Sterling Davenport Rifle For Sale

[chris275]

Hello all,

I am selling a gorgeous rifle built by Sterling Davenport. It is built on a ‘98 Mauser action with a 3 position safety in .375 H&H. The action blends seamlessly into a beautiful exhibition grade walnut stock with ebony forend. It has a 24” match grade barrel with quarter rib, barrel band sling mount, hooded (removable) brass bead front sight and decelerator butt pad.

Mr. Davenport is known for his exquisite stock work. The hand checkering is a work of art and feels like a glove in your hand.

Also included is
20 rds 270 gr sp
36 rds 300 gr FMJ
33 pieces of once fired brass.
All Hornady factory ammo.

Price is $10,000 plus shipping (US only)

 

[Aaron N]

Lovely rifle! What rings or mounts have the bridges been machined for? I see its also drilled?

 

[RR 314]

Haaaa. I just posted earlier today I was done buying rifles. Then this pops up. Sterling built AWESOME rifles.

 

[WAB]

Beautiful rifle!

 

[gearguywb]

Beautiful!

 

[Green Chile]

I have discussed this rifle with the owner prior to it being listed and I think this is a great buy. Built in '08 with less than 60 rounds through it. Beautiful gun as you would expect from Davenport. Every Davenport I've handled has been of the highest level. From my previous listing of my .500 Davenport, here's some history on the builder....

Sterling Davenport retired from the US Navy after 20 years’ service in 1975 at the age of 40. During his stint in the Navy, he was trained as an aviation metal smith and while stationed at Pearl Harbor, he did light gunsmith work for Honolulu Sporting Guns. Finding his work well accepted, when he retired he attended the 10-month gunsmith program at the Colorado School of Trades for Gunsmiths, graduating with a job as a gunsmith with Harry Lawson Custom Gunmaker in Arizona. During his next 20 years, Sterling showed his own work in shows such as the Safari Club and others where the talents of the American Gunmakers Guild members were displayed. It was at one of these shows that Paul Roberts of Rigby examined Davenport’s work and hired him to build bolt rifles for Rigby under the Rigby name. Sterling said that Roberts would supply the barreled actions and the wood and Davenport would take it from there. His first firearm finished for Rigby had such exquisite and fine checkering, that Roberts complained that it was not of the Rigby style. From then on, Sterling finished the stocks and sent them to London for Rigby’s checkerers to finish, which used smaller patterns with coarser checkering than the work that Davenport did. For Rigby, Sterling used BRNO actions for the magnum action and either FN or Pre-64 Model 70 actions for the standard length cartridges. He said, “The BNRO forged Magnum action was as good as it gets… the more renown Oberndorf Mauser Magnum action is really no better, just more in demand and short in supply.”

Davenport figures he only made about 60 rifles under his own name; this is truly a rare masterpiece in one of the most sought-after calibers for the magnum actions.

 

[peacemaker]

she's beautiful

 

[chris275]

Lovely rifle! What rings or mounts have the bridges been machined for? I see it’s also drilled?

Hello Aaron,
It did come with unnamed QD rings for the integral mounts, but I could not get them to stay tight and I discarded them. The irons worked very well for my hunt. And yes, it is drilled and tapped but I am not sure what base it was designed for.
Respectfully,
Chris

 

[chris275]

I have discussed this rifle with the owner prior to it being listed and I think this is a great buy. Built in '08 with less than 60 rounds through it. Beautiful gun as you would expect from Davenport. Every Davenport I've handled has been of the highest level. From my previous listing of my .500 Davenport, here's some history on the builder....

Sterling Davenport retired from the US Navy after 20 years’ service in 1975 at the age of 40. During his stint in the Navy, he was trained as an aviation metal smith and while stationed at Pearl Harbor, he did light gunsmith work for Honolulu Sporting Guns. Finding his work well accepted, when he retired he attended the 10-month gunsmith program at the Colorado School of Trades for Gunsmiths, graduating with a job as a gunsmith with Harry Lawson Custom Gunmaker in Arizona. During his next 20 years, Sterling showed his own work in shows such as the Safari Club and others where the talents of the American Gunmakers Guild members were displayed. It was at one of these shows that Paul Roberts of Rigby examined Davenport’s work and hired him to build bolt rifles for Rigby under the Rigby name. Sterling said that Roberts would supply the barreled actions and the wood and Davenport would take it from there. His first firearm finished for Rigby had such exquisite and fine checkering, that Roberts complained that it was not of the Rigby style. From then on, Sterling finished the stocks and sent them to London for Rigby’s checkerers to finish, which used smaller patterns with coarser checkering than the work that Davenport did. For Rigby, Sterling used BRNO actions for the magnum action and either FN or Pre-64 Model 70 actions for the standard length cartridges. He said, “The BNRO forged Magnum action was as good as it gets… the more renown Oberndorf Mauser Magnum action is really no better, just more in demand and short in supply.”

Davenport figures he only made about 60 rifles under his own name; this is truly a rare masterpiece in one of the most sought-after calibers for the magnum actions.

Thank you for adding the additional information!
Respectfully,
Chris

 

[baxterb]

Hello Aaron,
It did come with unnamed QD rings for the integral mounts, but I could not get them to stay tight and I discarded them. The irons worked very well for my hunt. And yes, it is drilled and tapped but I am not sure what base it was designed for.
Respectfully,
Chris

I believe this is a Dumoulin action. The bases, taps, and front notch looks exactly like others I have seen.

 

[flatwater bill]

I am not an expert on bolt guns in general, but I know a lot about stocks. Many high end rifles have a stunning board on them, but it was laid out or sawn sub optimally. Not on this one. It is perfect. Just an observation........GLWS......FWB

 

[RR 314]

Sterling knew how to pick out a stick . . .

I am not an expert on bolt guns in general, but I know a lot about stocks. Many high end rifles have a stunning board on them, but it was laid out or sawn sub optimally. Not on this one. It is perfect. Just an observation........GLWS......FW

 

[Green Chile]

Exactly right. If I was looking to upgrade my main Africa rifle (always a 375 or 416), this would get a hard look from me...but I already know the quality having owned Davenport rifles. If I wasn't already setup, this one actually would have never made it into a public classified! It's that good.

 

[AZDAVE]

An exceptionally nice rifle, Davenport knew what he was doing.