weichold rifle

[transmission jockey]

I recently inherited a large black powder rifle on the barrel it says AJ & JW WEICHOLD CIN. I believe it is a 70cal. with a 45" barrel. This rifle weighs around 35 pounds and has hammers under the barrel. I would like to start bp shooting and would appreciate and any information I could get on this rifle. mike

 

[faw3]

Since I get called the underhammer guy enough I'll ask PIC's PLEASE. That will help a lot. I'll ck the book on it today. Or maybe GMWW or one of the others know. Fred :hatsoff:

 

[Denny/Oh]

I think you have a rifle with a custom barrel made by the old Weichold Arms Co. from Cincinnati Oh.
They had a business doing deep hole drilling and they dabbled in surplus guns and such. I beleive they did some black powder shooting and if I remember they made some barrels for bench rest guns.
I'm 60 yrs old and these guys were much older than me. Weichold arms sold out to Faxon Machining in the early 80's.

One of the present owners {Bobby Faxon} is a shooter and he could have some info from the former owners. Heck he might be interested in the gun.
Anyhow my guess is that you have a 1950's or 60's bench gun although 70 cal. is pretty big for that.

If I can help you with more info let me know

 

[BrownBear]

You know, in that same era there was a pretty busy bunch out west doing 1000 yard BP benchrest with rifles much like this one sounds, and 70 cal or so was about standard for them. Never did it myself, but got to watch a match in Zuddern Calivornya in 1969, and results were really impressive. Heavy guns, false muzzles, big conical bullets (often cast two-piece and swaged into one), and all day for ten shots. It was a long, long wait for that huge conical bullet to land, but even at 1000 yards there was no doubt when it did.

 

[Denny/Oh]

brownbear,

The long range theory sounds reasonable to me. Alot of them were underhammers. 70 cal to deal with the wind etc.

Probably Numerich {?} underhammer action, but I seem to recall another custom underhammer action.

 

[BrownBear]

I don't recall the details on the actions, other than underhammer. The barrels looked like they were 2.5 to 3" across the flats, and who knows about the powder charge. Smoke looked more like cannon fire, but plenty of time for it to clear before the big dust geyser when the bullet came out of orbit. As I recall the bullet bases were cast of pure lead, while the noses were cast separate and the two swaged together. There was some debate as I recall between paper patching and lubing. Stretching the memory for that bit.

 

[silverfox]

I got to shoot one of those big guns many years ago. It was swaged soft lead with hard nose and paper patched with sperm oil. It must of weighted 40# as it took both hands to carry it around. Had a big scope and if you watched you could see the slug travel down range. It sounded like a cannon not a rifle when fired. It was the noise that made me go see what was being shot on our range. Never saw the gun again.
Fox :hatsoff:

 

[transmission jockey]

Fred:

Have pictures of Weichold to send - can't get forum to take them. send e-mail to [email protected] and I will reply at once.

 

[Harley Donaldson]

I own a Jack Weichold bench rifle that is 47 caliber underhammer with false muzzle.one unusual feature of his rifles the underhammer action has double set triggers. This gun has been retired, mabe I should get it out and shoot it again.

 

[transmission jockey]

 

[rabjr]

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p185/transmissionjockey/

 

[arquebus]

Good looking rifle! Looks like it came complete with the false muzzle, too. Was the mould with it, or likely to turn up?

 

[transmission jockey]

I have not looked for the molds yet but I am sure they are with my grandfathers bp supplies. mike

 

[faw3]

One great rifle, only seen one years ago they got used in both the 220yd and 500yds shot match's. Lucky guy :grin: Fred :hatsoff:

 

[transmission jockey]

What would the approx. value of a rifle like this be? Not looking to sell it just would like to know. mike