The only thing I have is just a great hankering of owning one of those falling block rifles/actions - but I'm afraid it will never come to that...  That action is indeed a marvel both in design and execution.

I have a medium action I will be building up into a light sporter in 6.5x54R the dutch mannlicher round. They are really beautiful actions and a great design in my mind. I too would like to know more about them. It sure would be nice if Mr. Winfer would pen a volume on them. 
            Steve

    Hi Martini Belgian ;

    I have never seen, nor heard of, an Italian " knock off " of the sacred Fraser action.  .   .   . it is almost, if not, a contradiction of terms.

     Steve ;   

I am glad to hear of your interest in the Fraser action.  I would be happy to share the results of my project as they develop.  I have family members in the U.K. who will be assisting me in the ensuing months, so I'm looking forward to receiving their data.

  Creedmoormatch

Mike Gordon wrote on Apr 7^th, 2010 at 10:57am:


Mike,  How could I ever forget that Mr. William Roger was inspired by the British supreme falling block action that inspired him to move to the No. 1 design for his own when the American shooter hadn't a clue or a desire for anything other than a bolt action repeater.

Creedmoormatch

hst wrote on Apr 8^th, 2010 at 1:05am:


Hello Glenn,

I think there would be a market but not a large one, a few hundred perhaps at best. The problem is, or would be cost. It is a complicated action and although EDM and CNC machines would be of great assistance, there are a lot of oddly shaped parts to be made. 

I've only ever seen one of these actions stripped down and it was built like a Swiss Watch, and as good as any of the 'London Quality' gunmakers products.
 
If built exactly like the original, I doubt if you would get any change out of US$ 2,000.00 for the action and stockbolt. I include the latter part because it's not a straight foreward item but a complex part, which has to be 'timed' in order for the safety catch and rear tang screw (which pass through the stockbolt), to be fitted correctly.

The Fraser is possibly the most complex single shot action ever produced. Nothing is simple about the shape of the great majority of parts, and thus it does not lend itself to ease of production. But, to simplify the design would defeat the object, it wouldn't be a Fraser Action at all, but a cheaper 'look alike'.

Harry

hst wrote on Apr 8^th, 2010 at 1:05am:


I am keenly aware that the present day market would have little or no appreciation for any thing even close to an exact copy of the D. Fraser & Co. falling block action.   Those of us who are the exception to the masses have the ability to locate and pay the tariff for an original and a great appreciation for a 19th Century work of great genius.

The Italian made copies of Sharps rifles and many others are for the masses and fit the bill for those folks to a tee.  It's really hard to imagine an Italian made copy of the Fraser ever coming to fruition.  Who would purchase them ?

When was the last time you saw a Swiss made pocket watch in a retail establishment ?   

Creedmoormatch

Creedmoormatch wrote above :

"I am interested in communicating with anyone who is either collecting and/or shooting the Frazer falling block rifle/s for research purposes.

My interests are mostly historical in nature, however, future acquisitions of Fraser examples is conceivable.

Thank you, 

Creedmoormatch " [/quote]


Why do people always want to make cheap "knock off" copies of quality merchandise ?  I'm a historian expressing an interest in communicating with knowledgeable collectors of fine antique firearms, and it turns into a "let make a copy of it and sell it ".

Same thing with my Rolex watch, everybody wants one even if theirs is a chrome plated over pot metal case and made in China.  Is there no authenticity any more ?  Where have all the connoisseurs gone to ?

Creedmoormatch