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End of a sorry story for my Jack O'Connor Winchester
12 posts
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The caveat "Buyer Beware" comes to mind...
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Looks like the same outfit that messed up the lettering on your gun case might have been involved with a checkering file. That is a gross looking job on the forestalk, I can see why you are unhappy. The memory of JOC hasn't been honoured with this one IMO.
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I believe I have seen as many of the Jack O'Connor rifles as most customers. I have yet to personally see ONE that my friend Jack O'Connor would not be proud of. For what they cost they are amazing. This rifle seems to be a very glaring exception. One problem here is that the Tribute and Custom Tribute rifles are hand checkered.
I have a personal history with LARGE volume hand wood carving which NOW is all done by machine laser checkering and it is done very well. Hand checkering is more fashionable and supported than I can even believe. This exact rifle pictured is one sad case (and seems to be very isolated) bad hand checkering. It looks like one of my earlier attempts on trail stocks when I first started hand checkering now. Alvin Linden did several books on custom rifle stock making including beautiful illustrations of hand checkering. Alvin Biesen did the custom Jack O'Connor #2 .270 Winchester model 70 and his son Roger did the prototype stocking for the Jack O'Connor Custom Tribute "copies" of this rifle for Winchester's Shot Show Special with Glenn Hatt working with the Jack O'Connor Center. The quality control was very well done with both Tribute Model 70s and the Custom Tribute. I believe this one slipped through the QC element. It would unfortunately be pretty hard to correct now. One would think Winchester would take the rifle back and put a new stock on it. Unfortunately NO replacement stocks were set aside according to my sources. One thought I have is that some prospective buyers would not be that turned off by this sloppy hand checkering. It is also pretty much bad in only an area and not the whole piece. Since hand checkering in field use (I DON"T BUY RIFLES TO PUT IN SAFES) can be beat up a little and still look better than the way better than average production rifle I think this is just a again isolated case of THIS rifle coming to the wrong customer. I do know of ONE single Custom Tribute rifle still for sale. I may buy that rifle myself so I am reluctant to provide too many details. Apparently Winchester made the executive decision to let that serious complaint just go. Again there is pretty much none left in inventory to fix this. I would keep it and use it. I have ONE Model 70 that I used to be critical of. It was a very special run. I just didn't like a few features. Then after using it in the field HARD I began to gain great affection for the rifle. I used it on and off with a durable stainless steel Model 70 and the wood stocked rifle beat it in every way. Now it is my SINGLE favorite rifle!! |
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It would be nice to see some overall photos of this rifle. My guess is that this rifle is worth WAY more than an "average" limited production run rifle. From the very little I can see of the wood it is very nice except for checkering and even that is isolated. I do completely agree with the owner's conclusion that he wouldn't want to buy another MODEL 70 without holding it in his hands. Problem is most dealers hardly have an inventory of Model 70s. Fact is all of the limited edition Model 70s have to be pre-ordered before they are made. Then what do you do if your maker had a crop failure or something slipped through QC.
I would contact Mike Butler of the Jack O'Connor center and see if he has any suggestions. |
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sorry for that, I noticed the checkering and first thought was "damn, shitty job" but I did not want to post that until you verified it. best of luck to you.
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I agree with mystro, if it's a one hole grouper I'd keep it and live with the disfigurement.
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I own one of these rifles. Best workmanship I ever saw on a limited edition rifle! This one he had is a rare rifle.Looks like this is on old thread. I usually am on Browning Forum.
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Al Biesen stocked many of Jack's rifles in Spokane Washington
They are still in business last I heard although it's his kids doing the work Jack use to dream of a Dr Russel c Smith Winchester but to my knowledge he never owned one |
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Al Biesens son Roger is In his late nineties! He is a great gun maker! He is not though a kid! I am not sure he is taking anymore work.His website says he is officially retired.
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My Jack O Connor 270 Tribute Rifle is splendid and sure can hold extremely tight groups. I have never hunted with it. Many dealers or gun salesmen have never even seen one. They are a darker finish than Jacks No. 2 rifle this was based on. There are a lot more embellishments on the Custom Tribute and the Tribute rifle. The Custom Model has a Steel butt plate as did Jacks rifles. I kind of think the checking is machine layering, not handcut. I know all of my other limited edition Model 70s have machine cut laser checkering which is about perfect.
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