WHO MADE THIS RIFLE ? - A Unique 458 found at a local Gun Shop here in Wisconsin.

Hello All,


This came about yesterday, when a friend called to tell me about an interesting 458 cal. Mauser with a short barrel, that was for sale at a local Gun Shop. He knew I collected 458's, having 8 in my collection. As you might expect, you don't find many BIG BORE rifles for sale here in Wisconsin. So, I had to go and take a look. ... And, not so much to my surprise, it followed me home; just because I needed another 458. Nine ? ? ?

The rifle was "Made in Belgium" (so marked) with a "Chrome Vanadium Barrel" "cal 458" (so marked) with the typical bunch of Liege Proofs marks scattered about. It was built on a vintage FN barrelled action with all the numbers matching; Receiver, Bolt, Barrel, and Bottom metal; they all matched. It had nearly 98% of its original bright blue finish. It has a very fine Sako Trigger w/ side safety, a nicely checkered Laminated stock with 3 reinforcing cross-bolts, a "White-Line" Mershon Co. recoil pad, a checkered Rosewood Grip Cap, and an Ebony Forend Tip. The under 20" Barrel was cut-down from some unknown longer length, and nicely crowned, resulting in an overall length of just under 40 inches. It has Sights consisting of a Long-Slide Lyman No. 48 Peep at the rear, and a Gold Bead Ramped Sight at the front, and a filler block in the mid-barrel island where a rear sight could go. It weighs a light 8 pounds 2 ounces, with a 13-1/2" LOP. It holds 3 down, and 1 up. And, ..... if all that wasn't enough, the Reciever, Trigger Guard, and Floor Plate are tastefully "Floral Engraved". All this, for the "walk-out-door" price of only $650. WOW ! !

So here's a question for the Forum members. Any idea who built this rifle? The rear sight filler block has the initials "R.C.P." and ".458". I'm assuming this is the rifle's builder because the man who commissioned this rifle to be custom made (now deceased) doesn't have those initials.

Anyone know of a gunsmith with the initials; "R.C.P." ? ..... Please Help.

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Don't have a clue. Trade gun perhaps. Again i differ to Nitro Express.com for further research.



Correct me if i am wrong but is that a bolt or repair in the wrist in front of the checkering ???

I am assuming a number of cross bolts due to the caliber.

Hello krupp,

Thanks for the reply

Its a 3rd cross-bolt, not a repair. It prevents the laminations from separating under heavy recoil.

The rear sight sleeve and barrel contour are factory FN, I have a friend who had a 375 in the same configuration. Probably had a 26” barrel, that’s what the 375 had and I believe I’ve seen an old advertisement listing that length for magnum calibers. The stock looks like some early Herters laminates I’ve seen with the thick laminations, but the tip and cap lack the lightening bolt spacers normally found on Herters stocks.

Nice rifle, would make a fine bear buster.

What a great, functional rifle. I really like it.

Probably made for the Revolutionary Communist Party.

cool!!

VERY interesting and great looking rifle!

Mike Holmes

Beautiful rifle. Hope you can find out more about its origin.

For $650, that's a steal.

Thanks to all for your reply

I found "R.C.Pass" penciled in the stock's barrel channel.

I'm still hoping someone here might recognize the maker.

A lot of the rifle looks factory FN from the late fifties. Stock and engraving are custom. My similar custom stocked FN .30-06 has a 24" barrel. Mine wears the FN banner on the receiver ring and the custom stock has a H within a diamond right behind the pistol grip. I suppose it to be the makers benchmark.

Sako also used a goodly number of those actions.

Best,

Jack

That rifle is beautiful! I haven't figured out how to post pictures so hope you don't mind posting another link. In the 50's Sako produced a "magnum mauser". When the Sako Forester cost $153, the magnum mauser was $186 and the magnum mauser barreled action was $115. This was late from 51 to 61 and built on the FN Supreme action. I don't have any idea who made your rifle but hopefully this info helps. ( https://www.africahunting.com/threads/sako-magnum-mauser-into-404.29935/ ) ( https://www.africahunting.com/threads/sako-magnum-mauser.4598/ ) ( https://sakocollectors.com/forum/threads/sako-mauser-98-magnum-in-375-h-h.12735/ )

Sako FN 375

Great gun. That's an FN or Husquvarna Mauser. Where in Wisconsin? If you handload, there is your bolt action 45/70 right there. I run a Zastava with cast bullets. I would snap that up in a heartbeat.

Thanks to all for the reply.


I think I solved the mystery of how this rifle came to be. Someone, (likely R.C.P.) "assembled" this rifle in the late 1960's to early 1970's through components from Herters in Waseca, Minn., or they special ordered the rifle direct from Herters with its current configuration. A 1966 Herters catalog shows all the components, and information contained in the catalog indicates that they offer services to build complete rifles.

Imagine the waiting line for FN barreled actions today. at those prices...

nice looking rifle, great price!

Wonder what that 7mm is? 7 Mauser or 7-08

Would have to be 7 Mauser, as Remington didn't roll out the 7-08 as a factory round until 1980.

This Herter stuff dates back to the '60's.

Here is my French Walnut Herter's stock on an 03 Springfield with McGowan barrel, a project from my youth. I was in high school when I built this rifle. I did cut the big roll over comb back a bit, thought it was a tad gaudy. Skip-a-line checkering was the thing back then. I got the tools and went after it, cut the rosewood pieces and inletted them. Glass bedded, free floated, Tru-Oil finish has lasted very well for 50+ yrs.

I haven't shot this gun in over 40 yrs. Just picked up the 4500 Bushnell scope here on the Fire Classifieds and plan to kill a WT this Fall, just for old times.

DF

Looking good Sir!

Dirt,
that is a fine project you completed there. I have a spot in my past for Springfield Sporters. They were common in my area growing up and the hunters I looked up to had a number of them.

Thanks, Butch. I take that seriously, coming from you.

Looking at it today, I can see amateur features, but at the time it looked pretty good to me. I was proud of it.

So, for me this is like a trip back in time. WT's won't know it's a nostalgic old rifle.

And, I may as well confess: It's chambered in that unmentionable round, the one with the '06 case and .277" bore...

But, I was really young back then...

DF

" It's chambered in that unmentionable round, the one with the '06 case and .277" bore...

But, I was really young back then... ;")

DF[/quote]

Smart too!

Thanks, Bob.

A good hunting bud wants one in 30-06. I have a '42 vintage 03 I picked up in the mid '70's. I modified the original front sight for white bead; it has a vintage Lyman receiver sight with quick release button, Timney trigger and Fajen stock. I've offered it to him. Will need to weld a new bolt, notch the receiver, drill and tap for scope, install a scope friendly safety. I'm looking for a smith to do that work, as the locals don't do that.

He mentioned a new barrel, but I told him this 03 barrel looks pretty good thru the Hawkeye, obviously hasn't been shot that much. He needs to scope it and see how it shoots. I told him we could cut an inch off the barrel and recrown to lose the military sight. Or, he could leave it as is so the Lyman receiver sight could still be used. Like me, he likes scopes, older eyes don't do so well with peep sights. But who knows what the next owner may want to do.

DF

Interesting thread & thanks for putting it up.


41

Some sweet old girls, strutting thier stuff. Very nice.

Stole it! Very cool rifle., but my shoulder and bad neck hurt just thinking about it!