Some rifles have a story worth telling.
This is one of them.
Several years ago we were contacted by a gentleman who owned an extraordinary custom stock built by legendary gunmaker Al Biesen - but remarkably, he no longer had the rifle it belonged to.
At first glance, this situation seems unthinkable - who would separate an Al Biesen stock from its rifle? In reality, this is actually a fairly common scenario. Owners of high-end custom hunting rifles frequently commission a second, less expensive stock for use in the field, preserving the original exhibition-grade stock from the inevitable scratches and dings of hard hunting. Years later, estates are dispersed by family members who often have little knowledge of the collection. Rifles are sold and what appear to be spare parts are often sold separately. And without even realizing it, two halves of a remarkable rifle have unknowingly gone their separate ways.
We believe this is almost certainly how this stock became orphaned.
One look at the beautifully figured walnut makes it easy to understand why someone wanted to preserve it. The buttstock displays spectacular marblecake figure that borders on exhibition grade, while the fore-end transitions to strong, straight grain exactly where strength is most important. The stock features Biesen's signature styling, including his distinctive exaggerated fishtail checkering, graceful lines, and impeccable proportions that helped establish his reputation as one of America's finest custom stockmakers.
When the opportunity arose, we didn't hesitate to purchase it.
For a time, we offered the stock by itself, hoping someone would appreciate what it was. Eventually, a gentleman from Montana contacted us with a different idea. Rather than allowing the stock to remain an orphan, he commissioned us to build a rifle worthy of it.
The project began with a 1956 Winchester Model 70 Magnum action. We fitted the action with a premium Krieger barrel, custom contoured specifically to match the original Biesen inletting and preserve the stock exactly as it had been shaped decades earlier. The rifle was chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum, creating a practical hunting rifle capable of taking virtually any North American big game.
The finishing touches were selected with the same philosophy.
The stock's original finish had deteriorated over the years, requiring careful restoration. During that process we also replaced a cracked rubber recoil pad with a period-correct blued, checkered Winchester Model 70 steel buttplate - a detail we feel better complements both the rifle and the era from which the stock originated. Although there was some light wear to the checkering, we did not rechecker over Biesen's original work.
The rifle is topped with a beautifully restored vintage Weaver K4 60-B scope mounted in correct Redfield rings, completing the classic appearance without sacrificing practical field performance.
The result is not an attempt to recreate the rifle that once occupied this stock. That rifle is gone. Instead, we have created something that honors Al's original work without competing with it, allowing its story to continue for another generation.
In the end, the man in Montana who commissioned this rifle was forced to sell, so we did not hesitate to bring it back into our shop. It's a special rifle and we're proud to have played a small part in giving this remarkable stock a second life. While the two halves of the original Biesen rifle may never find their way back together, we believe this build honors the unknown Biesen barreled action that originally called this remarkable piece of walnut home. We're particularly happy to play a role in ensuring that one of Al Biesen's surviving works will continue doing exactly what it was built to do for generations to come.
The rifle remains in as-new condition. Other than test firing during the build process, it has never been fired. All metalwork, wood, and finishes remain flawless, with no wear or defects.
