Got a new 6.5x55

[Adam Helmer]

Rapier,

What year was the 700 Classic in 6.5X55MM? I think the .35 Whelen was in 1988. I got a .35 Whelen NIB for $485 (the hang tag price still on the trigger guard) in 2001.

I like the 6.5X55MM and have some M1938 Swedes and M96s. My old military surplus Swedes do fine for my PA deer woods hunting.

Adam

[Rapier]

Adam,
The 6.5x55 was put out by Rem in 1994.

I have just one 96 in original condition, all matching, I bought for $100 and a few that are altered to sporters with various stocks, mesquite, maple, black walnut, english walnut, etc. Plus I have an action, with parts, and 3 or 4 new M-38 barrels in the white. When I get my shop building built on the farm, I will put that all together with a different (from the others) type of wood stock. The 6.5x55 is just a great cartridge.

The 35 if still new, unfired, now lists at $900 in the blue book, it was put out in 1988.

I had a lady ask me in Tulsa if the Classics were really bringing that kind of money, her husband bought a Classic at the show, and so I gave him a hand up by telling her they were going up every day if kept clean.
Ed

[Rapier]

I have been pulled here and there by business, clearing land at the farm, meetings with builders, etc. I just ran a patch through the 6.5x55 to make sure the bore was not pitted and then an oil rag over the exterior when I returned with the gun.

Yesterday, it was a rain day, so I took the rifle out of the safe to give it a good cleaning. I looked down the bore and in a bright light could see something that looked like little bits of lint, I ran a couple of wet patches and the lint stayed, I thought to myself, now that is odd. So I got out the Sweet Shooter and a bronze brush. After about a dozen scrubbing strokes up and down, I ran a dry patch, what came out was a light oil brown patch.... geez, dried oil. Now the bore is slick as a whistle and patches are white. So I looked at the bolt face, not one brass mark anywhere, nada, blue black as the day it was made and even inside the muzzle is still blue.

Now we have a problem, the gun is not just 98% it is unfired. With about three little handling marks on the stock, on each side, otherwise it would be a 100% gun. So.... now I have a decision, shoot it or not. Blast it, after all this time looking and then finding a nice used gun, I discover it is not used after all. I hate to fire an unfired collector gun, so I will have to think on this.
Ed