Rare Vintage BR Rifle for Sale
Eight years into the 21st century, it’s easy for us to assume that our “latest and greatest” gun stock designs truly represent the cutting edge of technology and innovation. We forget that some of the founding fathers of benchrest devised some pretty interesting designs decades ago.
An intriguing piece of Benchrest history came up for sale on Gunbroker.com recently. This 25-lb “unlimited” benchrest rifle, chambered in .222 Remington, showcases many features that were ahead of their time. The action says “Al Weber of Lodi, Calif”, but it’s not clear whether Al built the unusual wood stock, or whether that was the brainchild of someone else. The action looks like it might be an early custom action. Perhaps our readers know more….
Forum member Dan Conzo notes: “View page 17 of the Ultimate in Rifle Precision (1958), by Whelen. Ralph Pride, a barrel-maker and competitor, is using a rifle that is a twin of this rifle. Pride also wrote highly of the Weber action. The round bottom action has heavy lugs, a wall thickness greater than any conventional action at that time, and an integral recoil lug, It has three guard screws (1/4 ” socket head type), and the one-piece trigger guard extends past the front guard screw. The top of action is what they called a strong back with the port held to a minimum and it has the squared off rear tang. This action seems to have spawned the older Hart actions and even the more modern actions by other makers of today.”
In the front is a metal sled with twin Delrin rails for improved tracking. Front rails have been used on 1K Heavy Guns for quite some time, but when rails like this were added to the underside of F-Class rifles that innovation was considered fairly radical.
In the rear is another tracking rail. Interestingly, the rear rail is a wide, “Twin Keel” or “catamaran” design. Presumably this twin keel design enhances stability while reducing friction. That’s a design we’ve just started to see on short-range BR rifles, and it has been hailed as “highly innovative”.
We wanted to showcase this Vintage BR rifle, to give credit to the early innovators. Our current high-tech stocks and actions borrow from many of their design ideas.
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Mr. Weber built actions. The rear block was undoubtedly for some sort of mechanical rest, with a matching rail that fit in the inverted V block. As I understand it,some early unlimited rifles had conventional stocks with the sort of fittings that this one has, and were shot off of one, two piece mechanical bases (rests) rather than sandbags.
Look on page 17 of the Ultimate in Rifle Precision (1958), by Whelen. Ralph Pride a barrel-maker, competitor, is using a rifle that is a twin of said rifle. Pride also wrote highly of the Weber action. The action has heavy lugs and a wall thickness grater than any conventional action at that time, three guard screws (1/4 ” socket head type), round bottom and intregal recoil lug, the one-piece trigger guard extends past the front guard screw. The top of action is what they called a strong back with the port held to a minimum and it has the squared off rear tang. This action seems to have spawned the older Hart actions and even the more modern actions by other makers of today.
I just purchased a heavy varmint model in a cruiser stock from the same seller. Had a seasoned old gunsmith check it out, aside from a few construction quirks, it fired a test round with an extremely well-reamed chamber.
With a 2 oz Canjar trigger and 18 lb weight over a sandbag, it almost makes me look like a decent shooter.
I have an Al Weber 222 rem ser # 131. I purchased the rifle recently, and it looks brand new, the rifle will put five 40grBT in the same hole at one hundred. I feel very lucky to have it.
I have always wanted to find information on my grandfathers production of these guns so I could pass the information on to my children and finding a picture is like a bonus. I’m pleased to here that the guns are still in great shape.
I own one of the last few actions Al made (222 Rem #1095 circa 1971) inherited from my father Fred. We had stopped by Lodi on the way to an Idaho hunt with the intent to hurry the delivery of the ordered action but Al wasn’t home. I recall looking through the window of what I recall as a converted carriage house into Al’s machine shop. My father subsequently phoned Al and was told “don’t call me, I’ll let you know when it’s ready”. The gun remains nearly unused.
Mr. Barrett of Barrett Arms claims that he is the first to make a 50BMG rifle. Not true. Al Webber was building bolt action big 50s during the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. He only made a very few, because the FBI forced him to stop because the 50BMG was illegal for civilians to have at that time.
Al was way ahead of his time in many ways.
I had a chance to talk to a family member who was around when my grandfather Al weber was making his rifles and i was told the wood stock for the rifle was done by
another person who was very good at woodworking. I was told he had a federal license to make the 50 caliber rifles as well as all the other rifles he made and the family member says the FBI did not force him to stop making the 50 caliber rifle. THERE only about ten 50 caliber rifles made but can only guess that cost to the buyer could be a reason since these rifles were expensive for the buyer.
i recently purchased a cal 270 with a
mouser action and it has al webber lodi
cal stamped on barrell and has small stamp on bolt but unable to verify what it is.please let me know if you have any information on this gun.
My father used to know him, says he used to go shooting with Weber and another friend of his named Cooper, it was in the 50s and possibly early 40s. I have heard him talk about the 50 caliber rifles that Weber used to build and shoot and the actions being smooth and quiet.
According to my father the stocks were made by Spike Wingfield. He knew Al Weber sometime between 1955 and the summer of 1959 when we moved away from Lodi. I believe that Weber was a machinist at General Mills which was across the street from our house at the time and there was a group of them wich included Bill Cooper, Warren Wells (lives in Lockford) and my father. They would get off work and go hunting. They would stop at our house for breakfast. The 50 calibers were being produced during this time period as I have heard stories about him going out target practicing and shooting one of them. I have heard another story of a hunter in Alaska purchasing one to hunt Polar Bear. My father had a gun in his shop to be converted to 25-06 and fter a while asked him when he was going to start working on it, he gave it back and that was the end of their friendship, that was before 1959.
I spoke to my mother tonight and it was Spike Wakefield. Weber never worked at General Mills but the others did.
we believe that Spike Wakefield may be Guy P. Wakefield who died in 2002.
I have 2 Weber sleeved receivers with Stolle barrels. # 5 and # 8. 219 d. wasp improved and 219 Zipper improved. both rifles are real tack drivers and are capable of 1 hole 5 shot groups at 100 yards. any info. would be appreciated
I just heard from aunt regaurding why so few of the 50 cal. rifles were made, and my aunt sayes there was a lot of time involved and the cost didn’t cover the expense to make and assemble the rifle and my grandfather Al weber focused on the rifles that were the most profitale, I thought there might have been ten 50 cal. rifles made but it sounds like there might only be 6 total if that many.
I have an Al Weber action that belonged to my grandfather. It has a 250 donaldson ace barrel on it made by R.F. Pride. My grandfather was a very good B.R. Shooter way back in the day. Set a world record in 1950 in New York. Walter your grandfather made amazing actions its still smooth like butter. Serial number 113.
I Al Weber’s grandson, I grew up in his gunsmith shop till I was 10 years old one of the hardest guys in the world come out I’m sideways or with demands and it’s a wrap your out! It’s really nice to hear people talk about the world’s greatest gun maker Al Weber! I remember times when the world’s greatest Hunters would come over and shoot the shit with Gramps I also remember when he passed away and they were selling his tools and people from all over the world came over to Lodi to buy his equipment thinking that if they had his lathes etc. That they would become him , well I can tell you is I witnessed I watch grown man cry for the first time crying like babies trying to figure out what these Contraptions connected to his lathes were, you see Grandpa never left any paperwork behind everything was in his head and he was the master none of those guys could figure out what these components that made his barrels and actions so special worth and at the end of the day the tools were gone and the Contraptions were left on the bench. It was that day that I really saw the genius of Al Weber. These guys were supposed to be the best in the world and they put their brains together and could not come up with anything or have a clue what those things were I remember one guy after crying and getting so mad it was a wasted trip halfway across the Earth. To all that read this thank you for remembering my grandfather my brother Jim Weber is a gunsmith in Helena Montana and an industrial arts teacher he is amazing and Walter I wish you would have been able to grow up in the Lodi area. Long live the legend Al Weber!! To anybody reading this that might have any memorabilia or Rifles made by my grandfather I would love to talk to you my number is 209 810 2948. Chuck Weber- Lodi California.
I have #132, beautiful action
Hello, that would make me the great grandson of al weber….. I recently recalled memories of my grandpa: walter weber talking about this. Im happy i found this thread. Was looking for the actual newspaper articles of al weber if any still exist… My grandfather had a small one as i grew up. But this info so far is priceless
I own what was a 219 donaldson wasp that I put a fast twist 22br barrel on. Love the rifle, very accurate with a SMOOTH action.
Another just sold on gunbroker: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/920433503
I Live In Enid,Oklahoma. I Have An Al Weber BR Rifle That Must Be the Twin Of the Rifle Described In the Opening Story. The Receiver Is Marked “Al Weber Lodi Calif 203. It Too Is Chambered In 222 Remington. I Found It In Pieces In the Storage Room Of An Old Local HVAC/Appliance/Plumbing Repair Shop That Had Been In Business For 60 Plus Years. The Owner Gave Me Information On This Rifle’s History. It Was Previously Owned By His Uncle and Had Been On the Shelf Since the Seventies. The Gunsmith/Gunmaker JJ Perodeau Of Champlin Firearms Here In Enid Was Very Helpful With Information/Bolt Repairs and Had Several Books With Pictures Of Al Weber Rifles. I Spent 6 Months Restoring the Rifle and Front Fully Adjustable Mechanical Rest. The Rear Mechanical Rest Was MIA So I Fabricated One Identical To the Ones I Could See In Several Pics. The Rifle Is a Tack Driver. One 1/4″ Hole At 100 Yards All Day Long. I’m Open For any Conversations On This Rifle. When I Show Or Shoot This Rifle People Are Completely Blown Away. The Only Complaint I Have With This Rifle and Rests Are They’re So Dang Heavy a Gunner’s Assistant Is Very Much Welcomed. I Feel This Rifle Should Be In the NRA Museum Or Somewhere It Can Be Secured, Protected and Enjoyed By Fellow Gun Enthusiasts
I recently inherited an Al Weber serial #136 chambered in .219 Donaldson wasp. Has a .308 barrel as well. Very well crafted firearm.
I recently inherited an Al Weber serial number #136 chambered in .219 Donaldson wasp. Has the .308 barrel as well. Smoothest action I’ve ever handled hands down.
Hey Doc. You Got Any Pics You’d Like To Share?
I have a rifle with a Browning Mauser receiver and on the under side of the barrel its stamped
” AL WEBER 7 ”
lodi ,calif 1957
its chambered in .458 win mag
if anyone has some info on this rifle i would appreciate it .