The Lion Rifle
This classic custom gun is graceful, strong and proud — much like the magnificent cat it was made to hunt.
Africa’s greatest predator is the lion, so it is only appropriate that a hunting rifle dedicated to the king of beasts should reflect its attributes - strong, graceful and proud. And just as the Lion is at the top of the food chain, so too are the craftsmen who built this magnificent custom rifle. Gunmaker Sterling Davenport, a stockmaker and metalsmith, is at the pinnacle of his profession, while engraver Jere Davidson is at the apex of his art.
The Lion Rifle is chambered for the legendary .375 H&H Mag., a classic hunting round. The gun is based on a new Winchester Model 70 action, the so-called “pre’64 style” featuring a claw extractor and controlled round feeding.
The barrel is from master barrelmaker John Krieger, asingle cut-rifled blank originally 2.25″ in diameter. The stock blank came from Ed Preslik, the salty old dog of California walnut dealers who provides eye-popping claro and English walnut to many of the top stockmakers, including Davenport.
The engraving, done by Davidson, is fine English scroll style highlighted with 18k gold bands and accents with a centerpiece on the floorplate of a fully maned African lion. Davidson is one of a handful of American master engravers, a profession that requires immense dedication. Davidson is well known for his exquisite game scenes in the Bolino style on fine shotguns, but his gold relief work on the Lion Rifle gives a glimpse of his other talents.
The Lion Rifle is a collaborative effort of craftsmen in the Old World tradition of the guilds in which specific gun-making tasks are handled by specific masters. Davenport was to be the stockmaker while Idaho metalsmith Rick Stickley was to mate the barrel and action. However, due to personal circumstances, Stickley was unable to complete the project. Davenport completed the finishing and other details on the metalwork.
Fine Points
The overall impression of the Lion Rifle as a magnificent example of a classic American custom rifle belies several of the more intricate details. Perhaps the most understated yet remarkable features of this fine gun are the “false” square bridges, making the action appear to be a Magnum Mauser.
Stickley welded up the bridges on the action and machined them to serve as an integral base for his own detachable scope rings. When the scope is not in use, it can be removed and tastefully engraved caps are slid onto dovetail rails, giving the double square bridge appearance.
Another striking feature is the rear sight which Davenport custom fit onto the integral quarter rib. The rear sight, calibrated for 50 yards — the maximum distance at which dangerous game should properly be shot — is accented with a triangle of elephant ivory for visibility in low light.
The front sight features a removable hood and the front sight ramp is machined integrally from the Kreiger barrel blank. The barrel-mounted front sling swivel stud is also integrally machined.
The stock features a skeleton grip cap and hand checkered panel, both exquisitely fit by Davenport. Typical of Davenport’s classic styling, the rifle features a beaded cheekpiece and contrasting ebony forend tip. The grip is somewhat open, facilitating a comfortable yet firm hold on the big Holland & Holland magnum.