Info on Wichita action

[ik6243]

I have a left handed Wichita action in my collection, but I am not particularly familiar with the history of Wichitas, so I am hoping someone on here might be able to shed some light on anything about this particular Wichita.

The serial number on the outside of the action is not standard (I'll address that at a later date), but there is a (serial?) number stamped on the tang which I do not have a photo of at the moment.

From what I understand, the bolt is a Wichita Benchrest model, ignoring the modified shroud to accommodate a lower rearsight position.

I have not been able to find any other Wichitas with dovetails - the one on this looks very original, although the builder of the complete rifle was a toolmaker by trade, so likely had the skills to do a very good job and refinish the surface.

There appear to be some Wichitas with a tang that is flush with the end of the bolt - are these newer or later?

I can provide the 3 digit number on the tang on the weekend if that is any use in identifying the original manufacturing year or so.

Thank you.

 

[Leeman]

If the rear sight is sat on the same type of dovetail visible at the front of the action, they appear to be the same as found on any BSA or Anschutz smallbore target rifle. Maybe the dovetail was salvaged along with the stock? I still have a few odd ones from messing around with different front and rear iron sights/scope heights.

A friend of mine used to own a Wichita, I'm sure he said Arthur Clarke used to import them into the UK but I could be mistaken on that. The one he used to own had a side plate for the rear sight as you would normally see on most older fullbore rifles rather than mounted on a dovetail.

I'm not sure why the shroud has been scalloped out as that particular sight doesn't seem to need the clearance, unless it's for the iris, difficult to see in the photo. Maybe the original rear sight was side mounted and went lower as your current RPA tracker is far more recent than the rifle I wound think. As with most rear sights on dovetails, they are fairly high anyway compared to a side mount. The Wichita shroud was certainly one of the biggest and ugliest, in my opinion anyway, but at the time, with the three lug bolt, certainly different to what else was available.

Finding spare parts if you ever need them will be your only real issue.

 

[TRSR8]

That is a Wichita 1375 which was one of the first custom BR actions back when many were still sleeving 700’s, 40x’s. They were nicely made, when they came they were $325. Those were offered along side a shellholder action and a bolt actioned IHMSA pistol. Fred Sinclair built many BR guns on them, built me 2.

 

[Mfitz717]

That is a Wichita 1375 which was one of the first custom BR actions back when many were still sleeving 700’s, 40x’s. They were nicely made, when they came they were $325. Those were offered along side a shellholder action and a bolt actioned IHMSA pistol. Fred Sinclair built many BR guns on them, built me 2.

I have one in 7mm rem mag. I’m thinking about having the barrel changed to a short mag and a McMillan stock.

 

[ik6243]

If the rear sight is sat on the same type of dovetail visible at the front of the action, they appear to be the same as found on any BSA or Anschutz smallbore target rifle. Maybe the dovetail was salvaged along with the stock? I still have a few odd ones from messing around with different front and rear iron sights/scope heights.

A friend of mine used to own a Wichita, I'm sure he said Arthur Clarke used to import them into the UK but I could be mistaken on that. The one he used to own had a side plate for the rear sight as you would normally see on most older fullbore rifles rather than mounted on a dovetail.

I'm not sure why the shroud has been scalloped out as that particular sight doesn't seem to need the clearance, unless it's for the iris, difficult to see in the photo. Maybe the original rear sight was side mounted and went lower as your current RPA tracker is far more recent than the rifle I wound think. As with most rear sights on dovetails, they are fairly high anyway compared to a side mount. The Wichita shroud was certainly one of the biggest and ugliest, in my opinion anyway, but at the time, with the three lug bolt, certainly different to what else was available.

Finding spare parts if you ever need them will be your only real issue.

Thanks.

The dovetail is cut into the action. The front dovetail block appears to be stolen from a BSA or Anschutz, as you say.

The Arthur Clarke ones used a side-mount bracket attached using the two scope-rail screw holes on the top, similar to the Warner rearsight adapters. I've seen one which uses the existing holes for the bolt catch and an additional screw hole to mount a side-mount plate on the side, with longer screw and pin for the bolt catch.

I don't keep my rifles with me so difficult to really tell, but having had a closer look at my photos, the shroud is lowered to meet the flats on the bottom of the dovetail. I guess this confirms that the dovetail is a later addition.

 

[Jerry Wick]

It's possible that whoever modified the shroud also cut the dovetail into the receiver.

 

[geo.ulrich]

the serial numbers were on the tang originally

 

[ik6243]

the serial numbers were on the tang originally

Ah I see, thanks. I guess that is the original Wichita serial number then. There is another serial number on the side, but that's the next part of the story which I'm more familiar with.

Does anyone know if Wichita Arms is still active? I see their website is still online.

Perhaps they might be able to tell me when the action was made based on the serial number and who it was sent to in the UK, if not Arthur Clarke.

 

[dhagerty40]

Ah I see, thanks. I guess that is the original Wichita serial number then. There is another serial number on the side, but that's the next part of the story which I'm more familiar with.

Does anyone know if Wichita Arms is still active? I see their website is still online.

Perhaps they might be able to tell me when the action was made based on the serial number and who it was sent to in the UK, if not Arthur Clarke.

wichita has a website but the company has been sold twice in last 2 years and not sure if they are doing anything. The website has a phone number on it though and some parts schematics as they call them.

Do not expect much. Nolan Jackson was the original owner of wichita and he was not known for keeping good records!

Wichita Arms – ..and it's right here in… Texas!

I have a Wichita Silhouette pistol that it is time to rebarrel and looking for a gunsmith to do it!