Rebirth of a Rook Rifle

[Heym SR20]

This project has been a good while in gestation. Indeed from early 2018. A very good, now sadly late, RFD friend took a number of guns in as part of an estate.

Amongst them was a tired and a little battered .410, with the Alex Martin name on the top rib. It was grubby and a bit rusty. Forend stuck on and in need of some love. So I went and had a look.



It might be a 410, but certainly wasn’t built as a 410. 28” octagonal barrel, rifle front sight, a wedge on top rib where a rear sight had been. It was an old rook rifle that at some point had had the rifling removed.

 

[Heym SR20]

A bit of research - well trawling through pictures of just about every rook listed on Holts showed up this little beauty.



With full details here

HOLTS Auctioneers

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The above converted to 22 Hornet

And another in 5.6x50R - very similar original gun

Catalogue Details

I am not sure who made this style. They don’t feature in Colin Greenwood’s book on Rook and Rabbit Rifles.

 

[Heym SR20]

Under the 3 day borrowing rule I borrowed the gun from J for a weekend. First challenge was removing the forend. Its a snap on style but rusted solid.

I managed to get some easing fluid in. Left it. Tried it by hand - it did not move.

I cut a grove in a piece of wood the length of the forend and width of the barrel. I needed to be able to put even pressure along the whole length. Clamped the barrel firmly and then pressed down and the forend popped off. No damage.

So I stripped the whole gun down. Filthy with years of gunk and neglect. But the bore good.

Its a wonderful little trigger plate action which is cocked by the top lever. A bit of cleaning had it all back in good working order.

 

[Heym SR20]

So I started hatching a plan. I did have a good chat about Rook Rifles with Peter Hambrusch in Austria. He had a few in his workshop. One - a Hollamd and Holland being converted to 22 Hornet. They are the perfect rifle for shooting Marmots, Black Grouse and Capercaillies. They don’t blow them apart like more powerful centrefire 22s so taxidermist has a chance.

His advice was to stick with 22 Hornet. Likes of the 5.6x50r have too much pressure and put too much force over time on the action.

But then life got in the way. And then the Pandemic. I did have a slot for a 22 Centrefire but I used that to get a 223 Remington 700. And over lockdown that was restocked.

And no chance of getting a variation with everything stopped gor a while in terms of licencing.

And then last August J passed away. And it would only be fitting to get this project underway which we had both talked about and planned.

I have again measured the barrel carefully. It’s bore is just over 10mm. Most 410s are 10.5 mm or so. So it’s tight bored for a 410. A Lothar Walther make a barrel blank in .224 bore with 1 in 12” twist and a 10mm outside diameter and 755 mm long (well over 28”). A wee machined sleeve around the breach end (to take up the width of the chamber. Chamber to Hornet. Make a new rear sight and possibly add some blocks to mount a little vintage scope. Refurb the finish of both metal work and wood work so that its clean, but retains the history. And it should be a really nice little walk around small game rifle and for target shooting.

And here is the breech end of one that was in Gavin Gardiners Auction a few years ago. You can see the sleeve and solder filler.

 

[Heym SR20]

But for now I just have to wait for barrel - 3 to 4 months.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

That will be a great project if it’s an affordable new barrel sleeve to a former Rook rifle calibre or maybe to a different calibre.

Alex Martin of Glasgow name on top rib with a hackett style forend, Prince of Wales grip with the sliding trigger bolt that’s quite unusual, you will probably find that your rook has Birmingham proof marks and was more than likely made in Birmingham.

I didn’t have time to edit this before you posted again with more information, take a look at my avatar.

 

[Heym SR20]

That will be a great project if it’s an affordable new barrel sleeve to a former Rook rifle calibre or maybe to a different calibre.

Alex Martin of Glasgow name on top rib with a hackett style forend, Prince of Wales grip with the sliding trigger bolt that’s quite unusual, you will probably find that your rook has Birmingham proof marks and was more than likely made in Birmingham.

I didn’t have time to edit this before you posted again with more information, take a look at my avatar.

What type of scope is that lurking in the case. And what calibre is the rifle.

Mine doesn’t have any original calibre markings - they must have been struck off at some time. And yes most likely Birmingham made.

Its not a prince of wales grip. It has a beautiful engraved metal domed grip cap, along with similar steel butt plate. And wood is fantastic quality with wonderful figure. Just hidden under years of grime.

 

[gonzo]

Will LW ship blank barrels directly to you? Last time I ordered from them, it had to go via an RFD. Not for legal reasons, just that they only dealt with the trade.

I picked up a 410 converted rook rifle at the local auction recently. Not a show piece, but originally in 297/250.
Brought it as a project too. Not decided what calibre to bring it back in yet.

 

[willie_gunn]

That does look sweet.

Very interested to see the ongoing results of the refurb!

 

[Fosbery Holster]

What type of scope is that lurking in the case. And what calibre is the rifle.

Mine doesn’t have any original calibre markings - they must have been struck off at some time. And yes most likely Birmingham made.

It’s not a prince of wales grip. It has a beautiful engraved metal domed grip cap, along with similar steel butt plate. And wood is fantastic quality with wonderful figure. Just hidden under years of grime.

The scope is a commercial Aldis of @ 1920’s with 1” Parker Hale rings and the barrel mounts also Parker’s just the same as the rook advertised in Holts.
The calibre is .22lr having been sleeved by Parker’s…..Parkerifled…..probably in the 20’s.

The rifle advertised in Holts was originally built in .255 Jeffery quite a scarce calibre, a friend has a fully stocked Martini actioned rook in .255 Jeffery.

 

[Heym SR20]

Will LW ship blank barrels directly to you? Last time I ordered from them, it had to go via an RFD. Not for legal reasons, just that they only dealt with the trade.

I picked up a 410 converted rook rifle at the local auction recently. Not a show piece, but originally in 297/250.
Brought it as a project too. Not decided what calibre to bring it back in yet.

Going via trade.

 

[Rookandrabbit]

I think rook rifles are a thing of beauty! I have had several placed upon my licence and enjoyed shooting them.They are from a time when quality craftsmanship and hand fitting were valued. However several I have had had barrels that looked like a tunnel for HS2 but not smooth, round or as clean!
I bought a scoped H+H Royal from holts stunning looking but the chamber had been bored out it was originally chambered in .360 Rook, however 360 2.25“ fell in with lots of space Either side.
Gutted!!! I wanted a .360 no5 Rook!!!!
good luck with your endeavours and I hope it shoots straight…………….DONT ASK!!!

 

[karamoja]

A bit of research - well trawling through pictures of just about every rook listed on Holts showed up this little beauty.

View attachment 299927

With full details here

https://auctions.holtsauctioneers.c...sp?isalelot=A1052+++1221+&refno=44891&image=0

The above converted to 22 Hornet

And another in 5.6x50R - very similar original gun

Catalogue Details

I am not sure who made this style. They don’t feature in Colin Greenwood’s book on Rook and Rabbit Rifles.

A bit of research - well trawling through pictures of just about every rook listed on Holts showed up this little beauty.

View attachment 299927

With full details here

HOLTS Auctioneers

HOLTS are Europe's leading Auctioneers of Fine Modern & Antique Guns.

auctions.holtsauctioneers.com

The above converted to 22 Hornet

And another in 5.6x50R - very similar original gun

Catalogue Details

I am not sure who made this style. They don’t feature in Colin Greenwood’s book on Rook and Rabbit Rifles.

I was talking to Ian Sweetman a few weeks ago about doing the very same thing. Bravo!!!
K

 

[Donkey Basher]

I am not sure who made this style. They don’t feature in Colin Greenwood’s book on Rook and Rabbit Rifles.

Get yourself a copy of this book, you may be able to find out more about your little rook.

Amazon product ASIN 0967632420

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Watching with great interest.

 

[norma 308]

Army and navy 295-250 very little use original colour hardening

 

[Smellydog]

Army and navy 295-250 very little use original colour hardening

Always wondered...what did the 250 denote please?

 

[stevec]

Always wondered...what did the 250 denote please?

I might be wrong, but I think the case is .295 of an inch in diameter and the diameter of the bore between the lands is .250 of an inch

 

[palmer_mike]

Is that a 297-250?

 

[gonzo]

Sorry, a typo.
Yes 297/250
I believe that was a 297 cal that was then necked down to .25
Known as a Morris cartridge. They were initially for sub-calibre barrel inserts for military rifles. For training.
They were replaced by 22long/LR.

Not sure what I will change mine to. But for less than 20quid, I had to have it.