buckstix
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Nate Bishop Custom 416 Rigby - Info wtd about obscure this Maker.
Hello All,
Every so often an Amazing Custom Rifle comes along. Here is one. This rifle was talked about on another forum about 3 or 4 years ago. I have been following it for about that long, and I finally snagged it into my collection of Classic Customs. (Incidentally, I love the 416 caliber and now have 9 of them; 6 Rigbys, a 416 Taylor, a 416 MRE, and a 416 Rem Mag. )
My mission with this posting is two-fold - First, share the details of this marvelous custom rifle with you forum members, and tell what I know of its builder, Nate Bishop. And second, try to find if someone has any additional information about this Nate Bishop.
When I first saw this rifle it was advertised as an Oberndorf Square Bridge Mauser in 416 Rigby cal. However, the unique serial number and proof mark stamping identified that this rifle started its life as a Military 1935 Chilean Mauser Carbine. It was no different than any other of the thousands made for Military Service. Its exact History is unknown - just another Oberndorf made Military Mauser that was a WWII bring-back.
It originally looked like this:
In 1987, this common Military rifle, was transformed into a Custom Safari Rifle in 416 Rigby Cal. by Nate Bishop, a Master Gunmaker from Albuquerque, NM, . Nate was a self taught Master. He told others he was inspired by the famed stock-maker, Leonard Mews.
Nate Bishop was a member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild (ACGG) dates unknown. He built this rifle for the ACGG Show that was held in March, 1987. Nate signed and marked this stock as such in he barrel channel. It is not known if he was a member of the Guild at that time, building this rifle to show his skill, or if he was attempting to be accepted into the Guild by, building this rifle to show his skill.
It is amazing that this common Military Mauser Carbine, with its standard length action, could be so specially modified to take the "Super-Long" 416 Rigby cartridge. For the most part, all rifles in 416 Rigby caliber require "Magnum" length actions. This is not a "stretched and re-welded" action. Rather, this sleek beauty is Masterfully modified with custom bottom metal to encompass the cartridge. It tips the scales at a mere 8 pounds 12 ounces.
Interestingly, Harry Selby's original 416 Rigby was also built on a standard length Military Mauser action by Rigby, and perhaps Nate has this in mind when he built this rifle.
Nate often commented that this rifle was the "Best Quality" Custom Rifle that he had ever built. It was also one of his last.
In researching Nate Bishop, I have found he wrote articles on Custom Stock Making and Custom Gun Building in Guns Magazine from 1956 - 1962. He also wrote in Gun Digest in 1961 and 1969. He worked mostly with "Big Bore" Safari rifles and 416 Rigby was his favorite caliber.
Elmer Keith had several Custom Big-Bore Rifles that were built for him by Nate, and some that were re-stocked for him, by Nate. Keith's "Gun Notes" in Guns Magazine of the 50's and 60's often commented as such giving Nate high praise.
If you know any details about Nate Bishop, or other rifles that Nate has built or stocked, please jump in and let us know.
The following photos show Nate's skill - with dozens of special nuances that he incorporated into this rifle.
Hello All,
Every so often an Amazing Custom Rifle comes along. Here is one. This rifle was talked about on another forum about 3 or 4 years ago. I have been following it for about that long, and I finally snagged it into my collection of Classic Customs. (Incidentally, I love the 416 caliber and now have 9 of them; 6 Rigbys, a 416 Taylor, a 416 MRE, and a 416 Rem Mag. )
My mission with this posting is two-fold - First, share the details of this marvelous custom rifle with you forum members, and tell what I know of its builder, Nate Bishop. And second, try to find if someone has any additional information about this Nate Bishop.
When I first saw this rifle it was advertised as an Oberndorf Square Bridge Mauser in 416 Rigby cal. However, the unique serial number and proof mark stamping identified that this rifle started its life as a Military 1935 Chilean Mauser Carbine. It was no different than any other of the thousands made for Military Service. Its exact History is unknown - just another Oberndorf made Military Mauser that was a WWII bring-back.
It originally looked like this:
In 1987, this common Military rifle, was transformed into a Custom Safari Rifle in 416 Rigby Cal. by Nate Bishop, a Master Gunmaker from Albuquerque, NM, . Nate was a self taught Master. He told others he was inspired by the famed stock-maker, Leonard Mews.
Nate Bishop was a member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild (ACGG) dates unknown. He built this rifle for the ACGG Show that was held in March, 1987. Nate signed and marked this stock as such in he barrel channel. It is not known if he was a member of the Guild at that time, building this rifle to show his skill, or if he was attempting to be accepted into the Guild by, building this rifle to show his skill.
It is amazing that this common Military Mauser Carbine, with its standard length action, could be so specially modified to take the "Super-Long" 416 Rigby cartridge. For the most part, all rifles in 416 Rigby caliber require "Magnum" length actions. This is not a "stretched and re-welded" action. Rather, this sleek beauty is Masterfully modified with custom bottom metal to encompass the cartridge. It tips the scales at a mere 8 pounds 12 ounces.
Interestingly, Harry Selby's original 416 Rigby was also built on a standard length Military Mauser action by Rigby, and perhaps Nate has this in mind when he built this rifle.
Nate often commented that this rifle was the "Best Quality" Custom Rifle that he had ever built. It was also one of his last.
In researching Nate Bishop, I have found he wrote articles on Custom Stock Making and Custom Gun Building in Guns Magazine from 1956 - 1962. He also wrote in Gun Digest in 1961 and 1969. He worked mostly with "Big Bore" Safari rifles and 416 Rigby was his favorite caliber.
Elmer Keith had several Custom Big-Bore Rifles that were built for him by Nate, and some that were re-stocked for him, by Nate. Keith's "Gun Notes" in Guns Magazine of the 50's and 60's often commented as such giving Nate high praise.
If you know any details about Nate Bishop, or other rifles that Nate has built or stocked, please jump in and let us know.
The following photos show Nate's skill - with dozens of special nuances that he incorporated into this rifle.
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