James Tucker, Steve Heilmann, Clayton Nelson and Sam Welch Custom Miniature Farquharson .17 HMR
Description: 22" step-tapered round Shilen barrel with ramp front sight, half-band swivel base, quarter rib and one folding gold-lined leaf sight engraved 100 YDS. Highly figured Turkish walnut stock by James Tucker with ebony forend tip, keyed forend with escutcheon, classic wrap-around 24-LPI point-pattern checkering with mullered borders, flat sidepanels, teardrops, beaded pancake cheekpiece, vacant gold oval, inletted rear swivel base, steel trapdoor pistol grip cap and steel trapdoor buttplate. Miniature Gibbs Farquharson action, hand built by Clayton Nelson with sliding top-tang safety and internal parts gold-plated. Engraved by Sam Welch with two rabbits each side of receiver in woodland scenes, a fox head on trapdoor grip cap and two more rabbits on buttplate trapdoor---all in raised relief---surrounded with artistic rose and scroll and gold borderline work, signed microscopically on the forward edge of the loading lever. Finish work by Pete Mazur with muted gray and fire-blue highlights. Gold-banded, custom cold blued, Leupold Alaskan 4x scope with fine duplex reticle on shaped and engraved Talley quick-detachable rings fitted directly to quarter rib without separate bases and with custom made sliding cover to conceal dovetails when scope is removed. Pull: 14". Drop 1 1/6 at comb; 2" at heel. Trace of cast-off at toe. Weight: 6lbs, 7oz. Finished in 2007. New condition. Winner of Guns Magazine's Award for 2007. .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) is commercially loaded by CCI, Winchester, Federal, and Hornady.
Provenance: Purchased by Hallowell & Co. from the original owner who had commissioned it from the individual craftsmen, in June, 2011.
Literature: Pictured, C. Roger Bleile, American Engravers - The 21st Century, p323. Pictured on the cover of and the subject of an article in the ACGG "Gunmaker":
And, Tom Turpin in Gun Digest:
Two images of a glorious rifle put together by a
team of superb craftsmen. The action is a “baby” Farquharson that was
made by Clayton Nelson, probably twenty or so years ago. Fine rifle
connoisseur Jack Lilliendahl somehow ended up with the action and
another superb project was begun. Steve Heilmann did the metalwork on
the rifle, and barreled and chambered it for the
17 HMR cartridge. Stockmaker James Tucker crafted the
extraordinary stock from an exceptional stick of walnut. Sam Welch
executed the engraving in a theme suitable to the caliber of the rifle,
and dubbed the rifle the “Rabbit rifle,” or sometimes “Thumper.” The
finishing chores were turned over to Pete Mazur, a master of the alchemy
of metal finishing.
The Hallowell & Co. Historical Gallery portrays fine guns we have handled over the years and is for informational purposes only. These guns are no longer available today. Please click on any of the links below to see what we actually do have available for purchase.
American Shotguns English Shotguns European Shotguns Double Rifles Magazine Rifles Single Shot Rifles Combination Guns
Winchester Colt Smith & Wesson Other Handguns Antique Guns New Arrivals Custom Knives Other Neat Stuff
Who We Are How to Order We want to buy your Gun(s) Recommended Links Gallery
Firearms Definitions, Abbreviations & Opinions Store Photos Magazine Articles Home
Hallowell & Co., Inc. PO Box 1445. Livingston, Montana 59047 USA Tel: 406 222-4770 Fax: 406 222-4792 Email: morris@hallowellco.com
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 6. (Mountain Time) Our inventory is constantly changing. Please bookmark this site and return often.