I thought I was buying a Stevens Grant 450-400 - great price - SURPRISE SURPRISE

[buckstix]

I thought I was buying a Stevens Grant 450-400 - great price - SURPRISE SURPRISE

Here is the link ... great British gun at a good price at only $3999 .... ($3500 with my Cabelas club points)

https://www.gunsinternational....cfm?gun_id=103408175

I was concerned if this was going to be the 450-400 smaller 2-3/8" case .. or the 450-400 larger 3-1/4" case ...

When I picked up the gun I took along a 3-1/4" case to test the chambers ...... THEY LITERALLY DISAPPEARED IN THE CHAMBERS ...

TURNS OUT ITS A 3" 500 CALIBER .....

 

[VertigoBE]

Well that's a great bit of luck! Beautiful rifle for sure. Well done

 

[Whit]

#winning

 

[AZDAVE]

Now that is a pleasant surprise. With the proof marks is a a 500 NE or BPE?

 

[MacJenkins]

I have it's twin. Pretty sure yours will be damascus barrels same as mine.

 

[buckstix]

500 BPE ... STEEL BARRELS ... THE RIFLE HAD A LAMINATED TAG FROM THE FORMER OWNER ATTACHED TO THE TRIGGER GUARD ... IT SAID "500 EXPRESS CALIBER", 28" STEEL BARRELS, AND IT HAD 2 LOADS OF NITRO-FOR-BLACK LOADING DATA WITH VELOCITIES ALSO .. APPARENTLY (FORTUNATE FOR ME) CABELAS CAN'T READ ...

 

[tward1604]

The Cabela's in Fort Worth is notorious for getting the make, model and caliber wrong on high end guns. Looks like it was in your favor.

 

[buckstix]

There is a "39" stamped on the bottom of the barrels .... but there was a laminated tag attached to the trigger-guard from the former owner that said ..

"caliber 500 3" express"

and even had loading data with IMR3031 and IMR4198 with velocities - HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE TAG

https://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/GRANT-HANG-TAG.jpg

 

[BryceM]

Sweet deal for you. But, I can’t help but thinking that someone (or someone’s heirs) likely got less than it was worth.

It happens. Not your job to fix that.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

There is a "39" stamped on the bottom of the barrels .... but there was a laminated tag attached to the trigger-guard from the former owner that said ..

"caliber 500 3" express"

and even had loading data with IMR3031 and IMR4198 with velocities - HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE TAG

https://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/GRANT-HANG-TAG.jpg

I’d wager the former owner purchased that rifle from Collector’s Firearms in Houston. That tag looks identical to the ones they use and the information they typically include.

 

[buckstix]

The tag was most likely from the former owner - because it his his chronograph loading data.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The tag was most likely from the former owner - because it his his chronograph loading data.

Collectors often times includes that info on their tags if they have it on hand and types the tags out like that but you are right, it could be from the former owner.