Last week the buttstock for serial number 75 Hepburn popped up on Ebay. I made an offer and purchased it. SN 75 was a long range Creedmoor originally. Typical Creedmoor checkering, checkered hard rubber buttplate, holes in heel for sight.

I would like to find whats left of the rifle. If anyone has had it pass through their hands I would appreciate hearing from you.

Today I checked with all the people I thought might know. No luck so far. 
 
Thank you

Vall looking at the numbers for the long range Hepburns alot of them were the very first Hepburns made. And I found out yesterday  while making calls to all the usual suspects that a local gentleman I know here in North Dakota purchased serial number 2 a short time ago to go with his sn 41.

And Unfortunately, what I purchased wasnt a set, just the buttstock. And after talking to Tony and Dick Binger, no doubt this rifle was scavenged for the action at some point. 

At the price of a good blank, to have George at treebone shape it, buy a buttplate, and checker it, I thought it was worth it just as a spare.

Yesterday I was convinced that Hepburn SN 75 was probably dismantled for the action and built up as a woodchuck rifle or something like that in the 1930s 40s 50s…and thats why the nice  original buttstock was seperated.

Today I read an article by Jack Appel from 1978 where he states he has inspected serial number 75.

In Tom Rowe’s Hepburn book number 75 is listed as a long range Creedmoor 44 2 6/10 with the note ‘Appel’ .

So when Jack Appel had 75 through his hands it was clearly still in original configuration. How early could he have inspected it and taken notes? I would think later than WW2…I would hope after the 1950s… and if it made it that long, maybe theres a chance its still mostly in tact?

.

Found something encouraging today. 
There is hope that Creedmoor #75 is still intact.

I talked to Roy the other day and he led me to the gentleman you speak of. I just have to get on their site and sign up and then email an ad.

I read the description as the forearm is original and the buttstock was replaced with a late factory one. But I still cant imagine why they got separated.

rifleman wrote on Aug 8^th, 2025 at 8:20pm:


I don't see anything in the auction description that indicates whether the wood is original, or replaced? Just a mention of the color of stock and forearm that says they match the color and checkering?
Wonder what they mean by "round knob half pistol grip"? Never heard of a "half pistol grip"??

rifleman wrote on Aug 9^th, 2025 at 8:32am:


A hard rubber tip sounds very odd for a Hepburn, and especially for an early one. I've seen hundreds with steel tips, and the ebony inserts after bankruptcy. I have some with both hard rubber and steel tips, or steel shotgun buttplates and steel tips. And a couple late ones with steel buttplates and ebony V inserts. Don't think I've ever seen a hard rubber tip, and wonder if the auction company really knew what the tip was made from?