Vintage Build-1980 Elk Hunter's Dream Rifle.

If you dreamed of elk hunting in Montana in the late 70’s early 80’s you probably would have also dreamed of doing the hunt with this setup. But you also probably didn’t.

Back in the 70’s to early 80’s the Grade IV Browning BAR’s were something that graced the pages of catalogs I dreamed of owning one but did not. In fact, I didn’t even did I know a hunter who did. And even though I never saw one in person, they did exist. Not only are they shining, (and shiny) examples of craftsmanship but they also demonstrate the pride that employees took in working for these companies. If you lived back then you understand. 1980 wasn’t an easy time to get a job. A lot of folks didn’t have one. If they had one, they took pride in it and they knew that the best thing they could do to keep it was to do their dead level best for the company that wrote their paycheck. That’s how it worked back then. My how times have changed.

What hasn’t changed is how beautiful and collectible these rifles were, and still are. This month we have put together what I am calling an elk hunter’s dream. In 1980, every hunter, including my dad was dreaming of traveling out west, to Montana or Wyoming to hunt elk. This example of a Browning BAR would have been considered perfect for that hunt back then.

You want to pull that gold trigger, don’t you.

We started with a Browning BAR Grade IV 7mm Remington magnum with the beautiful ELK/Moose engravings, and incredibly figured furniture. We added what I consider to be most classy mounting system of the day; the slick Beuhler mounts and split rings. We then added a traditional Redfield 4-12x fine crosshair scope. When I shoulder this rifle, I can’t help but envision and elk standing in it in the pines across a Montana canyon. For the last fine detail we found a near new condition Browning leather case complete with paperwork, two keys and even the envelope and waxed paper that the keys came in.

This is about as fine of a collectors item I know of for those who dreamed like I did in 1980 of an elk hunt out west and the perfect rifle with which to do it.