I have seen a few Goens and several Brownell rifles over the years and was instantly rendered temporarily speachless while simultaneously gasping for breath. No kidding their work is beyond reproach not only from the standpoint of appearance and fit but also mechanics. I have only seen one of these rifles for sale and it was more than I felt I could afford at the time. The problem with fine rifles is the market. Not enough people even know what they are looking at, don't realize the amount of knowledge, skill, and work that is involved in making the piece, plus many folks simply consider all guns to be merely tools or weapons and will only pay for mediocraty. In fact the last portion of this previous statement is sometimes difficult to refute as often the rifle does become a tool and is treated as such in the mountains not particularily by choice. The exception to what many shooters and almost all non-shooters might consider to be a work of art is a gold plated Weatherby with shiny stock finish and lots of those diamond on a diamond inlays plus maybe a golden lion or rhino in relief. That sort of thing really sparks the attention of the common individual to the point that they consider it to be very appealing. Believe it or not I know where such a rifle is located. Del, Rick and I looked at it on Tuesday, other than being a .257 it was disgusting. On the other hand I have a 7mm-08 that was made in 1990 by a little gentlemen who learned how to checker by practicing on broom handles and garden hoes a half century ago. He checkered the piece of figured walnut from a blank that he had stored in the top of his garage for about 25 years. The metal work was performed by a local craftsman of no particular fame but fantastic ability. Between the two of them they created a classic rifle that is so perfect that I almost hate to hunt with it and will no longer put it on a horse. If I walked past most people with the gun on my shoulder they would not give it a second glance. But those of you who understand fine artistry in weapons would immediately want to examine it. The only reason I have it is because the owner passed away and the widow sold it to me years ago at a fair price.

Mike Diehl-
I consider all my long arms fine, they have killed deer, small game, predators, paper, traps,skeets,and the occasional moa. They defend my home, secure my peace of mind, and after extended shooting sessions, keep me out of the pool hall by reason of having to be properly cleaned. However, the above mentioned Goens and that exquisite Rigby double, transcend the gun makers art and become the Mona Lisas of firearms. They should be showcased and treated like the fine works of art that they are.

Beautiful rifle and at eight grand probably worth it. Page 2 had a 375 M70 for five grand and there wasn't near the labor and craftsmanship involved.

@CRM3006 if you own a fine long arm it cries out to be hunted.

Maybe I'll preserve my Ruger 77 since they are asking $2,150 for one! A Ruger 77 isn't worth 2 grand even if it had been to the Moon on the Space Shuttle.

gotta love fine craftsmanship. i dont know if i'd take a gun that pretty out into the field, but then if i had the money to buy it, i'd probably not care if it got dinged up.

I very seldom use the word "handsome", but that is the best way to discribe this rifle. I would need to stare at it for a few days before firing it!
Ok, I know it sounds kinda weird....but I am a GUN NUT afterall!

A rifle like that I'd certainly take hunting, and I'd probably scratch it deeply on purpose right off the get go so I wouldn't have to worry about "scratching it" A gun is a gun no matter how pretty. If you buy a gun just to sit in a dark safe you would be better off and a lot smarter to take a picture and put that in the safe.

Thank you Mr. Petzal, another reason to "cry" my self to sleep(LOL). Beautiful rifle though.

It would be a shame and a sin for a rifle like that to become a "museum piece." I would certainly hunt with it. Life is too short, and I've never seen a casket with a gun rack.

WOW! I'd be skeerd my talleywhacker would fall off at the sight of such a specimen!!! Surely wouldn't take it into the brush of Oregon elk country. It would end up lookin' like someone slit my bag and ran my left leg through it! (I love my DAD, God rest his soul!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dave, I went to the site where you found this. The homepage display reeks of high-dollar firearms. Not that that is bad. Not only the rifles, but some of the shotguns listed are nothing short of pure art. Kinda like looking at exotic cars, rare warbirds, or supermodels. You can never afford any of them, but it is fun looking at them and appreciating them for their beauty.

Are you guys serious? Some of you would actually not take this rifle hunting? Yea, it's all "artist perfect" but it's a GUN FIRST! Shoot the darn thing! If I could afford it, I'd be hunting with it!

BEST OF THE BEST,Huh?
Sounds like the BEST OF FUN for you DP; I can't wait to read your reviews!

Save $ and ordera Custom Shop Rem. 700 with Grade l-A Walnut, Flute(l piece) Bolt, wt of 9 lbs, Hinged floor plate, Limbsave pad. Also, get the stock finished in oil finish as they did in l993-94 on the 700 straight stock Eureopene models. Have the gun made in 30-06 and you got a SeniCustom built gun you cn be prod of and hunt anything in NA>The new 700 comes with adjustable trigger and then have them to pillar bed the bbl and stock. Now you got a 2k dollar gun which is equal to a l0K $ custom Bean rifle. By all means get a 24" or 26" bbl, preferable a 24" satin finish metal. Now only one other item. If Rem will not do, get a 3 position Timney trigger.I own several guns but this is a only one gun type. If were to sell all i own, this is the one I would keep. Mine is simlar to this but only a 2 position safety and sold bolt. A fluted bolt only makes the action smoother and a tad lighter if you need lighter gun. A tad of Gaphite makes any bolt slicker. AS for Shotgun, get a 1100,26" bbl, a #552 22 rifle and a Uberti 45 handgun with 7 l/2 bbl as a handgun and you got all the guns you need. As for B/P get a T/C Encore in 50 Cal.walnut stock. Now plan your hunt and hit the road, providing you draw. good luck.I own a Custom built in Italy with dble set trigges , solid rib,3 p;osition safety, beautiful wood, cheek piece and 26"bbl. A Jewel to look at, but I prefer the Rem Custom Shop 700 for all my Rocky Mtn Hunting. Here at home aMarlin 30-30 is all I need with a scope due to age old eyesight.But 2 fields about 400 yds across, I use the 700 Custom shop 06 with Nikon Scope and Leupold mounts. Only takes one shot using 180 gr Sciroccos's. Will be my only and last custom gun I pray.

Nothing like shouldering a fine rifle. It feels similar to holding a new born baby, you want to hold it, but are in the same instance afraid you will somehow damage it.

It's quite a gun, If I did not need a place to live I would consider selling the house (for which my wifewoulshoot me with my cheap@$$ Remington )!

A man does not have to apologize for his pretty rifles nor his pretty girls. Beauty is a gift for all of us to appreciate. God bless the individual craftsman who is in his little shop with an idea in his mind and sweat on his brow. We need more rifle builders, I feel. It would help if we gave 'em some support, business, and a pat on the back.

I heard one craftsman say he figured out what his real wages were on a beautifully crafted piece, and he averaged just over 50 cents an hour [in the 1970's]. It was sobering, and I never looked at his rifles the same way. He so deserved much more than he got for his labor of love.

Blue

I'll hush up, now.

Dr.R, glad you mentioned the constant (daily) sign in thing, I thought it was just me. Don't know what changed.

Mr. Petzal is like an Airdale; smarter than he looks. I think he is saying that in today's times, no one is willing to devote the time and effort to create magnificent firearms such as this. Not in America, anyway. Compare a Philadelphia A.H. Fox (1906) with a sub contracted Turkish $2,000 SXS of today. The Fox has lines and feel that does not exist in the 2 grand gun. I was recently shown (rather proudly by the owner) a lavishly engraved, beautiful walnut SXS in .410 that cost $5600. He couldn't hit a bull in the ass with it.
A session at the patterning board revealed the left barrel was printing 8" to the right and the right barrel was printing 8-10" to the left AT 20 YDS!! My friend's golden image had feet of clay. To say he is somewhat pissed is an understatement.
Michael

Incredible firearms - now, if only I could win the Power Ball...

Dr Ralph, I am with you! Christ, I have trouble finding my car when I park in a mega lot. Signing in is just another way to promote advertising, I think.
I am fortunate to have met a number of the men who make up the Custom Gun Makers and Engravers Guild and I have visited a number of their annual Shows in Reno. Talk about eye candy! The value of what is in one, not very large, room is mind boggling.
One of the members whom I know, John Vest, recently completed a .264 custom rifle for me built on a Husky action. I can only call the work these guys do 'understated elegance.' I cannot remember seeing a single piece of work from any of them that was ostentatious or garish. When I asked for and received an offical CGME Guild statement of valuation for insurance pruposes, I was shocked ( the gun was the result of some trading with John including hunting). Would I take it hunting?.......only under somewhat controlled circumstances. I would not use it for a walking stick on a backpack dall sheep hunt.

BTW Dave, if you ever need some help shooting all those guns my services would be available for the price of a plane ticket. Would Consider train or bus fare as well. Crap, give me gas money and directions and I'll be there ASAP.

:-)

WOW! Checked out the pics, beautiful gun. Would love to actually hold it. Not sure I could hunt w/it though, I'm hard on guns, and damaging this baby would seem like ruining a priceless painting. Can't wait for Dave's 'best of the best' reviews.

That is definitely a beautiful rifle but I would hunt with it and just be careful. I'm sure that is what it's maker intended it for. To me it resembles a Browning Safari Grade with more embellishments.

Most of us have too many firearms, but I love collecting/trading such. One nice firearm in 06 with the many bullets available is about all any of hunters realy need. I do;t plan to hunt the eat me up stuff and no way can afford a Africian hunt and not really excited about going. Prefer to go to NM for the huge Elk on the Indian Res. Maybe after the DOW jumps can afford such. But DOW has a long ways to go. Doubt i my hunting left the DOW will afford such a trip. But I still envy such a hunt. Shoot-um-straight and often.PS; Any you guys hunted Elk on the NRA Whittington Ranch? in Raton NM. if so how costly and what kind of success?

For the record all the guns my Grand Dad made (Dale Goens) were built for those who enjoyed collecting them and those who enjoyed hunting them. He took a lot of time making these rifles ideally for those who loved to hunt. So if you choose to Hunt with it then you will be shooting one of the greatest guns ever crafted. And trust me you will never find something made with as much heart and soul as the guns he crafted. I've never in my life seen a man so focused on every little microscopic detail in my life. Let me just say this, He had one of the most expensive piles of firewood you'll see in a mans back yard. For me it was an endless supply of toy guns, a $7-$800 toy gun at that. To me there was absolutely nothing wrong with any of the stocks in his wood pile. But what took a microscope to see at times would be an imperfection he dared not put his name on. So whether you hunt with it or admire it you will be the proud owner of a true work of art.