Single Shot Rifles

[Uncle Ethan]

I acquired two C H Armory hammerless Hi-Wall rifles a few years back. All I have been able to find out is that they were made by the reloading tool company as a "improved Highwall" - one is serial # 1 expermental in 45/70 - and the second is #1011-in .250-3000-- but I believe that is the model number. Both are equipped with fairly early Bushnell scopes. The only mention I have seen is in "Single Shot Rifles" published around 1970. Anyone have any ideas about how I could find more information about these rifles? Thks

 

[fisherman66]

If they are falling blocks they could be a copy of the Browning Hi-Wall. The Browning was a supurb single shot. I believe they are of Farquharson design. Browning has sold the rights to the patent and a small handful of manufactures have produced the copy under their name (reminds me of FN and the HiPower.)

 

[Uncle Ethan]

Thanks for the response- they are physically identical to the Hi-Wall except that they are hammerless. They are falling blocks with a safety located for thumb use [like a shotgun] but appear to cock on opening. I have never shot them, I bought them from a gun shop that got them from an estate. They are round barrel with no iron sights, just the scope. I always hope to find someone who was connected with the C H reloading tool company. They were in Gardena, CA up until the early 70tys. I don't think they are in business anymore. I would like to have one of the gun magazines do a story on them and use pictures of the rifles as examples, but none of the mags have any info about them. It would be a shame to lose this info, but the internet is a lost cause.

 

[fisherman66]

www.chuckhawks.com has a write up on the Browning Hi Wall. I have submitted two article which he has published. He may be interested in having a review and comparison. I'd drop him an e-mail. He may have some first hand knowledge of this particular gun.

BTW...I think the falling block is one of the best actions out there. I wish all the big manufacturers would dedicate a line to it as Ruger has.

 

[Uncle Ethan]

Thanks, Fisherman- I'd be interested in hearing his reply- I could make the rifles available for photos, or just take some myself if he has any information.

 

[Jim Watson]

Armory C-H was a joint venture between Armory Firearms and C-H Tool & Die, the reloading equipment makers. The Armory C-H Single Shot was announced in the 1968 Gun Digest, illustrated with an exposed hammer. It dropped out of the catalog section by 1971 with no Testfire or other article and never illustrated except with hammer (apparently the same picture, description, and price - $179 for a complete rifle - in all three issues.
Even the hammer model was described as operating LIKE a Winchester Single Shot but with NO parts interchangeability.

I could find no other mention and no listing or picture of a hammerless version. I have seen pictures of all sorts of 19th century single shots converted to hammerless, so it would not have been a whole lot of trouble for them to get a design concept for it.

The Armory C-H predates the Jap Browning Model 78 mutation of the "Highwall" by ten years and is not related that I can tell. The original Browning - Winchester Single Shot of 1885 has no direct connection with a British Farquarson that I can tell, it is pretty much a Sharps breechblock and center hung hammer action. And advertised that way by Winchester at the time.

C-H was taken over by 4D and I don't know if there is any institutional memory of a rifle three owners and 30 years ago. Wouldn't hurt to call, they might have some old literature.

 

[Uncle Ethan]

Thanks Jim- I'll research 4D and see if there are any long time employees. I might have the only two rifles made. If my interest in keeping things as they were weren't so strong I'd rebarrel them with half oct/half rd in .40 caliber and shoot them against my .40/65 Hi-wall to see who built the more accurate rifle.

 

[fisherman66]

Thanks Jim, that was an interesting read.