Stock identification on 721 ..... fantastic wood !

721AC300HH · Post by **721AC300HH** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:10 am

When I lived in upstate NY, I bought this 721 30-06 at an estate sale. The stock was cracked through the wrist which I had professionally restored. From past experience, I know highly figured wood is fragile, so I have never shot this rifle with full house 30-06 loads. As I am "into" 721/2 rifles I thought I'd seen about everything but this is a corker.

The barreled action is bone stock 721A but the stock is marked "B"under the receiver ring and "H" "C" in the barrel channel just in fron of the recoil lug. All letters are CAPS.

As I bought the rifle about 50 miles from Ilion, so I suspect it was a "lunch box" job. It certainly is not typical B grade wood.

Photos below:

Rem725 · Post by **Rem725** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:37 am

I had a 725 270 with wood like that. Sold it but have regrets.

The Gamemaster · Post by **The Gamemaster** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:39 pm

The 721 / 722 was the cheapest gun that Remington ever made in comparison to the Model 700's made just a couple of years later.

The stock had a real shabby stain on it and a real crappy finish that was known to fall off.

I can only imagine that if someone was smart enough to scrape off the old finish and sand it down and put a nice finish on it, along with some hand checkering that it would turn out a lot like the one in your picture....

If a person worked at the factory, there is no telling whom did the job for them.

Rem725 · Post by **Rem725** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 6:02 pm

Fancy wood like that was a factory option.

There were the Peerless and Premier grades.

And personally I think the 700 line was just a clone version of the 721, 722, and 725 dressed up with pressed checkering. Early 700s certainly were equal but not better. The 700 Classic and Mountain were a good looking version, but still a clone. Most recent 700s comparing sporter weight to sporter weight, are a step down in my opinion.

721AC300HH · Post by **721AC300HH** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:53 am

Agree the pre transition 721/2 were far superior rifles to 700s. They had all steel, were always tack drivers and proper length barrels. This rifle has factory checkering as it exactly matches my 721 AC and several 722 Bs. I did the refinish as the factory varnish was starting to craze after 50 odd years.

studechip · Post by **studechip** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:41 am

This is my 722 .244. The factory told me that it most likely came from the factory as is, but that the wood grade wasn't always identified as peerless or premiere. It's birdseye maple.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:11 pm

studechip wrote:This is my 722 .244. The factory told me that it most likely came from the factory as is, but that the wood grade wasn't always identified as peerless or premiere. It's birdseye maple.

Definitely not a (Remington) "factory" stock.
Possibly a Fajen, Bishop, Richards Microfit or some other stock maker of the period. It's reminiscent of the Weatherby stocks of that era.

Den

.

studechip · Post by **studechip** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:38 pm

When I sent pictures to Remington, this was their reply:

"Letter designations are not always used and many grades are never marked on the firearm itself. The engraving is done very well. It does appear as though it could be a factory job, however there is no true way to confirm this with 100% certainty. It is very similar to the engraving patterns we use, but this is also one of the most copied designs in the industry. Your barrel date code puts the production date around May of 1956, so it is highly possible that it is all original."

Why are you so certain that it isn't a factory stock?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 3:09 pm

studechip wrote:When I sent pictures to Remington, this was their reply:

"Letter designations are not always used and many grades are never marked on the firearm itself. The engraving is done very well. It does appear as though it could be a factory job, however there is no true way to confirm this with 100% certainty. It is very similar to the engraving patterns we use, but this is also one of the most copied designs in the industry. Your barrel date code puts the production date around May of 1956, so it is highly possible that it is all original."

Why are you so certain that it isn't a factory stock?

Apparently even Remington is not completely certain about the barreled action being "factory" (or even Custom Shop).

Why am I certain? I have NEVER seen, and YOU will NEVER find a stock like THAT coming from the Remington factory (or Custom Shop). These forum pages have many examples of restocked rifles with that kind of Monte Carlo comb and pistol grip variations.

Have you taken the barreled action out of the stock to inspect it (stock)?

Your pictures of the barreled action are lacking in detail to see the engraving up close......and whether the barrel has the "hump" near the rear sights. If it was built around '56, it would more than likely have the hump.

Den

.

John Gyde · Post by **John Gyde** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 3:57 pm

My bet is also that it is not factory work. The high grade Rems I have had also (USUALLY) did not have date codes on them. I couldn't tell enough from your photos. Is the serial number stamped or engraved? Is there a grade stamp hidden in the wood? I will not tell you where to look for obvious reasons.

studechip · Post by **studechip** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:37 pm

Wulfman and John, I am posting some close ups as best as I can take them with the camera I have. I hope they are good enough.
John, I looked thoroughly at the stock and can't find any grade stamp on it, although the email I got from the factory said they
aren't always marked. Why would you not tell me where to look?