Gentlemen,
I came across the rifle listed below the other day and decided I had to have it. There are no what a deals I am afraid, however, it has a good pedigree. The detail work is unreal. That they surface ground the name and serial number off to properly reinscribe them was impressive. I thought about having it fitted with an Echol's Legend for actual hunting but I may just leave this in the stock and let Mark build another for actual field use... God Speed Allen...

Best Regards, Matt Garrett
Chesapeake, Virginia



http://www.hallowellco.com/Mark%20Penrod%20+%20James%20Tucker%20Custom%20Winchester%20Model%2070.htm

Wowza,
I'd call that perfection, congrats to you...enjoy.
Thanks for sharing the pictures and please keep us posted...a treasure for sure.

Who?

Lovely rifle Matt!

If it belonged to the phenomenal man that we know of as Allen Day, it is a true masterpiece. Given Penrod did some of the work is a true testament to the quality smith that Allen would seek out.

This said, Allen would have maybe used it for Mule Deer. In his later years, Allen much preferred a true working man's rifle and settled in D'Arcy Echols to create most of his rifles. While this purchase may have been somewhat of a 'safequeen'; I agree that with a fiberglass stock this rifle is ready to hunt and then some!

Congratulations on a wonderful rifle and thanks to the wonderful man that had this rifle commissioned.

Rest in peace and may this rifle continue Allen's legacy and be hunted hard!

Matt, how do you know it was Allen's?

Thanks.

Phenomenal rifle!

Amazing...

Beautiful rifle.

I won't say it...

I bet a quick way to check would be to give Penrod a call and share this photo with him; he'd remember a rifle like that.

Brad,
Well I was asking Mark if the J M Penrod was him, as opposed to Mark Penrod Gunmaker, at that point the AD clicked as Allen Day. I asked Mark and he of course said it was Allen's rifle...

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the kind commentary.

Regards, Matt.

fwiw,
I should note that I have no idea if this was Allen's "last" Custom .270 Winchester. There reason I said that was Mark said Allen hunted with the rifle or had every intention of hunting with the rifle. I was taking up Mark's time when he could have been working for paying customers and I did not want to abuse that privilege. Hence the reason I did not ask for anything beyond the basic facts. He also would not give me advice on buying the rifle or not, however, he did tell me what it would take to replicate in today's market. Understand I did not buy it because it was Allen's rifle. I bought because it came as close to being perfect to what I would have requested had I known what to request.. I still don't care for the scope mounts, custom or otherwise. The bolt also seems to cry out for jeweling which Mark has agreed to take on.. I hate to even think about it, however, I need a slightly shorter LOP. Not to mention a Galazan reproduction Winchester pad or possibly a real Silvers Pad covered in leather. I would send it back to the stock maker for the work...

I see a Murray A-1 Quickset Sling and a Schmidt Bender 2.5-10x40 Summit with a 4a Reticle... That said all that in good time. Nothing available on the market except Norma Brass. Worse choices to have to make...

I hope the deal goes through without a hitch...

Regards, Matt.

WOW!

FWIW, midwayusa has Winchester, Hornady, Nosler, and Norma 270 brass on sale and in stock.


I would go with the Hornady.



Uber fancy rifle!

That is stunning! Good luck with it.

Beautiful rifle. Thank you for sharing...

Matt, somehow I missed that part in the description; "gold oval bearing script initials AD"... what a great rifle, and exactly something Allen would have had built.

So you dont like the bolt, rings/bases, recoil pad, and the length of pull is wrong.,And you might have to put it in a different stock before you'd want to hunt with it. Certainly does sound like your dream rifle...

There's always one...

Just using logic, not emotion.

But no manners, which trumps either.

That's like not buying a truck at half price because it needs new tires. In a word. Stupid.

Nice rifle Matt. Allen would be fine with you adding Echols stock as well. :-)

On another note, would Mark do a rear dovetail base to match the front one?

Dig the streaky wood. Very pretty.

That's a question I had too...

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the courtesy and kind commentary... I hope to keep any alterations to a minimum. Short of jeweling the bolt I'm not certain anything else will be done to the rifle.

Granted LOP, if an alteration is necessary, will likely involve one of Allen's favorite Winchester reproduction orange pads from Galazan.

Sam,
Thank you on the brass update. That is helpful...

Best Regards, Matt.

Me three... I think I'll wait until he has the bolt for Jeweling before I pop that question. I would be just as happy with custom tool steel dual dove tail bases and whomever's ring as ALMOST any mounting system short of Iron Brigade Armory Unitized Mount. Which clearly is not an option on a Winchester... Dual Dovetails were the first scope mounting system that I ever bought and everyone tried to explain the "problem" with them. They never came through with anything cogent. I honestly never found anything better short the unitized version from IBA...

Regards, Matt.

Matt, I'd have zero qualms cutting the stock and having a pad installed. Really, a much more sensible option than the steel.

I'm remodeling my kitchen and I've only had the place for 4 years. I wanted to do it from the get go, but other priorities came first.


On a side note, is owning some dead guy's rifle as cool as doing a hot widow?

Matt, beautiful rifle! It's nice to bring back Allen's memory. Great man who is stilled missed.

That was my thought as well. I would be willing to sell much of my kit to have that rifle in Left Hand. And I would hunt it until one of us gave up the ghost...

What a rifle!

Between this one and Whitebird's I'm going to go into a dark corner and drink...

Overload!

Man! I want one.

Matt,

That's a heck of rifle. I didn't know Allen personally but spoke on the phone a couple times. I hunted with the same PH in Zimbabwe he hunted with and we spoke about his experience. Followed his posts over the years and I'm sure that he spec'd an excellent rifle.

Hope everything goes well with the purchase - post your shooting experience with it after you have a chance to get it out to the range.

If you guys are hungry for one here is the link to some others.

http://www.hallowellco.com/Custom%20Rifles%20For%20Sale.htm

No flies on this one either. I kinda like it so anybody looking for birthday ideas....

http://www.hallowellco.com/ryan_breeding____custom_mauser%20280%20rem.htm

twofish

Best stick to your Tikkas rather then rain on someones parade, someone that has obviously different tastes then you do.

Matt that is one exquisite rifle and was meant to be hunted. Its the total combination of quality materials, workmanship and pride in a finished product.

Matt,
That is a fine, fine rifle. Congratulations, sir.

It's funny, when I was younger I desired a safe full of rifles, as I get older, I find much more satisfaction in quality over quantity.

Thank you for sharing with us.

Beautiful rife by two of the best out there. Nice bonus it was commissioned by Allen Day.

Enjoy it.

Beautiful rifle sir. Thanks for sharing it with the Fire.

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the kind words... The rifle still sits at Hallowells waiting for my DT-10 Beretta to proceed at Pony Express speeds across country. The money has been transferred, however, the trade is dragging the process out. I've decided since I have no control over it, I will try to enjoy every minute of the process. Which seems big heap wise as I have no choice anyhow..(grin)

Best Regards, Matt.

the craftsmanship is overwhelming. I bet you cant wait to get your hands on it.

fwiw,
It has put a lot of my other rifles in a harsh perspective for their cost...

Regards, Matt.

There's no doubt that Allen would want one of his favorite rifles enjoyed and cherished. I can only hope that someone as incredibly nice as Matt hunts with my beloved .280 Ackley after I'm gone. It would be great to know that the tradition is carried on.

Below is a photo of Allen. We were on a blacktail hunt above Fish Creek and I busted a huge-bodied buck in the worst possible place.

Hey, we grinned, got to work and manhandled the buck up the most horrible clearcut imaginable. Allen was a great guy to have along when the pack was BAD.

Godspeed, old friend, Godspeed

Steve

How long ago was that Steve?

dave

Matt that right there is a STUNNING rifle sir! What an amazing example of the riflesmith's art!

You got a particular trip in mind on which you plan to bloody it?

Congrats.

Dave,

Early 2000s. I bought that cap in Schefferville and it wore out in about two years, so yeah ... 2001 or 2002.

Steve

Sir,

Funds transferred via PayPal. Transaction ID: 46T865517C385774A. Should show up on your side shortly. My mailing address is:

Warren Farrar
2978 hwy 330 West
Falmouth, KY. 41040

No rush on shipping. Just shoot me a tracking number when it goes in the mail.

Thank you, Warren

Friend Steve,
That means more than you can possibly imagine coming from you... I have always said you are the nicest guy I have ever met in the firearms industry. Bar none full stop. It has been a credit and an honor to know you.

Not to mention a hoot when I think about some of the unspoken stories that will go no further than the grin on my face...

Your Friend, Matt Garrett
Chesapeake, Virginia
757-581-6270

Warren,
I appreciate the donation to the Model 70 Scope Fund. With your transfer I should be able to put a couple new Schmidt Benders in the safe. I'm going to put a 1.5-8x42 Stratos on Allen's Rifle in Mark Penrod's upgraded Talley Bases with Stephen Heilmann's Talley Ring nut and wrench. Ingenious. www.metalandwood.com




Though since you sent so much I'm also buying a new 4-16x56 PMII Ultra Bright with an Illuminated Tremor 3 Reticle. It is going to be the scope I put on the .300 Winchester Magnum that I intend to build similarly to Darcy's Long Range Legend shown in stainless below. SHORT his genius. That said I have a suspicion mine will shoot...(grin) Mine will have a CM Receiver and sadly no Legend Rings, not that I know Darcy would make a 34mm Ring this high, however, it will look like a melding of the following. I know who to emulate...(laughing)

http://www.schmidtundbender.de/en/new-products/4-16x56-pm-ii-ultra-bright.html



Dunno how to thank you for the scope money. Know that I will spare no expense to procure the finest examples the world has to offer with your money... Tis the least I can do...(grin) Could not have done it without you. We will send a "Weidmanns heil" in your direction, to which I will respond "Weidmanns dank", upon blooding both...(wink)

Will send a bag of jerky to the address provided. At least a pound... Enjoy.

Regards, Matt.

LOL... Looking forward to the jerky. I'll be waiting for the tracking number !

Just resent that info to the proper person via PM (as originally intended). Knew I had typed it out. Couldn't figure out why I couldn't find it in the PM string...

Doh... Somewhere between Oldtimers and CRS...

Still shaking my head over my screw up. Sorry for the hijack. Mr. Day seems to have been a very stand up gentleman.

My buddy Allen WAS a wonderful man and one who died well before his time.

Godspeed, old friend, Godspeed,

Steve

Warren,
I've had more people offer to buy this rifle and, well, I thought you were kidding. Sorry for the jest response..:-). I actually had a Gentleman earnestly offer me right at $20K for that rifle 48 hours ago and it has not even left Hallowell & Company yet. In line to leave tomorrow... I am going to e-mail Morris and suggest he spring for a Pelican Storm IM-3300 out of the $1500 he shorted me on my Beretta DT-10 Trident... If anything would happen to the rifle it would be a terrible shame, as I thought highly of Allen, and the rifle itself speaks to me....

Regards, Matt.
757-581-6270

Friend Steve,
Why do we lose the real gems early? I have lost my share... I went to e-mail an old friend and mentor whom I had only recently fallen out of Christmas conversations and long e-mail conversations on sporting rifles with when I sent him an e-mail to no reply. I checked in with a mutual friend to learn he had passed to cancer in April of 2013 and was buried at Arlington National. Lt. Colonel Robert W Jones, Jr. was a sometimes Gun Writer and spent his time between homes in Royal Palm Beach, Florida and a beautiful cabin in Maine. I always figured I had missed him at one house or the other... Found the picture of his grave and honestly tears came and went for better than an hour. We had last seen each other at a Shugart Gordon Range Ceremony and he was in fine form. In his typical khakis with khaki cumber bund and one of his pair of Vietnam Era Custom Armand Swenson 1911 Colts peaking out between his shirt and the cumber bund. He had a sterling since of class... I plan to visit him this spring... Cannot begin to say how much I regret not staying current with one of my few true friends... Likely a lesson there somewhere.

Regards, Matt.
Your Friend...

Matt,
Your friend was and will always be an honorable hero. I don't know if you have ever been to, or attended a service at Arlington or not? It is a VERY humbling place, and the services held there are unforgettable. To qualify to be buried there, you must be highly decorated.

Birds of a feather flock together...speaks volume about you, sir.