300 H&H Magnum?

[Jipps]

Hi,

This rifle was left to me when my father passed away and I don't know much about it. The only markings on the barrel are what appears to be a serial number "957678" and "300 MAG" with "F.A.KENT" under it. The Serial number is on the right side of the barrel under the scope mount, the other writing is opposite it on the left side. I took it to a gun smith in Orlando and he said that it was a custom gun Chambered for 300 H&H magnum, we tried a 300 H&H dummy round and it was the only one that fit. I believe he said it had a winchester bolt and receiver but I may be mistaken. The scope mount is made by Redfield and the scope is made by Leupold. If anyone has any information about the rifle that would be great, also does anyone know about how much it would be worth if I were to sell it?

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

No sentimental value for you?

 

[rcmodel]

It's a fairly well done Sporterized 1917 Enfield.
It may well have been made by Winchester, but it was a GI 1917 WWI army rifle when it started out.

Price is hard to estimate, but I would say in the $300 - $400 range if you find the right buyer.

rc

 

[Jipps]

No sentimental value for you?

This particular one does not hold any special sentimental value. I never remember him ever hunting with it. I'm keeping the other rifle he left me for life, that ones a model 99 300 savage lever action.

 

[Jim Watson]

F. A. Kent is most likely the gunsmith who sporterized the rifle.
He put in a lot of work but unfortunately the market for pre-1968 sporterized military rifles is not good unless either the maker or the user is very famous.

I see that he rechambered the barrel, opened up the bolt face, opened up the magazine, straightened the floorplate, straightened the bolt handle, removed the rear sight and its protective "ears", drilled and tapped for the scope mount, and refinished all the metal. The stock is good for the day and age with beaded cheekpiece and level or reverse sloped comb a la Elmer Keith. Steel pistol grip cap and no gimmicky foreend tip or white spacers.

The recoil pad is rather unfortunate, maybe squashed out from standing on the butt for years, maybe an unfitted replacement. There are marks on the butt I cannot make out.

 

[Float Pilot]

During the 50, 60 and 70s,, those sporterized 1917 actions were very popular up here in Alaska. Particularly those converted to 300 HH magnum. They are super strong and have more magazine capacity than most other actions.
Whoever F. A. Kent was, he did a nice job... That recoil pad is obviously not his work.
Were that rifle to come up for sale locally, I would be all over it.

 

[Jipps]

I appreciate everyone's insight, I will be at the gun show in Orlando this Saturday if anyone would like to take a closer look at it.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Tip of the hat to rcmodel, Float Pilot and Jim Watson. I am continuously amazed at what people know on this site.