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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Hepburn Questions (Read 74742 times)
SSShooter
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Hepburn Questions
Jun 19th, 2012 at 8:18pm
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Friend has an original Hepburn and we are wondering about a few things, as neither of us is knowledgeable about them.
When would s/n 2395 have been made?
Would an original Hepburn be safe to shoot in calibers like 40/82 and a fast-twist barrel?
The rifle is currently chambered in 45/70 and has a 20" long half-round barrel and excellent bore (light brown with no pitting - good rifling), minor surface rust and decent wood with a curved steel buttplate.
Did Hepburn offer any carbines with 20" barrels or is the barrel likely shortened from the original?
Any idea on a realistic value for same? I'll try to get a couple of pic's to post.
Thanks.
« Last Edit: Jun 19th, 2012 at 8:54pm by SSShooter »  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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Chuckster
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #1 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 9:42am
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This one makes you want to cry. The Hepburn is one of the stronger actions and will work for most anything reasonable. Don't think there was a Hepburn carbine, but maybe the factory would make what you wanted. My guess: The guy with the hacksaw turned a $2K-$3K rifle into something less than $1K. Would make a fine saddle rifle. Hope I am wrong. Pictures would be interesting.
Chuck 

P.S. Did Marlin have John Taylor add length to a similar barrel, then reline? Amazing work, bad memory.
« Last Edit: Jun 20th, 2012 at 9:53am by Chuckster »  
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Old-Win
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #2 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 9:47am
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There were only about 11,000 Hepburns made and there are no records left on manufacturing dates.  It should work fine for a blackpowder 40 cal.  Like highwalls, many were converted to high pressure varmint calibers in the 50's and 60's.  Bob
  
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SSShooter
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #3 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 9:56am
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Am guessing you are correct about the barrel length, though the muzzle is nicely finished, so was obviously turned. Indeed, is too bad what someone did. Makes one wonder if it wasn't fired with an obstruction in the barrel, which resulted in a bulge near the muzzle that had to be removed. Will never know. Like they say........... too bad our old rifles can't talk.
  

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Uechi
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #4 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 12:52pm
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Anything is possible like major corrosion in the first few inches of the barrel. Most likely a moron who didn't know what he had. 
     It kills me when I see Krag Rifles butchered to make so called hunting rifles, but at least these where made in the many thousands and aren't worth the kind of money a Hepburn is. If I had this butchered rifle I'd have the barrel replaced and just hold on to the old one. If you were really lucky you might even find an origimal Hepburn barrel.
  
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SSShooter
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #5 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 1:00pm
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The saddest part of the shortened barrel is how nice it is, inside and out.
  

Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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.22Hepburn
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #6 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 1:34pm
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As long as the receiver/breechblock look good there should be no problem making that Heppie into a 40-82. As mentioned above, they are inherently strong actions.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #7 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 1:01am
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All is not lost, as it's possible to save the old Hepburn and restore much of it's value. I personally would keep the original chambering since it's most likely marked on the lower flat in front of the forearm.
I also have a nice original Hepburn in .40-70SS that someone lopped the barrel off of in it's early life. I took the gun to John Taylor and he lengthened the barrel by making up 10" of donor barrel and welding it on the existing barrel. Then he relined it to the original caliber and I reblued the barrel.
I now have a normal length barrel in the original caliber, which still has all the original markings! I paid $800 for the gun, and with John's usual magic he restored much of the gun's value at a reasonable fee.
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.22Hepburn
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #8 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 8:38am
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Nice to see that Hepburn brought back, especially one with double set triggers. As you know, Hepburns with double set triggers are quite rare.
  
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SSShooter
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #9 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 3:56pm
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Yes........ have all ready had the discussion with JT about lengthing the existing barrel as opposed to putting on a new one. As far as cost, he tells me that it is pretty much a wash. The original is stamped 45-70 on the bottom flat in front of the forearm. 

Have also spoken to DZ Arms in OKC, who makes new Hepburns (along with C. Sharps). He offers a double-set trigger group, but stated emphatically that at $1000, it is not worth it and that a single-set trigger was never offered in a Hepburn.
  

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.22Hepburn
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #10 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 5:56pm
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SSS, If that Hepburn was mine, I'd have no qualms about repairing the original barrel, to keep the #s matching. Re converting it to double set triggers - single triggers can be tweaked to get very light & reliable trigger pulls/breaks. I have one that was converted to a .22 (probably in the 30s or 40s as a position/prone target rifle) that has a less than 1lb pull and very crisp break. Dave Crossno did the trigger job and also put an over-travel set screw in it. It has also been speed locked (most likely when it was converted) and goes bang in a hurry.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #11 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 6:01pm
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Might be a wash to put a new barrel on it and chamber it to any caliber, but you wont get it at an even wash once you figure in the original rollstamps, caliber markings and serial number to make it correct. 
If it's just going to be a shooter, I'd still have it lengthened as it will shoot great when John is done, and be worth more than a newly barreled Hepburn.
  

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SSShooter
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #12 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 6:34pm
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Wish you guys would stop telling me all this good stuff. You are going to force me to make an offer on the rifle.  Wink
  

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.22Hepburn
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #13 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 9:05pm
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So go ahead and make the offer, then let us know how things work out with that Heppie......
  
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Chuckster
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Re: Hepburn Questions
Reply #14 - Jun 22nd, 2012 at 10:31pm
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The before and after pictures of the Hepburn are interesting. If you needed a hunting rifle to go to the mountain, probably on horse back, which one would you take? We may cry, but you can sort of understand the thinking. That sawed off Hepburn would be a dandy on the hill.
Chuck
  
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