My pops invited me to the Northwest Regional up at Spokane this year, shot up a bunch of his ammo and had a great time. Was nice to shoot with my dad again. 

Well to make a shorter story, along came Friday, and along came a fellow named Tony who brought along some very nice rifles for sale. I got done shooting my 22rf targets and dad grabbed me and said hey come look at this! People were gathered round and dad(westerner) and Gary Miller were telling me about the rifle talking about Otto Bremer, triggers, checkering and what not. I really was paying no attention, all i was thinking was how to get the money asap before someone else snatched it up! I have been admiring, drooling over, and wanting a nice 1885 for 24 years, since I was 11 years old. 

A lightbulb went off and i remembered i can go down to the post office and get Money orders! I told Tony Heitz I'll take it. He said ok with a smile and I walked away about ten feet and turned right back around and walked back to Tony to seal the deal with a handshake. No negotiating, I just wanted it. Told Tony that id go get some Money soon as I helped post some targets. Finally I got what I wanted before someone beat me to the punch!

Tony waited another day for the last bit of Money, and I thank him kindly. He is a first class person all around. 

And thanks to dad for tellin me to buy it ;)

Congratulations, you bought a really fine rifle. I saw it at the ISSA Schuetzenfest in Modesto. If I would have had the $ you never would have seen it.

Enjoy your new rifle.

Jerry_H

John,
Thank you very much for showing the pictures of your new rifle.

You have a very special rifle there and I hope I get to see it each time I shoot at Spokane.

Frank

Dad there is a crack in the board you can't see. It was stable. Gabi took the pics, what you can't see is my hand 6 inches from it poised like a cobra!

You're welcome Mr. Elliot, loved that you had a Borchardt there. I LOVE Borchardts!

I'll post a few more pics shortly. Workin on my work bench right now, but I'll be back 

Beautiful rifle, nice styling, Etc., until the last picture of the barrel matting. "How dey do dat?". Really spectacular and does not look rolled. Might could do it with CNC today, but not sure in about 1900. You and the "Old Man" did good.
Chuck

John that is an absolutely beautiful rifle.  I would have been unable to resist buying it .

I hope you enjoy it and that it shoots very well for you.

Thanks for posting the photos.

Chris.

You are real "Lucky" John; I saw it before you.
I promised my wife I would not bring another rifle back acrosss the border. And I love caressing HighWalls.

She is in nice shape.

Good shooting and remember to never sell her.
You would always regret it later.

So what are you buying Gabby now that she approved the purchase?

It cost me a quilting machine for the right to purchase firearms.

Dave

For those wondering, dad gave me some andela bullets try in the rifle the night I bought it. I got her sighted in and shot a 5 shot group with it. While holding at 12 o'clock at the top of the red, she put all five into a 1 1/4 inch group! The charge was a generic load of 13.5 grains of 4227 and a bullet I believe was 195 gr, a bit long but it did much better than I could have hoped for. Since then I have been absolutely giddy!

John,

That rifle sure is nice!

Best of luck and enjoy.

Bob

John
Really nice Winchester. Why not drag that puppy down to Raton in a coupl'a months? It'd be a good opportunity to not only take it out for a test drive but enter it into the Indy 500! Sign-in on July 27, ISSA Schuetzenfest competition runs July 28 through Aug 1.
If you need a place to stay, I have a log cabin reserved at Whittington Center and we have room for another.

Strange his stamp is not on the top of the buttplate.

John, I think the Andela bullets you used in your rifle are the perfect length for the twist in your rifle, assuming it's 16 inches. If the bullets tip just a tad, that won't hurt anything. Just means the bullet nose is trying to home in on the 25 ring. 

You believe that, don't you?

    Joedad

westerner wrote on Jun 6^th, 2014 at 9:37pm:

Your my dad, it's my duty to believe you isn't it?

It's on the brink, that's all I know. I will definitely play around with others too. I was rummaging around the other day and I still have some of your Ron long spitzers I'm gonna try too.

John boy

Work your way up slow, John. Your rifle has the old style firing pin.   

   Joe.

John,

Could you post a picture of the matting at the round to octagon transition? I found that to be a real test of a true craftsman. 

And if I remember right, the matting on the round part of the barrel is on a raised rib. How did they do that?

You really did acquire a very unique rifle with lots of history. Enjoy!

Jerry_H

That is a great Bremer. I have one very similar to it also with a #4wt 1/2 rnd full matte barrel. He must have special ordered them as they are not common. I am inclined to agree that your stock was made that way infentionally. looks like the checkering points match up accross the cut. I am guessing that it was either for a right/left switch or more likely a bench rest butt though I dont know regionally how popar rest shooting was during the period. Very good find. 

Zack

Joe,
Bet you had great fun clearing the epoxy out of that nice checkering before it cured.
Chuck

Am sure it was a project getting the old hide glue out too easier than old epoxy or glass at least. The rifle looks great and sounds like it will be a good shooter. Please post some targets when you get a chance. Best

zack