I found this on Gunbrokera couple of weeks before Chrixtmas.  Is a Wickliffe, of course, built by a company in Missouri that claims to have acquired the rights and molds for the action.  (Where have I heard that before?.)  At any rate, it is very nicely done.  It's .45-70, and came with an old Weaver K-4 scope that looks out of place to me. There's no tang, but the 'smith said he had a way to mount a tang sight on the frame behind the hammer.  (Future models will supposedly have a tang molded on.)  I will need to replace the butt stock, too.  It's seems a little to straight for iron sights.  I've been wanting a Wickliffe since I first read about them in the early '70s.  I'm afraid I have to disagree with comments I've read about them on the board - I don't think they're ugly. Eye of the beholder, I guess.

Yes, there is a wedding band.  He did an exceptional job on the barrel.  I've already talked to the 'smith about making me a .25-20 barrel for a Stevens 44 1/2 action I have on hand.   
There is about 3/4 inch of metal behind the hammer.  The smith said I would need a hole spacing of about .55 inch.  His approach for the tang sight was very similar to Baldwin's.  He takes a base with one long end and grinds off the short end, drills another hole in the long end and then mounts it with the sight extending over the wood, just as you described.
Thanks for the advice on the stock.  I don't really want to replace it.  It just seems that I can't get my head down far enough to use iron sights (if it had any), but that was just a feeling.  I'll measure as you suggested.  I do know the twist is 18 in.   
I have the contact information for the gunsmith if anyone is interested.

Buttstocks with straigth combs are good in the recoil department  - matter of fact, the new prone LR BPCR rifle I'm currently building will have a similar stock with a comb parallel to the bore line.  It does help when shooting the larger calibres.  And what doesn't hit you as hard usually shoots more accurately.
So better give it a try before writing it off - this could well be a case of beautiful is as beautiful does, or form follows function.

There was a Wickliffe rifle floating around the gunshows here in the Northwest a few years ago. It must have had a lot of nickel in the steel because it was a sickening plumb purplish color. That color along with the Parkinfarkeresk stock and gunsmithing would cause some showgoers to barf at the mere sight of it. After I heard about the rifle I went to take a look for myself. I got a bit queezy and dizzy but was able to hold everything together. I took the one look only. I did see it sitting on tables for a couple years but just changed directions when I noticed it. There was a Dimick percussion rifle that could come close to the Wickliffe in a ugly contest. 

Your rifle looks just fine to me. I agree the stock will work for heavy recoil.    Some checkering and a dark stain could make a big difference in looks. 

                    Joe.  

runningiron, if you decide  to inlet a piece of brass or steel into the wrist of your stock I suggest you make the insert long enough to put three or four drilled and tapped holes, making it adaptable to any tang sight you might want to use.   ledball

Bob, I did not mean to imply that were now manufacturing the rifles.  The dealer from whom I purchased the rifle told me that they had acquired molds and were starting to manufacture the rifle (or maybe it was just the action - I've got a memory like a steel sieve), and that you built my rifle and were building another one in .357 maximum.  At any rate, I am very impressed with your work.  We spoke on the telephone a few weeks back about putting a tang sight on the rifle as well as putting a .25-20 barrel on a Stevens 44 1/2 I have.  When things calm down from the holidays, I'll be sending some stuff your way.

Thanks for a beautiful rifle.

Rod.

It's been a while, but I finally got the sights put on.  The sights are Lee Shaver.  Since there is no tang on the rifle, Lee sent me a base for a lever action rifle that allowed us to mount the base at the very rearmost portion of the action, with plenty of clearance.  The smith did put the front sight on backward, but I've corrected that.  He also reshaped the lever for me.  It's not a perfect job, but I can shoot it now.

There was a reference to "silhouette" in one of the posts. I'm curious, is that an NRA legal silhouette gun?

To clarify, is the action legal? Browning "High Walls", CPA Stevens, the new Wessons and Farrows, etc were ok'd by the Silhouette Commitee. I don't recall ever seeing a Wickcliff at a silhouette match so I was curious.

Rich, Bob Lawson in Missouri built the rifle.  He is a member of the board.  Eagle Eye Shooting Supply, 208 E 1st St, Mountain Grove. MO 65711 is where I bought the rifle.  They told me they were manufacturing the action.  Cannot locate telephone numbers for either contact, though.  Sorry. 

Rod