Takedown rifle--was this real or Hollywood?

[ABTOMAT]

I saw a TV program a while back that featured the bad guy using a takedown rifle. Always wondered if it this particular version was real or invented, so I figure I'll ask.

Bolt action
Hunting caliber
Black matte barrel
Scope
Normal pattern stock done like a GP100's grip--black synthetic with light inserts
Forarm and butt detach from center section with receiver
Forarm with barrel locks onto receiver with a quarter-turn

Anyone? Looked real-ish to me, didn't slide together like magic, and ejected a round quite realistically.

 

[dfariswheel]

There are custom take-down rifles, a few standard production models, and a Hollywood favorite, the Japanese paratrooper take-down Arisaka bolt action rifle.

Among other movies, the Arisaka starred in the original Frank Sinatra version of "The Manchurian Candidate".

 

[Cosmoline]

What program? I'll bet someone can ID it specifically if you remember.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I refuse to answer on the grounds that I might end up in the same league as a guy with toys on his wall or a dude in makeup with his buddy.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's OK--you're among friends here. Check out all the threads on "Blade Runner" and "Firefly," not to mention "Cowboy Bebop"

 

[ABTOMAT]

OK, think about Firefly some...

At the risk of elevating myself to a whole other level of nerdiness, here are some stills from the digitized copy on my hard drive.

 

[Cosmoline]

Ah, Jonathan from "Buffy" with the rifle he was going to use to kill himself. I see your geek and raise you a nerd.

I can't ID it off hand, though it looks real enough. It's probably an existing prop rifle jazzed up with some fancy grips. Certainly takedown rifles of that type do exist, though they are $$$. Typical takedown rifles are two-piece models that aren't quite so elegant. Every extra piece that can be taken off and put back on quickly adds to the engineering problems and costs of the firearm.

 

[mrmeval]

There are several take down firearms. The survival arms one is a favorite if it has an evil looking add on stock. An AR15/M16 can be seperated in two. Many shotguns and double shotguns can be broken down as can double rifles. Thompson contenders have been used with scope. The Keltec SU-16C will fold up. A 1927A1 fits in a cello case.

There is a finger accessable takedown kit for the 10/22. I've seen one that had a carbon fiber minimalist folding and detachable stock, carbon fiber barrel with liner. It's so light it's unreal.

 

[rangerruck]

it almost apears to be an Omega 3, the rarest of the rare, i think only 9 are in existence. tolerances, metalwork, and design done by a space aeronautics firm.

 

[Cosmoline]

By george, I think you may be right! That weird square shaped receiver with the beveled edges is quite similar to an Omega III, as is the unusual two-piece stock. Whedon's gun cred, or at least that of his prop guys, just went up another notch.

 

[ABTOMAT]

You weren't kidding, you guys are pathetic. At least no one's using episode numbers. I'm not willing to give Whedon that much credit--"Buffy" still strikes me as a fairly anti show. But fun...

Any information out there on the Omega III? Sounds like an interesting weapon. Didn't find anything via Google.

 

[Cosmoline]

You weren't kidding, you guys are pathetic.

Yes, but we're well armed.

An Omega III, not to be confused with the fatty acid, is an extremely rare custom-made takedown rifle made by Homer Koon out of Alpha Arms in Texas back in the 1970's. AFAIK each one is a custom job and has a stock and style made to order. So it's possible one is floating around out there with a weird stock design like that. I sure don't know of any other rifle with a receiver that looks like that and a two-piece stock, which is why I figured it must be a prop job at first. Ordinarily two-piece stocks are avoided, since they can cause accuracy problems, so apart from SMLE's and leverguns it's very unusual to see them on a rifle.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Well, that do you know? I found four seperate listings on Gunbroker and Gunsamerica, all nearly identical rifles. Here's the one with the best photos:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976676346.htm

I can see some similarities, but I'm still not sold unless the Buffy gun was a serious one-off. The BG's receiver is inside the stock except for where the forarm and barrel lock on. No safety behind the trigger guard and...

Here's a clip of the bolt. That's a Mauser type, right? The Omega one in the last auction photo is pretty unique looking.

 

[Strings]

>I see your geek and raise you a nerd.<

And what category would someone with all 7 seasons on DVD be in?

Only asking 'cause my wife has 'em... not that *I* would ever watch something like that...

 

[Smith357]

The gun in question is a Ruger 77. Notice the shape of the wood inlays and position and shape of the sling swivels. And the 77 has a mauser style action.

It was eiter modified by Hollywood, or a gunsmith to be a takedown

http://www.davesguns.com/serverpics/UsedPage/Ruger-m-77-sb243-01.jpg

 

[Cosmoline]

Model 77 was my first thought, too. But look at that receiver! Esp. in the third photo, there appears to be custom engraved inlays. Who on Earth would do that with a workaday 77? They're usually decorated with duck tape and automotive sealant. Also, the receiver is quite a bit fatter and more square than an M-77's standard Mauser-type receiver. If it's a 77, someobody made it a lot thicker in the middle than it usually is. And who ever heard of a takedown Model 77?

 

[ABTOMAT]

Thank you! There's no question it's a Ruger 77, or at least based on one. But I'm still wondering if it's a real takedown version someone made or purely a prop. Look in the third photo--you can see where there's a metal interface between the receiver and barrel, and where it is in relation to the inlay on the stock. Looks like there's an extra inch or two compared with a normal one.

 

[Thain]

How exactly is Buffy (or its spinoff, Angel) antigun?

I see your geek, your nerd, and raise you a complete set of both Buffy, Angel, and Firefly on DVD. (Plus the comics!)

 

[ABTOMAT]

OK, you win. Until someone posts they own a $3000 reproduction Spike jacket.

Angel wasn't anti-gun, but lots of Buffy episodes struck me as such. Mostly earlier seasons, I can't remember specific references or episodes. Maybe I should watch all 144 and see if one writer was behind it?

 

[akodo]

doesn't sig saur make a takedown rifle under the blazer line?

regarding buffy being anti-gun, the biggest anti-gun part of that show is that Zander never went out and got himself a remington 870 and some training, and then been useful to the team.

Why not do this? probably because they knew kids really couldn't learn magic or have pet vampires for friends, etc etc, but kids might just follow Zander's example and shoot themselves, that's the only logic I can see for failing to develop this angle. Of course, tons of kids watched the lone ranger, and couldn't get an indian sidekick or a white horse, but COULD gain access to firearms, but never seemed to shoot eachother or themselves very often.

 

[mrmeval]

Sarah Michelle Geller does not blame guns

Actually Sarah Michelle Geller made statements that she did not blame guns for Columbine.

http://www.nrawinningteam.com/moved/buffy.html

 

[Cosmoline]

That particular episode got bumped and banished for awhile because of the Columbine events. It had been made prior to the school shootings.

 

[Strings]

>a complete set of both Buffy, Angel, and Firefly on DVD. (Plus the comics!)<

Now if you can only learn to count...

I never caught any anti-gun attitude from Buffy.... Let's see, she used a rocket launcher in season 2 (which was a great way around the "no weapon forged" thing), dated commando guy for QUITE awhile (and used a kinda gun for a bit there), Zander had the whole "army guy" thing from season 2. Only time I remember seeing anything remotely anti was Buffy telling a bank guard that guns don't work on demons (season 6, IIRC)...

 

[griz]

Looks like a modified 77 to me. I didn't see the show, so I don't know if they really made the barrel detachable.

Have you noticed that in Hollywood, all takedown firearm components, including scopes, stocks, and bipods, can be reassembeled with a 1/4 turn twist, and make the same mettalic sound as a shotgun slide?

 

[rangerruck]

somewhere on the rimfirecentral forums, there is a auction for ONE omega 3. the tickets are 50 bucks i think, the rifle is valued at 65k. one was given to the financial backer of homer Koon, one was given to john Wayne. dont know where the others went or where this one comes from.