rhoward252
AH veteran
I am (again) selling this beautiful Merkel 140AE in .470 NE. The metal is finished in the somewhat rare (for a Merkel) Color Case Hardening with Arabesque laser engraving on the receiver. The CCH colors are beautiful! The wood is very nicely grained, and is Class 4 according to the Merkel archives, as provided by Tobi. The rifle was manufactured in 2016. The barrels are 23.6 inches in length (600mm) and are rust-blued. The front site is gold-bead and the rear is a wide-V express site with 50 and 75 fold-down blades. The rifle weighs 10 lbs., 14.5 ounces according to my postal scale. The LOP is 14.375 from the front trigger and 13.31 from the rear. It has provisions from the manufacturer for a rail-mounted, aftermarket, front site if so desired. Included in the sale is a custom mount for a Trijicon RMR, as pictured, at a $170 value. The rifle comes with a manufacturers leather case with factory lock-setting directions included. The 140AE features double triggers, Anson & Deeley Box Lock, Greener Locking Mechanism with double underlug locking as per Merkel specs.
I originally purchased this rifle online and I do not have any of the early history on it. I sold the rifle in the Spring of 2024 to a forum member and bought it back a few months ago when the opportunity presented itself. I had a bit of seller’s remorse last year, and I wanted the opportunity to compare it to my Verney-Carron .500NE, so back into my safe it went. The other involved member seemed happy with the rifle, but had decided to make a move up, so we struck a deal for the second time in less than a year.
Overall, the rifle appears to have had a minimal number of rounds put through it. Only a small number of rounds fired by myself or the gentleman that I’ve passed the rifle back and forth with, to be sure. Please see the photos and decide for yourself on usage. The right side of the receiver face shows no surface markings to indicate that a meaningful number of rounds have ever been chambered on that side. Unfortunately, I do not have any ‘formal’ information on the regulation of this rifle. I’m assuming that it was regulated with DGX, but I don’t know that for certain. I do not have a regulation target. It hits ‘minute of elephant brain’ with all factory ammo that I have put through it, including Barnes and Nosler.
I can find no visible flaws in the external metal finish. It is in as-new condition in this regard. Anything visible in the photos that resembles a flaw is likely a fiber from the pre-photo wipe down, or dust particles. The rifle is ‘factory-new-stiff’ and locks up tight. It shoulders wonderfully, and the sites intuitively line up perfectly with the eye when in shooting position. It feels like an extension of one’s arm when shouldered. It is extremely well-balanced.
The wood finish remains in excellent condition, with only a few very small imperfections. The greatest of these is on the lower left side of the stock and is pictured for your scrutiny. There is another, smaller mark on the lower left side of the forearm, also pictured. There are two insignificant imperfections in the finish (finish only) on either side of the release lever where the stock surrounds the tang and meets the receiver. These do not extend into the wood at all. Again, I am being very picky here for the sake of full-disclosure and I urge you to analyze the photos. The wood finish is beautiful and you are unlikely to be disappointed.
I have satisfactorily closed numerous sale-transactions on this forum, as documented by exclusively-positive reviews left by the members of this group. I have been on GB under the same username since 2009 and have 300 positive reviews, with 0 negative. I will reasonably work with a buyer to ensure a mutually-secure transaction. A Face-to-face transaction in Minnesota is an option, or I will ship to your FFL with shipping and insurance at your expense. I am happy to video call to offer you any perspective of the rifle so desired.
Whenever I am asked why I am selling something, I always answer the same way. “For the money.” In all seriousness, I have a V/C Imperial in .500NE, as well as a large amount of ammo for it. I am in love with that one, so I can’t (reasonably and rationally) justify keeping this rifle. If I have time to think about it much more, I could change my mind. So don’t wait too long to make your move if you have been waiting for this one to come along. I have my eye on a high-end (for me, at least) bolt gun, and I’m heading to Africa in October, so here we go again…..
I am offering the rifle with case and site mount for $12,500USD. Please PM me to discuss in more detail.
I originally purchased this rifle online and I do not have any of the early history on it. I sold the rifle in the Spring of 2024 to a forum member and bought it back a few months ago when the opportunity presented itself. I had a bit of seller’s remorse last year, and I wanted the opportunity to compare it to my Verney-Carron .500NE, so back into my safe it went. The other involved member seemed happy with the rifle, but had decided to make a move up, so we struck a deal for the second time in less than a year.
Overall, the rifle appears to have had a minimal number of rounds put through it. Only a small number of rounds fired by myself or the gentleman that I’ve passed the rifle back and forth with, to be sure. Please see the photos and decide for yourself on usage. The right side of the receiver face shows no surface markings to indicate that a meaningful number of rounds have ever been chambered on that side. Unfortunately, I do not have any ‘formal’ information on the regulation of this rifle. I’m assuming that it was regulated with DGX, but I don’t know that for certain. I do not have a regulation target. It hits ‘minute of elephant brain’ with all factory ammo that I have put through it, including Barnes and Nosler.
I can find no visible flaws in the external metal finish. It is in as-new condition in this regard. Anything visible in the photos that resembles a flaw is likely a fiber from the pre-photo wipe down, or dust particles. The rifle is ‘factory-new-stiff’ and locks up tight. It shoulders wonderfully, and the sites intuitively line up perfectly with the eye when in shooting position. It feels like an extension of one’s arm when shouldered. It is extremely well-balanced.
The wood finish remains in excellent condition, with only a few very small imperfections. The greatest of these is on the lower left side of the stock and is pictured for your scrutiny. There is another, smaller mark on the lower left side of the forearm, also pictured. There are two insignificant imperfections in the finish (finish only) on either side of the release lever where the stock surrounds the tang and meets the receiver. These do not extend into the wood at all. Again, I am being very picky here for the sake of full-disclosure and I urge you to analyze the photos. The wood finish is beautiful and you are unlikely to be disappointed.
I have satisfactorily closed numerous sale-transactions on this forum, as documented by exclusively-positive reviews left by the members of this group. I have been on GB under the same username since 2009 and have 300 positive reviews, with 0 negative. I will reasonably work with a buyer to ensure a mutually-secure transaction. A Face-to-face transaction in Minnesota is an option, or I will ship to your FFL with shipping and insurance at your expense. I am happy to video call to offer you any perspective of the rifle so desired.
Whenever I am asked why I am selling something, I always answer the same way. “For the money.” In all seriousness, I have a V/C Imperial in .500NE, as well as a large amount of ammo for it. I am in love with that one, so I can’t (reasonably and rationally) justify keeping this rifle. If I have time to think about it much more, I could change my mind. So don’t wait too long to make your move if you have been waiting for this one to come along. I have my eye on a high-end (for me, at least) bolt gun, and I’m heading to Africa in October, so here we go again…..
I am offering the rifle with case and site mount for $12,500USD. Please PM me to discuss in more detail.
