Many of us own firearms that have history. Oh, not “museum grade” history complete with stacks of dusty provenance, but history of a personal or family nature. Grandad’s old shotgun. Uncle Frank’s big N frame Smith revolver from when he was with the Highway Patrol. Your first .22.

I’m no different; in fact, I’m probably worse than most. Most every firearm I own has a place in my heart and memories; and some of the stories are more complex than others. If you’ll allow me, let me share the story of a rifle that has been a part of my hunting career from the beginning…

It was a BIG gun. Of course, all of Daddy’s guns were big to a kid like me…so that measure wasn’t particularly useful. It was a Winchester Model 1892 and it had seen better days. Oh, it hadn’t been abused but it had certainly been thoroughly USED, and for some time. The serial number indicates that it came off the Winchester production line in 1912 chambered for the .25-20 WCF. As my Dad didn’t arrive in this world until 1923, he very obviously wasn’t the original owner and I don’t know how it came into his possession.

He did have experience with the rifle though: he knew that the barrel was badly pitted from original black powder ammunition and he described the power and accuracy of the piece as “about like throwin’ rocks”. He set out to resolve the problems and in 1953 contracted with the folks at Winchester to re-barrel the rifle to the .218 Bee. It was in that form that I came to know the rifle. It was my first centerfire “hunting” rifle and accounted for my first whitetail buck. It also rode horseback with me, slipped into a scabbard under my right stirrup leather.

Despite the fact that we spent an awful lot of time together, the rifle wasn’t properly “mine” until my father’s death in 1995. By then I was a man grown with a family and guns of my own, and so the .218 languished in the vault for years. Oh, I’d drag it out every year to wipe it down, cycle the action, maybe run a handful of shells through it…but I didn’t hunt it. Frankly, there were better answers than that rifle for just about any question that arose.

In 2013 (during one of those annual wipe-down sessions) I made a decision to do something proper: both for that rifle and for the memory of my father, the man who set my feet on the hunter’s path. I decided that this odd little amalgam of a rifle would live again, and in its original chambering.

A friend suggested that Robert Schuck of Weimar, TX might be the one to tackle this job. We spoke and he agreed to take on the project; I prepared a punch list of the work to be done. By the time he was finished, only the original action and butt plate would remain!

The old mismatched buttstock and fore-end got tossed, along with the .218 barrel and half-magazine tube. A 24” octagonal barrel was fitted and a full-length mag tube sourced and installed. I asked Robert to find some really nice wood for the piece; you’ll have to decide for yourself how successful he was...I've got my own opinion!

With everything fitted, Robert once again stripped the receiver down and sent it, the lever and butt plate to Turnbull Restoration for their color case hardening voodoo. Final assembly and the installation of a tang site and front bead made the project complete.

The rifle began life as a .25-20 in 1912 and became a .218 Bee in 1953. After 61 years, it became a .25-20 once again…and as an heirloom piece at that. Of course, if Daddy was still around, he’d snort and tell me, “Boy, I don’t see why you went and spent all that money changin’ that rifle. Wasn’t anything wrong with it the way it was.” And he’d be right, of course…but I believe that he’s looking down on that rifle (when nobody’s looking of course) and smiling.

Thanks, Daddy…I miss you.


The Resurrected .25-20




A more complimentary angle

Beautiful rifle and great story. Thank you for sharing

That’s a sharp rifle!

Very nice looking, and i like the chambering too

cool tale and rifle, thanks for sharing

Wow!

Thanks All! This was really a labor of love resurrecting this rifle (not that I did any of the labor...Robert Schuck gets ALL of that credit).

For posterity (as the papers are getting pretty frail), I just scanned Daddy's original correspondence with Winchester from '53 when it was re-barreled to .218 Bee. The invoice (including shipping) was for a whopping $50.78! A dollar bought a lot more in July of 1953...

Mark

Stories like this warm my heart. I also have a bad habit of sinking stupid money into nearly monetarily worthless guns and cars. I have to admit that I've never lost my shirt sinking money into a gun like I have with a car.

I draw a hard line between money "invested" and money spent for "pleasure" and I blur that line at my own risk. Investments are expected to make a solid return, period. Money spent on this project was out of love alone and, consequently, I'm the only one who gets to measure the "return" on this investment! Every time I pick up this rifle I get to spend some more time with my Dad...and that's money well spent in my book!


Mark

[quote=218 Bee]
I draw a hard line between money "invested" and money spent for "pleasure" and I blur that line at my own risk. Investments are expected to make a solid return, period. Money spent on this project was out of love alone and, consequently, I'm the only one who gets to measure the "return" on this investment! Every time I pick up this rifle I get to spend some more time with my Dad...and that's money well spent in my book!


Mark [/quote

Amen!

Pricless! Connection with your dad!

Always enjoy your writing Mr. Price.

I still have my father and have shared many memories and hobbies, hunting not being one of those! If I ever spit out any kids they’ll sure have those memories and fine guns to use.

A.M.L.

Kind words, Aaron, kind words...many thanks! In truth, if I had the ability to craft words the way you craft rifles, I'd hold a Pulitzer!

And if you do have kids, they'll be both beautiful AND talented...with Miss Katie providing the beauty, of course!

Mark

Well stated 218

X2 who cares what the cost was. That is beautiful

awesome rifle.



by chance, do you have any of the "before" pictures?

Nice work, a true treasure.

Sadly, no. At least I don't think so. Dang, now you've got me thinkin' (and that's occasionally painful). Lemme check...

Mark

My son has a 25-20 that was pass to him from his grandfather.

Beautiful rifle

Wow!