Newton on receiver ring..

[gunnut69]

A very good friend bought a rifle a bit ago(Winchester built 1917 Enfield) and it has on the receiver ring the stamping (very neatly done) 'Newton'. Nothing else.. I'm planning a chamber cast just to verify it's not the wildcat 30 Newton. the strange thing is that yesterday reading the 'pack and Postal' add in 'GunDigest' I found another rifle that is nearly identical. Long barrel, front sight base modified to hold a screwed on mount for a globe sight, read sight removed and a plate screwed down to hold either a receiver sight or a scope mount. The Pack and Postal rifle had a Unertle mounted. Both have very nicely done walnut target type military styled stocks. They have cheek pieces and matching handguards.. A matched pair of military style target rifles?? Just wondering if anyone here might have any insights or suggestions..

[Rangr44]

AFAIK, every Newton & Buffalo Newton rifle was built on the rather unique Newton acion, so IMHO your decision to make a chamber cast is the right thing to do - as it's (they're) most likely custom chambered and set up as a long range (target ?) rifle.

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[gunnut69]

I've nver dealt with a Newton rifle but have seen them and picturs of them. This is certainly a mcuh modified Winchester built 1917 Enfield with what appears to be the original barrel. Of course it could have been changed but the marks and dates are correct for the action in question..

[Rangr44]

IIRC, original Newton rifles were takedowns, that used the TG/FP as a lever/wrench to take itself apart - and had a TG shaped differently that most encountered.

If you'll use this hyperlink, it will take you to a classified ad for one in .256 Newton; BUT if you also click on the pic in the ad, 3-4 additional pics will become available, a few closeups of the action top and rear area of the bolt housing.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/918868575/Guns/Rifles/MN-Misc-Rifles/NEWTON_256_FIRST_SERIE.htm#

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[gunnut69]

Hey guys, I know this is not a Newton rifle!! Charles Newton was also a designer of cartridges and perhaps someone else altogether who happened to build rifles.. I have not worked on Newton rifles but HAVE seen them.. Thanks.. Just thought someone here may have seen or heard of someone who stamped the receiver rings of rifles he'd built and just happened to be named Newton.. and then only because I stubbled on two such rifles in a short period of time.. Luck guys..\

[Rangr44]

The rifle(s) most likely came from some custom gunsmith, who was also a Newton cartridge fan - or worked for a customer or three who was.
I would think the field narrow, due to the special & esoteric nature of the beast.

IMO, marking the receiver of a custom rifle, ILO the barrel, for the chambering is also unusual - as someone may want/have to change out the barrel to somthing else in it's future.
Maybe the rifle(s) are stamped/etched elsewhere, like the barrel bottom inside the stock, with a maker's mark.

You might enjoy this website on Newtons, complete with cartridge drawings, rifle & cartridge pics, old ads, etc:

http://opencarryflorida.org/256NewtonPage.html

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[gunnut69]

Thanks! The markings unusual nature is the reason I really got interested and finding 2 rifles with the same type markings further the curiousity. I haven't taken the thing down yet but will closely examine it when I do. I'll post the results here, assuming my failing memory doesn't fail??