellent shape, but has obviously been carried and hunted by the wear on the grip checkering and other places. Pics to follow, but does anyone know about Morton?

Thanks.

It could be the name of a previous owner. Hard to tell without any pictures.

Definitely looks like a maker's mark to me. Who'd have a stamp like that other than a stockmaker or company? The owner would want it nicer and elsewhere.

Just occurred to me that it might be the person that did the checkering.

Sweet, Pappy.

And a bargain, IMO.

Nice rifle!

The name behind the grip is interesting. Haven't seen maker's stamps there--usually they're inside the barrel channel, if they exist--but who knows? You might check the "Custom Rifles" section of old GUN DIGEST annuals to see if the name Morton turns up, but it doesn't ring a memory bell with me.

WOW, that's gorgeous! Especially for an effin' 270.

Thanks, good idea. That's why you get the Big Bucks!

Haven't pulled it down, just disassembled the bolt (easy-peasy) to clean and lube it. Had a bunch of green fuzz in the bore like someone left CLP in there for a couple of decades, but that pushed right out with some more on a patch.

Hope it turns out to be an Old Shooter.

I have an older custom Mauser in .30-06, made on a G33/40 military action, that also has some definite Germanic features, though not quite as much of a Schnabel as yours. The bolt handle, however, is a sort of combo of the butterknife and ball-head. It has not name anywhere on it to indicate a maker, but is also definitely professional work. Found it at Capital Sports a couple years ago and could not resist. Might post some photos later as it is also something of a mystery.

In fact, one of the assignments recently put on my list for RIFLE magazine is on such "mystery rifles." I have several, and Eileen also has one, a German combo gun with a 16-gauge barrel under a rifle barrel in 9x72R. It is apparently a so-called "guild gun," and also does not have any markings indicating the maker--or makers.

Maybe Morton was the name of the person the rifle was built for??Cool old custom.

Looks like JB gets another star in his crown. In the 1964 GUN DIGEST, they list Morton Gunworks in Witchita Falls, TX. I'm willing to go with that.

Pulled the stock. Glass-bedded in the chamber area. Trigger is a Mashburn Arms, not a D-T as I guessed from its profile. Bolt will close on a round dropped on the follower. Chamber appears to be a genuine .270, not some magnum (guess why I checked that!). Mag box won't accept the same 160gr load I make up for my other FN and the M70 my son uses, so I have to go a bit deeper.

Thanks, John.

Apparently, Paul Morton had only one hand! He performed exceptional work with his handicap and was known for his elaborate schnaubel for end treatment. Sounds like you've figured out the maker.

That's very interesting, and helpful. Thanks very much!

Okay, one last question: What kind of walnut does that stock appear to be made from? To my eye, the butt could be either black or thin-shell, but the forend has some pores that make me think (hope) English. Opinions?

Very nice checkering, and the "schnabel to beat all schnabels"!
Hope she shoots good for ya.

It's nice to see a rifle that looks like a real rifle, not a plastic replica. Good score!

Cool rifle. That schnabel is like a comb over and duck tail combined. Really can't tell from the photos but the wood has characteristics of a couple types of walnut which makes me think it could be Royal or Bastonge But it is more like an English walnut than Black or Claro. Royal can have more open pores but Bastonge usually not.

Texas had a history of German gunsmiths for a long time both from the early German settlers and more recent immigrants.

Congrats on a cool snag !

Awesome rifle!