Inspired by Phil's Old Ugly saga, I seem to be gaining new repect for my version of Ugly.

This 1978 vintage Pre-Safety 1895, 45-70 was a project many moons ago. It's been in the safe, not getting much respect or use. That's fixing to change.

Back in the day, I took off the top of the factory stock with a table saw, glued a slab of wood to create a cheek piece and higher comb. I painted it with Brownell's Wrinkle paint for a good grip. That paint goes on with a rattle can, wrinkles as it dries. Well, over the years the wrinkles have worn thin from handling. It's never been pretty, but with the wear and tear on the Wrinkle paint, it's gotten even uglier.

The 4200 2.5-10x40 is a really good scope. All up as shown, without ammo, it weighs 8#'s, 13 oz, not light, but who wants a featherweight 45-70? I don't. Fully loaded, the weight will go up a bit.

I had done some work on the trigger and it's a clean, smooth 4#'s. Now. would $100 invested in a Wlld West trigger be worth bringing it down to 3#'s or less? Maybe. I have another 1895, Cowboy 45-70, with one and it's really nice. But with a hunting gun, heavy hitting ammo on a cold day, 4#'s may be OK.

I've gotten it out of the safe, am fixing to work up some loads, including cast. I remember it liking the 300 gr. Hornady, but there are other options to explore, Loony stuff for sure.

BTW, this gun has one of the slickest, smoothest 1895 actions I've ever handled. It's even smoother than my 45-70 Cowboy with the Wild West trigger and a CAS action job before I got it.

Pretty is as pretty does....

DF

Definitely ugly, no arguing that! :-)

needs a quad rail forend....

Phil’s rifle is ugly pretty/utilitarian kind of way.

This is just plain fugly. Not even in the same class.

Dayum dat is fugly

Agreed. She be ugly.

DF

Posted over on the are wood stocked rifles doomed thread, it'll make the folks with bad taste drool....

Ha!

You may be onto something.

DF

Here's the CAS Cowboy I referred to. I did stock work on it, too.

So, here't the offset to Ugly.

DF

Dirtfarmer: I say, the appearance of that Rifle hurt my sense of calm!
It is as if someone went out of their way to ugly up that once fine Rifle?
It is as if someone sat down one day and asked themselves HOW can I make this Rifle look as bad as possible?
I am not saying it won't perform - I am saying it won't win any beauty contests.
Good luck with it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Yeah, took courage to post it. Almost as much to bring it out of the safe.

But it works pretty. Shoots about as good as it is ugly.

DF

Form follows function

Cool!

Dirt; I think utilitarian is a better term than ugly. It looks built for a purpose, far from pretty but handsome is as handsome does.

I like it

You guys are too too kind.

Ugly is ugly.

But it does shoot.

DF

Where do you attach the chainsaw, and how long a bar are you running?

It may not win an ugly rifle contest, but bet it would be runner op or at least get a dishonorable mention.

DF

I guess the more you drink the better it'll start looking

Ugly ... Homely gals need lovin too!

I was just going to post that...ya beat me to it.

Compared to those awful "tactical" lever action 30-30s that Mossberg is selling, their model 464 SPX, your rifle is a thing of beauty.

Yeah, mine is ugly.

But besides those, I think you’re right.

They’ve pushed the envelope. Will be hard to top that.

DF

I like it.

I seem to recall that back in the 80's Winchester stocked one of their 94's similar to that. I think it may have been the 307 Win,or perhaps I am just recalling incorrectly.

drover

Amen.

I was expecting to see UGLY...... I like that!

Gotta be an acquired taste.

For sure it ain’t pretty.

But it feels good. I shaped it for good cheek weld, using slightly higher scope mount, which makes hammer access easier.

DF

metal looks good. its that stock that makes it look bad. make it into another project to take it back to its original glory. i have an old sxs that had what looked like a creosote paint job and rust all over. once i stripped it all down and fixed some cracks and truoiled it, it actually looks good.

and put a 1.5-4.5x20 on it. that hubbel is out of place.

Abortion



LC

Would no doubt look better, but the gun may lose some of it's ugly credentials.

BTW, that Bushnell 4200 is very clear, great glass and good at dim light.

And, it's ugly....

DF

It's not as ugly as this friggin' thing.
https://www.mossberg.com/product/464-spx-centerfire-lever-action-rifle-41026/
The Mossberg is a 2 bagger for sure!

That one’s definitely uglier than mine. I feel diminished.

DF

I'm not a fan of scopes on lever guns.
That being said, if I really want to kill something, I use a scope.
So I understand scopes on lever guns for people that want to make their lever gun as effective as possible.
But, if I ever scope another lever gun, it will be with a scout scope.
In general, I'm not a fan of scout scopes . . . except in certain cases, one being lever guns.

And all that is just me.

I was always attracted to the Marlin SBL (Stainless Big Lever) with the XS rail. But I never could convince myself to pay for one. Lord knows what a "real" Marlin one goes for now.

Dirt Farmer, that gun is ugly. You need to take it out and ding it up a bit, Then it would be just as ugly, but somehow more "authentic." The thing is, Mr. Phil has a big head start, more days afield per year, and probably an easier environment, to naturally give a rifle that "authentic patina" I speak of.

Good observations, Gun Doc.

This rifle has been neglected, not used for years. I used it pretty much back in the day then, Loony like, moved on to other projects.

Well, it’s out of the closet (safe) and will now get more use.

DF

That thing couldn’t get a date at closing time !

I have guns that ain't that pretty.

But ultimately, functional. Especially with an optic mounted.

Oh she’s very functional

Shoots as good as she’s ugly.

DF

I don't know. It kinda looks like something you'd see in the gun case behind the sporting goods counter at Walmart.🙌🏻

Some of those tacticool, black rifle wanna be lever guns with rails and AR style stocks, make this one look pretty good.

Them be really UGLY. And no way they anywhere as slick as this one. Few are.

DF

UGLY!
Reminds me of when the old sow had piglets and only one survived. My sister said, It's so ugly it's cute."
Nah. Ain't cute either.

I get the point and agree...

DF

Got to be really akrit.

To compare that thing to Phil's rifle is absurd.

Phil's rifle is practical, simple and versatile. Phil's rifle has seen more field use than a hundred campfire rifles put together.

That thing is ugly, stupid, useless and has never left your gun cabinet.

DF my old bubba sporterized 1917 Eddystone Enfield is uglier than that but mama allways said"pretty is as pretty does" so our uglies shine like rough diamonds. Let that guide your value of it. Magnum Bob

It might be homely, but I'll bet its fun if you have a bunch of pigs close by. It just looks like it was built for hog-killin'.

Well, it’s out of the closet now, will get some well deserved use.

It killed a deer some decades ago. Boom, plop, DRT. So we know it can.

Working on loads. Got some 278 gr. Hammer bullets to try.

DF

Yep...
It’s ugly. You need to put one of the tactical muzzle brakes on it and hang a flashlight under it. Then it would be Super Ugly!

That would tax even my somewhat jaded sensitivities.

One can take just so much ugly. Even I have my limit.

DF

Ill bet that's a real cheek biter. OW!