Abercrombie & Fitch Rifle

[OnPointFirearms]

The Abercrombie & Fitch rifle: a rare piece of firearms history. Today's youth recognize the brand as a stylish clothier-- a purveyor of hippie clothing and frankinsense. The stores have mood lighting, loud music, and models with hopeless, confused looks on their faces-- suggesting the combined weight of the world and their 1-series BMW is far too much for shoulders to bear.

However, the Abercrombie & Fitch store of yesteryear was a different animal. At its New York City location, you could buy the finest outdoors equipment in the world-- including guns. Famous adventurers like Amelia Earhart, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Clark Gable frequented the store. Ernest Hemingway even bought the gun he committed suicide with from A&F. Famous weapons manufacturers, including Weatherby, were commissioned to build special edition firearms for the company.

This particular specimen was brought into our shop by a former Marine. Marines take care of their guns. So, even though it's over 60 years old, the rifle is still in excellent, showroom condition. (Younger shooters take note: even if you don't shoot your weapons, make sure to take them out of the safe on a regular basis for cleaning and maintenance.)

From what we know, this rifle was made by Weatherby in the 1930s or 40s and purchased from the New York City Abercrombie & Fitch store. It's chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum and has "Made in England" and British BNP proof marks stamped into the barrel and receiver. The rifle even sports an Abercrombie & Fitch 3.5-9x40 scope. We've seen A&F rifles and shotguns fetch upwards of $9k at auction. Right now, this spectacular rifle is on Gunbroker starting at $1500: [View Gunbroker Auction] Proceeds of the auction go to our client, a USMC Korean War veteran.







If you know anything more about Abercrombie & Fitch rifles, please feel free to contact me. I'd appreciate any information that you can share.

Have a good one!
-- Evan

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know if you are having me on, or the Marine is having you on.

I do not see "Weatherby" anywhere on the illustrated rifle, here or on Gunbroker.
There was no such thing as a .300 Winchester Magnum in the 1940s, the caliber was not introduced until 1963.
Weatherby started using the Mk V action of his own design in 1957 and quit with the odds and ends of Mausers, Winchesters, and Mathelieus he had been making do with. He brought out the economy line of Vanguards on Howa actions sometime later.

Ther illustrated rifle is very close if not identical to the British Parker Hale 1200 as sold here in the mid-1970s at list prices comparable to Winchester and about half of Weatherby's.

You may have one of the last guns imported and branded by Abercrombie & Fitch, but it is not a Weatherby and it is not 60 years old.

Truth in advertising, boys.

 

[JohnBT]

Just to round out the history of A&F and extend the timeline...

"But by the late '60s the store hit upon hard times and went bankrupt in 1977. Oshman's Sporting Goods, based in Houston, Texas, bought the company. Business wasn't good. The Limited Inc. bought Abercrombie & Fitch in 1988."

 

[JohnBT]

www.gunsamerica.com/976889348/Guns/Rifles/Parker-Hale-Rifles/PARKER_HALE_1200.htm

And a 1976 ad:

 

[rcmodel]

+1

It's a mid-70'ish Parker-Hale 98 Mauser.

Same age with the scope.
I don't know who made the scope for A&F, but 3-9x40 scopes were not being made either until the late 60's early 70's.

The only thing Weatherby about it is they copied some of Weatherby's styling, such as the white-line spacers, roll-over comb, reverse angle forend tip, skip-line checkering, and high-gloss lacquer finish.

It's a $450 rifle & scope, $550 tops on a good day!

rcmodel

 

[ACORN]

I'm certainly not an expert but the styling of the rifle doesn't look anything like a 30"S or 40's rifle. I'd be a bit leery. YMMV

 

[OnPointFirearms]

Agreed

You guys are right on about the Parker Hale 1200. That's what it is. Boys over at Glocktalk set us straight. Appreciate the help. Gunbroker listing is changed and the wind is officially out of my Marine's sails.

 

[Jim Watson]

What, you believed Glocktalk and not us?

 

[blkbrd666]

Jim,

Evidently they did 'cause they're still starting it out at $800. They didn't get that valuation over here.