Barn find 721

Status
Not open for further replies.

NIGHTLORD40K

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2015
Messages
12,821
Location
Nostramo (in absentia), Segmentum Ultima
So, one of the guys I work with isnt really a "gun person," but he and his wife panic bought their first handguns recently, a pair of el cheapo Taurus G2s. I was going to show them the ropes at the range Saturday, but the one closest to their house is closed for the duration.....

Anyway, this fella handed this to me yesterday, wrapped in a tattered old drape-
15858824285978431114130631668163.jpg
The story goes that it was his Grandfather's and hasnt seen the light of day since the gentleman died in 1973! Apparently it was passed around by various family members, still wrapped in that old drape and tied off with twine, until it landed in my coworkers closet.

He figured this would be a good time to get his Grandfathers rifle working again, just in case, and asked if I could give it a thourough cleaning amd checkout. I, of course, enjoying all old guns, agreed instantly without knowing exacty what I was getting into.

Imagine my delight when I unwrapped this pretty clean Remington 721 in .30-06!
15858827497394995403050403606933.jpg
IIRC, the 721 was introduced just prior to WW2 as a cheaper and lighter alternative to the M1917-based bolt guns Remington was still assembling from leftover parts. The economy was just starting to recover enough from the Depression to justify the cost of tooling up for a brand new hunting rifle and this ended up being the predecessor to the iconic M700. Indeed, many feel the 721 is superior to the 700, despite its rather plain, businesslike trappings. They were only made for a few years before wartime needs forced Remington to switch production to the M1903 and A3.

Im going off memory here, so sue me if I got any of that wrong.......lol.

Edit: Ok, I looked it up. All of the above applies to the Model 720. The 721 is the post war version produced from '48 to '61.
15858829789993828640992947741430.jpg
This example was lightly customized with a no-name scope, a rubber butt pad, and a rather nice cheek-riser:

15858830271035741799569590833109.jpg
I dont recognize the scope or mount, so if anyone knows more about them, please chime in!
15858830651751903473717489165711.jpg
Overall, this gun is in great shape, just needing a little polishing, cleaning, and a coat of Tung oil to get her ready for Coronapocalypse. The scope is toast, though- it has a broken reticle and the glass is really bad. Fortunately, I have a decent Weaver K4 laying about which I have no need for, so Ill hang it on this rifle for him.

O dang! I guess that means Ill have to test fire it and scope it in.:)

Cant wait, now if I can only find an open range.......
 

Attachments

  • 15858822708134850977554951735355.jpg
    15858822708134850977554951735355.jpg
    93.2 KB · Views: 20
Last edited:
Sweet!

My Grandfather left me a 721 in .257 Roberts back in 1990. It killed a LOT of deer back on the ranch for several decades. It would be neat if your new ‘06 could talk, I bet it has stories like mine has!

Let us know how it shoots once the Coronapocolypse is over :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Ok, upon dissassembly and further inspection, the scope is indeed a Weaver K6- the markings were obscured by the scope rings. Ill have to ask him if he wants to spend the $$$ to have it rebuilt, replaced, or just hang my K4 on it and call it a day.

The mount is an interesting design by a company called King Pike. It uses a spring-loaded rod suspended between the mounts to hold the rings. The spring is EXTREMELY stout and holds the rod securely once everything is screwed down- as I found out the hard way!
 
Last edited:
Sweet!

My Grandfather left me a 721 in .257 Roberts back in 1990. It killed a LOT of deer back on the ranch for several decades. It would be neat if your new ‘06 could talk, I bet it has stories like mine has!

Let us know how it shoots once the Coronapocolypse is over :thumbup:

Stay safe.
Well, its not mine, Im just fixin it up for a buddy at work, but I told him I would definitely take it off his hands if he ever does decide to sell it!
 
Well, that should be a nice surprise for your friend. Pretty remarkable that after fifty years wrapped in a curtain it's in such nice shape. If he wants the scope rebuilt or wants to buy similar, Vintagescopes.com seem to have a good rep, or gamble on ebay, I guess.

Cool time-capsule gun.
 
I had a 721 in 30-06. One of my first cf rifles. Loaned it to a buddy at hunting camp. He ended up buying it from me.

Kevin
 
Well, its not mine, Im just fixin it up for a buddy at work, but I told him I would definitely take it off his hands if he ever does decide to sell it!
I gotcha! My oops, I misread your post o_O

Still, I’d love to hear it talk if it could :).

Stay safe.
 
Before you put the 4X scope on it to replace the broken Weaver. If you are going to teach your friend to use the rifle, would it be better to start with the iron sights while he learns the basics? Just a thought.

Jeff
 
Handsome rifle. Of course my perception is skewed like everyone's but it seems to me the 1940s/50s/60s was the golden age of american hunting rifles... or at least that's how it feels to me, having missed it all. All of my old hunter's safety materials, catalogues, and promotional materials featuring those rifles just smack of nostalgia and awesome times.
 
Another oops,, he left me a 722 not a 721.
I went out to check out the scope mounts to see if they are similar to the ones you describe... and Remington 722 is staring me in the face. Doh! o_O

Are the scope mounts on the 721 like these Stith mounts?

2B9DE6EB-E722-46A4-8571-FD9659F1148A.jpeg 146969E3-99EA-4DE6-9337-0EECB67F7A99.jpeg 1F35475D-C1D7-4138-8677-DFCD788612C8.jpeg

Stay safe.
 
The sister to the 721 was named 722 and was chambered in 300 Savage. I bought one at a Pawn Shop in Reno, Nevada years ago. I mounted a plain but effective Bushnell 4X scope. Great mule deer rifle that put 'em down quickly. But it was traded away during the '90s. So it goes.

TR
 
O dang! I guess that means Ill have to test fire it and scope it in.

Great rifle!. It has the same trigger that caused all the problems in the Rem 700. For something that old, I would figure out a way to clean the trigger mechanism so nothing is gunked up internally. I am just thinking out loud, but maybe soaking in cigarette lighter fluid, followed by compressed air, would dissolve and remove any organic matter. Do test the trigger by cocking, putting the safety on, taking the safety off. Also, safety on, safety off, slap the rifle hard enough to make sure nothing jars off.

The mount is an interesting design by a company called King Pike. It uses a spring-loaded rod suspended between the mounts to hold the rings. The spring is EXTREMELY stout and holds the rod securely once everything is screwed down- as I found out the hard way!

Back in the day, scopes were expensive. Mounts were developed so you could take a scope off one rifle, and use it on another. Such as this

jvtG3w5.jpg

aHeLwWl.jpg

Maybe the King mount was a variation of this.
 
722 is the short action version, 721 is long action.

I still regularly use a 721 in .30-06 that was manufactured in 1950. It wears a Weaver as well, but in modern mounts. I also installed a Timney trigger. It gets used, due to the fact that i am not afraid for it to get banged around.
 
Another oops,, he left me a 722 not a 721.
I went out to check out the scope mounts to see if they are similar to the ones you describe... and Remington 722 is staring me in the face. Doh! o_O

Are the scope mounts on the 721 like these Stith mounts?

View attachment 905364 View attachment 905365 View attachment 905366

Stay safe.
Wow, those are some elaborate mounts! Never seen anything like em.....

The mount on this rifle is much simpler, just a spring-loaded bar with wedge-shaped ends which locks it into the bases.
 
Great rifle!. It has the same trigger that caused all the problems in the Rem 700. For something that old, I would figure out a way to clean the trigger mechanism so nothing is gunked up internally. I am just thinking out loud, but maybe soaking in cigarette lighter fluid, followed by compressed air, would dissolve and remove any organic matter. Do test the trigger by cocking, putting the safety on, taking the safety off. Also, safety on, safety off, slap the rifle hard enough to make sure nothing jars off.



Back in the day, scopes were expensive. Mounts were developed so you could take a scope off one rifle, and use it on another. Such as this

View attachment 905387

View attachment 905388

Maybe the King mount was a variation of this.
Ya, I was talking to my buddy today and informed him all about the Walker trigger issues. Since he has no plans to ever chamber a round in this without having the muzzle pointed downrange first, shouldnt be a problem. The guts on this thing are pretty clean anyway. It DID pass the butt-drop test already, lol.
 
Ya, I was talking to my buddy today and informed him all about the Walker trigger issues. Since he has no plans to ever chamber a round in this without having the muzzle pointed downrange first, shouldnt be a problem. The guts on this thing are pretty clean anyway. It DID pass the butt-drop test already, lol.

One of the gray beards told me a story from his youth. Two new hardware store bought M721's fired through the floor boards of a Hudson (I think) when the owners came back from hunting and unloaded their rifles with the muzzles pointing at the vehicle.

The Walker trigger had a reset problem, if I remember right. If the safety was put on, and then taken off, the rifle would discharge if the connector had not reset. You cannot empty the chamber of a M721 with the safety on, it has to be taken off. Any owner of the things need to be aware of that, the rifle has discharged on safety release.

Remington 700 Lawsuits Say Popular Rifles Have Deadly Trigger Defect

https://theproductlawyers.com/remington-700-lawsuit/

Fire Control Drew Criticism Before Release

The Walker trigger assembly, first introduced to the American market in 1948, features a unique design. In order to eliminate trigger shock and decrease the trigger’s movement, the Walker fire control system is outfitted with a “trigger connector.” Held in place by a single spring, the trigger connector supports the assembly’s sear, which holds the firing pin steady until the trigger is pulled.

At least, that’s the trigger connector’s function in theory. In practice, some experts say that using a separate trigger connector makes the Walker fire control unreasonably dangerous. Since the connector isn’t actually attached to the trigger, the two pieces can separate, creating a gap for moisture, lubricants, debris and manufacturing artifacts to collect. This can throw off the alignment between the trigger and sear, meaning that, under certain circumstances, the rifle could fire without the trigger ever being pulled.



Remington-Walker-Trigger-Infographic.png


I wish I had copied the article. A guy from El Paso comes home with a loaded Rem M700. He pulls the rifle out of the scabbard, takes off the safety to unload the thing, and it discharges up in the air. I don't know the distance, but a lady mowing her lawn was killed.
 
Last edited:
So, one of the guys I work with isnt really a "gun person," but he and his wife panic bought their first handguns recently, a pair of el cheapo Taurus G2s. I was going to show them the ropes at the range Saturday, but the one closest to their house is closed for the duration.....

Anyway, this fella handed this to me yesterday, wrapped in a tattered old drape-
View attachment 905135
The story goes that it was his Grandfather's and hasnt seen the light of day since the gentleman died in 1973! Apparently it was passed around by various family members, still wrapped in that old drape and tied off with twine, until it landed in my coworkers closet.

He figured this would be a good time to get his Grandfathers rifle working again, just in case, and asked if I could give it a thourough cleaning amd checkout. I, of course, enjoying all old guns, agreed instantly without knowing exacty what I was getting into.

Imagine my delight when I unwrapped this pretty clean Remington 721 in .30-06!
View attachment 905140
IIRC, the 721 was introduced just prior to WW2 as a cheaper and lighter alternative to the M1917-based bolt guns Remington was still assembling from leftover parts. The economy was just starting to recover enough from the Depression to justify the cost of tooling up for a brand new hunting rifle and this ended up being the predecessor to the iconic M700. Indeed, many feel the 721 is superior to the 700, despite its rather plain, businesslike trappings. They were only made for a few years before wartime needs forced Remington to switch production to the M1903 and A3.

Im going off memory here, so sue me if I got any of that wrong.......lol.

Edit: Ok, I looked it up. All of the above applies to the Model 720. The 721 is the post war version produced from '48 to '61.
View attachment 905142
This example was lightly customized with a no-name scope, a rubber butt pad, and a rather nice cheek-riser:

View attachment 905143
I dont recognize the scope or mount, so if anyone knows more about them, please chime in!
View attachment 905148
Overall, this gun is in great shape, just needing a little polishing, cleaning, and a coat of Tung oil to get her ready for Coronapocalypse. The scope is toast, though- it has a broken reticle and the glass is really bad. Fortunately, I have a decent Weaver K4 laying about which I have no need for, so Ill hang it on this rifle for him.

O dang! I guess that means Ill have to test fire it and scope it in.:)

Cant wait, now if I can only find an open range.......
The 721 is a nice rifle. That is a throwback to a simpler time. Not a cannon and it doesn't have an optic that's capable of stargazing.
 
Morning OP. I really enjoyed your post. I just had a similar experience. About 30 years ago my father in law had given me his old 721 in 30.06 that he used as a general purpose ranch gun in New Mexico for many years. The build code shows a 1950 date of manufacture. Had shot it several times over the years, but never did much with it. I pulled it out of the closet end of last year, sent it to a gunsmith to have the bolt lock removed (Remington safety recall, they paid for everything, including shipping). I looked for a 721 stock, but no joy, either wildly expensive, or 18 months lead time. So after consulting with Stocky's (nice, knowledgable gal on the phone) I ended up getting a 700 stock. It had to be Dremel'd just a bit for the 721 safety, but other than that, a perfect fit. I originally scoped it with a vintage Weaver KV I had, but since scoped it with a Vortex Diamondback. Before and after. I think it came out pretty nice! Rem 721.jpg Rem 721 with Vortex scope and Steoger sling.jpg
 
Morning OP. I really enjoyed your post. I just had a similar experience. About 30 years ago my father in law had given me his old 721 in 30.06 that he used as a general purpose ranch gun in New Mexico for many years. The build code shows a 1950 date of manufacture. Had shot it several times over the years, but never did much with it. I pulled it out of the closet end of last year, sent it to a gunsmith to have the bolt lock removed (Remington safety recall, they paid for everything, including shipping). I looked for a 721 stock, but no joy, either wildly expensive, or 18 months lead time. So after consulting with Stocky's (nice, knowledgable gal on the phone) I ended up getting a 700 stock. It had to be Dremel'd just a bit for the 721 safety, but other than that, a perfect fit. I originally scoped it with a vintage Weaver KV I had, but since scoped it with a Vortex Diamondback. Before and after. I think it came out pretty nice! View attachment 906501 View attachment 906503
Wow! Looks awesome!
 
Think I would change out the trigger assembly just to be sure.
Still very nice rifle given its storage and time.
 
Morning OP. I really enjoyed your post. I just had a similar experience. About 30 years ago my father in law had given me his old 721 in 30.06 that he used as a general purpose ranch gun in New Mexico for many years. The build code shows a 1950 date of manufacture. Had shot it several times over the years, but never did much with it. I pulled it out of the closet end of last year, sent it to a gunsmith to have the bolt lock removed (Remington safety recall, they paid for everything, including shipping). I looked for a 721 stock, but no joy, either wildly expensive, or 18 months lead time. So after consulting with Stocky's (nice, knowledgable gal on the phone) I ended up getting a 700 stock. It had to be Dremel'd just a bit for the 721 safety, but other than that, a perfect fit. I originally scoped it with a vintage Weaver KV I had, but since scoped it with a Vortex Diamondback. Before and after. I think it came out pretty nice! View attachment 906501 View attachment 906503

Ya rurnt it! :rofl:

I bet it don't kick near as hard with that new stock. :thumbup:
 
My friend hunts on my land. About 25 years ago he bought a 721 in 06 from a old guy that no longer hunted. Purely stock except for the K4 in soldered on mounts.

He's a lefty shooting a right handed gun so I didn't expect much.

The first magazine of Silvertips went into 1 inch at 100 yards. So did the rest of the box. 25 years later it has a newer scope but the accuracy has not changed.

Ironhand
 
My friend hunts on my land. About 25 years ago he bought a 721 in 06 from a old guy that no longer hunted. Purely stock except for the K4 in soldered on mounts.

He's a lefty shooting a right handed gun so I didn't expect much.

The first magazine of Silvertips went into 1 inch at 100 yards. So did the rest of the box. 25 years later it has a newer scope but the accuracy has not changed.

Ironhand

From my experience, being left-eye dominant, shooting right-handed rifles... I've seen no appreciable effect one way or the other on accuracy.

This sounds to me like a good-shooting rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top