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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) WR 1881 rook (Read 3219 times)
SBertram
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WR 1881 rook
Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:26am
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Deely & Edge take-down sporter chambered in .250 rook. This is the first one that I have encountered, I really like it. 



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bnice
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #1 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:30am
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Wow, what’s not to like!
  
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jhm
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #2 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 7:28am
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Elegance at it's best. Gorgeous rifle...



JMH
  
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Crown-C
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #3 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 8:44am
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Definitely a rifle to own and admire! These little rook rifles have great lines to them.
  

Richard
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #4 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 9:52am
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Always wondered if Louis Hepburn saw one of those before he designed the Hepburn rifle?
Beautiful rifle!
  

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bobw
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #5 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 11:45am
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Steve,
Very nice little gun.   
Is it a similar size to the Fraser rook?  They are really tiny.
Bob
  

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oneatatime
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #6 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 2:10pm
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Gorgeous!
  
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art_ruggiero
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #7 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 2:25pm
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where do you guys find them   im in connecticut  black rifles  and junk   art
  
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SBertram
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #8 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 5:59pm
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bobw wrote on Sep 4th, 2024 at 11:45am:
Steve,
Very nice little gun.  
Is it a similar size to the Fraser rook?  They are really tiny.
Bob


I happened to have a Fraser rook here as well so I measured both, Fraser 1.050" wide, Westley 1.150" wide. The Fraser is a bit smaller. 
  
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SBertram
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #9 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:01pm
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art_ruggiero wrote on Sep 4th, 2024 at 2:25pm:
where do you guys find them   im in connecticut  black rifles  and junk   art


This one found me. The owner found a post that I had made about a .303 1881 Deeley & Edge I owned and contacted me. 

I adopt wayward British falling blocks as often as I can rationalize it.  Grin
  
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Crown-C
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #10 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:03pm
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I imagine it’s about the size of my Holland and Holland and with me holding it gives a perspective of its small size. My H&H has a H&H scope on it serialized the same as the 300 Rook rifle.

  

Richard
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SBertram
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #11 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:52pm
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Nice little Holland and especially nice to have the original scope with it.

A few more pics.

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Crown-C
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #12 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 8:09pm
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How does the takedown work on it? Barre appears to turn sideways,but is there a lever to release it, apparently no extractor cuts in the way.
  

Richard
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Judge 1879
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #13 - Sep 4th, 2024 at 8:41pm
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wow! that is a beautiful rifle, you just do not come across those often and certainly not in that condition.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #14 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 10:49am
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Crown-C wrote on Sep 4th, 2024 at 8:09pm:
How does the takedown work on it? Barre appears to turn sideways,but is there a lever to release it, apparently no extractor cuts in the way.


I believe there is a catch at the bottom of the barrel forearm that is pulled forward to allow the barrel to unscrew. I can just see it on the back of the forearm in the picture of the gun taken down.
  

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MrTipUp
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #15 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 11:43am
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Your eyes, Vall, are apparently a lot better than mine.  But I had guessed - emphasis on guessed - that the lever/bolt that rests along the right side of the trigger guard is pulled back to unlatch the barrel.

Bill Lawrence
(still MrTipUp)
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #16 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 12:03pm
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I think that I may have mistaken the protrusion as a catch when it might be part of the forearm steel that works as a catch? The forearm has a release underneath, and the protrusion seems to fit into the receiver. So it may be as simple as releasing the forearm and then once removed it allows the barrel to spin off?
  

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bobw
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #17 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 12:21pm
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I was thinking the lever along side the trigger was the safety since I didn’t see anything on the top tang.

I was going to ask the same question about the take down feature, but you all beat me to it.  But, Vall’s thoughts make sense to me.  The gun does have a pretty good piece of steel attached to the back of the forearm.  Hope Steve chimes in and tells us how it works
Bob
  

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SBertram
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #18 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 1:14pm
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Gentlemen,
                The lever above the trigger is the safety catch, you will see the same style safety used on many 1897 WR actions as well.

It is a 90 degree turn and interrupted threads that allow for the barrel  take-down. To remove the barrel the block is dropped all the way, the ejector spring is tripped and the extractor is clear of the barrel. The fore end is held on by a Deeley latch and it is then removed. The barrel is rotated 90 degrees and is ready for removal. 

The rear portion of the fore end has a metal plate which fits a corresponding relief in the action, that keeps everything tight and lined up. 

I will take detailed pictures of the take-down system later today.
  
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Crown-C
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #19 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 1:51pm
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Thanks Steve for the takedown info! So it is the forearm as Vall suspected. Looking forward to the photos.
  

Richard
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SBertram
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #20 - Sep 5th, 2024 at 7:55pm
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SchwarzStock
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #21 - Sep 13th, 2024 at 12:48pm
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SBertram wrote on Sep 4th, 2024 at 6:26am:
Deely & Edge take-down sporter chambered in .250 rook. This is the first one that I have encountered, I really like it. 



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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, reminds me a of a saying often heard on Friday nights in the military; Save money, Go ugly Early.
  

If your rifle is not in 7.62 and you can't hit what you are aiming at with de-linked machinegun ammo you are a pretender.
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rkba2nd
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #22 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 12:04am
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In spite of the fact that I like Hepburns, I wish he had paid attention to improvements available in the Deely & Edge if it in fact was available to him.
  

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Old-Win
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #23 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 9:30am
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rkba2nd wrote on Sep 15th, 2024 at 12:04am:
In spite of the fact that I like Hepburns, I wish he had paid attention to improvements available in the Deely & Edge if it in fact was available to him.
 
I believe it was probably the other way around. There is a good chance that Msrs. Deeley and Edge copied the Hepburn side lever as the Hepburn was patented in Oct of 1879 and the Deeley and Edge in Mar of 1881.  I'm sure there was a lot of information exchanged between shooters and gun builders during the long range matches of 1874-79 and beyond.  Old Reliable owned an 1881 Deeley & Edge match rifle and some Irish shooters took Sharps rifles home after the U.S. matches.
« Last Edit: Sep 15th, 2024 at 9:38am by Old-Win »  
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #24 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 10:14am
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Two fine looking rifles Old-Win. There are several similarities, your stated patent dates certainly would support your theory. No jets, no internet in those days but I’d bet they looked at others patents and actual rifles when possible.
  

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jhm
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #25 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 10:40am
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I have fallen off the Hepburn cliff and now have two and working on getting a third one. Not really a fan of the D&E lever position. The Hepburn is located nearer the "thumb position" of the right hand. Wonder why Deely is located so far up?



   JMH
  
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Old-Win
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #26 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 2:13pm
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I have fallen off the Hepburn cliff and now have two and working on getting a third one. Not really a fan of the D&E lever position. The Hepburn is located nearer the "thumb position" of the right hand. Wonder why Deely is located so far up?
JMH

The Deeley & Edge has several advantages over the Hepburn. One is that it cocks the internal hammer on opening which may have something to do with the higher position of the lever and another is that it has a strong kicking ejector. I took the ejector spring out of this one that I built so I wouldn't be looking for empties after my relay.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #27 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 4:54pm
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Thanks Old-Win, wasn't sure which came first, the chicken or the egg.
  

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jhm
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #28 - Sep 15th, 2024 at 6:58pm
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Makes sense. Was unaware of the internal workings of the D&E action.





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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #29 - Sep 16th, 2024 at 8:30am
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Built on a "Fields Action". Sold one in .450 BPE great rifle/action and fun to shoot.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #30 - Sep 16th, 2024 at 4:41pm
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Once upon a time had a Fields patent, lever was pushed forward to open, rather than down. Nifty rifle.
  

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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #31 - Sep 16th, 2024 at 7:10pm
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The Field's patent was basic enough to cover 2 different actions as seen. One looked like a "Martini" the other rather like a High Wall. Both used the same vertical lever that was pushed forward at the top to open the action as opposed to the 1881 WR and the Hepburn's lever which were horizontal and pushed down at the rear to open. There is no comparison in the beautiful lines of the 1881 to the rather clunky looking Hepburn.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #32 - Sep 18th, 2024 at 4:04am
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I guess I always root for the underdog, partly because I can't afford the upperdog!!
  

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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #33 - Sep 18th, 2024 at 5:31am
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Technically,  I prefer the Field falling block over the D&E...
  
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #34 - Sep 18th, 2024 at 12:49pm
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I have always wondered why the opening lever is on the right side. As a southpaw, I find it easiest to open the gun with my left thumb by reaching over the action.
  
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Re: WR 1881 rook
Reply #35 - Sep 18th, 2024 at 10:06pm
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Not exactly a rook rifle, but small. I have an Austrian Alexander Henry take down, the action is 1.4 wide, 2.6 long, and 2.06 high. Fulll length forearm held on with 2 wedges, has a grip safety. Chambered for 8x50 mannlicher . I am trying to decide how to fill the cuts in the rib where I removed the useless scope bases. I can’t remember if I posted photos on this site a few years ago or not.
Mike 
I did a search, yes I posted photos July 12 of 2021.
« Last Edit: Sep 18th, 2024 at 10:18pm by yamoon »  
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