Thanks Bob

Its been a ten year search, and to see that rifle come out of the case was quite emotional, and it was definitely the one, I could see the modified stock, and trigger, just as I did it for her 46 years before, and the guy who had it, was the "young lad" whose father bought it for him, from the person we sold it to 40 years earlier, we always knew who we sold it to, but 40 years later they could not remember the name or address of who they sold it to, and its sat in the "young lads" loft for 30 years as he could not bear to part with it!!

The replica with the action she jammed up, is also really spooky how I came by that, a massive pure coincidence, it had been bought by a friend, and he brought it to me because he wanted me to see it before he sold it, and also I recognized that it was in a case hand made by the same guy who made our cases (he was in our club) and did not make many! The case had a GB national squad sticker, and marks where other stickers had been removed, but we were certain it was Pam's case, so checked the rifle and saw the 05 - 77 date, and immediately I thought was that the rifle?

I was certain it was either the "jammed" one, or the final one. But coincidences, my friend had bought it from a collector out of our area? But strangely he bought the case separately in Norfolk near us, it was very mystifying???

When the final one turns up, and with the case complete with stickers, it turns out the replica was the jammed one!! But what of the first case with the GB sticker, it definitely was a case emanating from our club 40 years ago, and Pam was the only GB rifle squad member at the time. Then she remembered that when she retired, the case made for her LGR (by the same guy) she sold, as the rifle was stored in our cabinet, and she still has that!

So what a trail of mystery's, and coincidences!!! Her original Original 75 winning rifle and case, has sat in a loft for 30 years 20 miles from us! The action she broke 46 years ago, has done the collector rounds of the UK, and was bought from a long way away by a friend with no knowledge of what he had bought! The same friend also independently bought one of Pam's cases of 40 years ago for that rifle, in our county, then the lot gets back together!!

Maybe we'll win the lottery next week?

The main rifle I have restored the stock now, and used the stickers I made for the replica, it looks stunning, the action is being rebuilt by a specialist, the case was easy, mostly just a clean and a coat of lacquer to seal in the historic stickers on it. And the mods on the replica? They were spot on!

Maybe when its finished we should have an event at Norwich and see if we can get her out of retirement to shoot it, even let some of our young hotshots try it, to see if they can match her PB with it 384 ex 400.
We could even get a visa for you Bob, after all you played a big part in driving me to not give up, the replica was your idea!

We don't want to dispose of the replica so have decided it will be safe as a Norwich City target club rifle, and perhaps lure some young shooters into international shooting?

Thanks Bob, and everybody else who has helped.

Have Fun
Robin