A special Original 75

[RobinC]

I picked it up on Tuesday, and have now started work on it, a big restoration, its been sat in a loft for 30 years, but externally just dirty, inside the seals are putty!

The action is out, and will go to a specialist for reseal.

The stock is a superb figured walnut, and its come up nicely, it was the first into the UK and it was for a GB team shooter, so perhaps they picked out a nice one. I've scrubbed the stock with soapy water to get off the years of handling, and done one coat of Danish oil. I will just fine wire wool it down when it hardens. I'm rebuilding the special built up cheek piece to how it was, then its just replacing some of the stickers, I have some original ones, and some I made for the replica copied from originals.

The action in it is not actually the first one in the UK, they did originally give her that, but it failed at the British Championships at Cardiff later that first year, during a shoot, so they switched the action with the one off their stand, and she continued the shoot, and qualified!! Good old days, when manufacturers had stands at our championships! So this one, same year, but was a month or so newer! But it is the one she then shot with for 7 years internationally and won with it, and later sold when she changed to a Walther.

But strangely by a twist of fate we also now have that original action that failed at the championships as well, very spooky, but that's another story!

I'm restoring the case as well, the international stickers on that tell a story as well, another spooky thing, the case has two locks, now having changed hands after she sold it and 40 years, the key had long gone, but in our old key box (every one has one!!), I found the spare key!!!!

It will take a while now, but I'll keep you informed when its done and see if some one can post pics of the final finished product.

Thanks every one who has helped, its been a ten year labour that has now come to fruition.

Have Fun
Robin

[thirdwheel]

I was at the club when Robin got their old rifle back - have you heard the saying "happier than a dog with two tails" well it kinda fits rather well.

[zooma]

Hi Robin,

Hopefully you now have BOTH of the (first two UK imported!) Model 75 match rifles that Pam shot prior to her switch to Walther, so the hunt is now well and truly over and you can enjoy owning them.

The difference is that the first rifle that failed (and was replaced with the second) can now also boast a "Robin" modified stock and trigger etc so they are a unique pair of rifles that have both been shot in competition by Pam in her early days and so they both form an important part of her illustrious competition history with the Original Model 75.

We done for not quitting and for keeping faith that the one you really wanted would eventually turn up - and as it happens you have ended-up owning BOTH of the first two Model 75 match rifles that were imported into the UK - and Pam shot them both in competition.

Now you can "rest easy" and enjoy getting those missing decals re-made, and comparing the modifications that you made from memory on the first rifle you acquired (which was probably the FIRST rifle that Pam shot with until it failed), and your more recent purchase of the (SECOND) Model 75 that Pam had to switch to during a live competition (!) and the one that she continued to shoot with that carried all of the modifications that you made to make the rifle "fit" and "work" better for Pam. Her success with it proved that you did a really good job!

Well done

Bob.

[RobinC]

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

[Hellequin]

I've only just seen this thread (or I don't remember seeing it in 2013) and it's put a smile on my face. A proper good news story.

Firstly, I'm chuffed to bits you've found the rifle after all these years!
Secondly, it just shows how good the shooting community and this bbs can be. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the latter, having just been to my first Boinger Bash and seeing how friendly, helpful & welcoming members from the forum are. It's a really great 'resource' but more than that it's a place for forging friendships.

I hope you keep posting updates on your progress with the restoration of the 75, Robin. Best of luck with it.

[RobinC]

Thanks again,

The coincidences have kept coming through out the years, she won her first international medal with that rifle, as a member of a GB ladies team that won two silvers in the Ladies team event at Intershoot in Holland in 1980.

Then in 2020, a club member, Liv Hill, who Pam coached, won her first International medal 40 years later, at the same event, Intershoot in Holland, as a member of the GB Ladies team, the same event!

Then this summer out of the blue an old friend who we had not seen for very many years posted some old photo's to us, one was Pam shooting the subject rifle, at the British Championships in Cardiff, we think in 1983!

I'd post it, but don't have the facility, I'll try and find some one who can.

Have Fun
Robin

[Muskett]

Can we have some pictures please?