My friend found this rifle in his parents old gun safe. The only markings on it are "22LR" and a serial number. The gun is a single shot 22LR. We tried it out this past weekend and it works.
Pics are below:
Pics are below:
What is my friend's "mystery rifle"? - pics
- Thread starter Lightsped
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i don't know but i saw one of those at the gun show a few weeks back and i wondered the same thing.
One of my uncles had one of those in 22lr. It was the first firearm I ever fired.
There was an article about them in the annual Gun Digest several (10?) years ago.
Just remembered it was called the "Bronco".
There was an article about them in the annual Gun Digest several (10?) years ago.
Just remembered it was called the "Bronco".
thats cool. if you could shorten the barrel and stick it inside the stock for storage that would make a neat little survival rifle
Whatever it is, it looks fun! If he ever thinks about selling it shoot me a PM.
Take some WD40 or CLP and a scotchbrite to the entire thing, should shine up nicely!
Take some WD40 or CLP and a scotchbrite to the entire thing, should shine up nicely!
more info after a quick google.
its called a Garcia Bronco
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=137218&highlight=garcia+bronco
apearently there are .22 , .410. and 22/410 versions. if i read correctly
its called a Garcia Bronco
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=137218&highlight=garcia+bronco
apearently there are .22 , .410. and 22/410 versions. if i read correctly
These were sold under at least two names; one was the "Garcia Bronco", and the other one I know about for sure was the "Bauer Rabbit". There were also combination .22/.410 versions made.
It was marketed as the "Bronco" by the Garcia Corporation during the 1970 (I think). It came as a single shot .22, .410, and an over/under .22/.410, They were inexpensive but rarely show up on the used gun market.
It's a Garcia Bronco. Cast alloy stock. Chambered in .22 Short, Long or Long Rifle and .22 mag. Sold, in 1973, for $25 in .22 S, L and Long Rifle, $26.50 in .22 mag.
Tell your buddy that the rust can be removed, quickly, using a fine brass wire wheel in a bench grinder. Eye protection is mandatory. Or he can use 0000 steel wool, some oil and some elbow grease.
Tell your buddy that the rust can be removed, quickly, using a fine brass wire wheel in a bench grinder. Eye protection is mandatory. Or he can use 0000 steel wool, some oil and some elbow grease.
they are actually tough to foind , still working. could have a bit of value, and yes they are skeletonized like that. usually there is something, can't remember what, that breaks in them, that is tough to replace. the boys here
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/
can tell you all you wanna know about them.
I agree with the last dude here, dunk it in oil, let it frip dry, then take some 0000 wool, and VERY LIGHTLY, rub off the rust. then when done, dunk in a sythetic oil, kepp it warm for a few days. or if you have Sweetshooters, this will adhere to all metal parts, in a fine vapor lock form, and will help to keep it from rusting in the future.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/
can tell you all you wanna know about them.
I agree with the last dude here, dunk it in oil, let it frip dry, then take some 0000 wool, and VERY LIGHTLY, rub off the rust. then when done, dunk in a sythetic oil, kepp it warm for a few days. or if you have Sweetshooters, this will adhere to all metal parts, in a fine vapor lock form, and will help to keep it from rusting in the future.
Carl N. Brown
Member
Had one back in the 1970s and recently traded for one.
Broke down, it fits nicely in a backpack or overnight
survival kit.
While the Garcia Bronco is a "modern" gun, it actually
resembles many of the all-metal wire stocked "bicycle
rifles" of the 1890s. People would bicycle to go hunting
and takedown guns were popular for that purpose.
Broke down, it fits nicely in a backpack or overnight
survival kit.
While the Garcia Bronco is a "modern" gun, it actually
resembles many of the all-metal wire stocked "bicycle
rifles" of the 1890s. People would bicycle to go hunting
and takedown guns were popular for that purpose.
I guess I'm one of the old geezers here. I worked in a gunshop back in the early 70's and we sold a bunch of those Garcia Bronco's. I seem to remember about 40 bucks apiece. I remember they had a real spongy trigger and sad sights, but they were reliable. They were the competitor of the AR-7.
If you'll clean the rust of it as suggested with a wire wheel brush, then paint it with one of those fancy new gun kote bake on paints, it'll look pretty good and perform pretty well at the task it was intended for.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
I have a Bronco, they are actually a neat little gun. I bought it cheap thinking it would be a good rifle to leave in the trunk, but then I found out that they have become collectors items, so I take care of it.
Clean it up and shoot it!
Clean it up and shoot it!
i personaly think its a brilliant idea especialy for the small bores. i think this type of gun in 410/45 lc would make a decent seller. it may even sell in a larger pistol round like 357. wish some one would make a run of a "bicycle gun". its honestly the kind of thing i dig. simple. reliable. maybe this could become a cottage industry
Like others have said already, it's a Firearms International Bronco .22 rifle made in Accokeek Maryland. There was also a less well known version of this rifles that was made in .22 Mag. It was made originally as an inexpensive boys rifle.
The GCA of 68' basically put them out of business because in it the law stated that all firearms had to have serial numbers from that point on. Prior to the new gun law, they didn't have serial numbers as it wasn't required by law to do so. Before this, the retail price on this was $9.95. After the GCA of 1968, dealer price rose to $11 and retail rose to $14.95. Consumers decided that they weren't worth it and went on to other rifles.
A writer by the name of Lee Arten wrote an article about them in the Shotgun News if you're interested in doing a search for the article online and this is where I pulled this information about them from. I knew that I'd seen it somewhere before and it was this article that I saw them in, before that, I'd never seen one.
The GCA of 68' basically put them out of business because in it the law stated that all firearms had to have serial numbers from that point on. Prior to the new gun law, they didn't have serial numbers as it wasn't required by law to do so. Before this, the retail price on this was $9.95. After the GCA of 1968, dealer price rose to $11 and retail rose to $14.95. Consumers decided that they weren't worth it and went on to other rifles.
A writer by the name of Lee Arten wrote an article about them in the Shotgun News if you're interested in doing a search for the article online and this is where I pulled this information about them from. I knew that I'd seen it somewhere before and it was this article that I saw them in, before that, I'd never seen one.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/values/0502/
Garcia continued to sell them as the Garcia Bronco or Bauer Rabbit in the 70s.
That's a pretty wild design. I know the Italians are famous for radical designs during the 60's. A piece like that might well interest people beyond the firearms realm.
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