Irelandcustomrifle / Fergal White

extremetaz

OK - so I understand that Fergal has plenty of fans on here... it was actually on account of this that I gave him my rifle to sort out there last May or thereabouts - and I'm not out to cast any aspersions about his character, but I am getting a little distressed at this point by the fact that I can't contact him.

Now I know there's personal circumstances involved but at this stage it's getting inexcusable.

I had a Detective from Athlone Garda Station call me there before the weekend to inform me that he had my rifle, along with several others, in the station, and requesting that I come down and collect it.

This I duely did and found my rifle without its bolt, scope or scope mount, and with a considerable chunk taken out of the comb of the stock. Now this rifle is 81years old so it's no oil painting to begin with but it's coming back to me in worse condition than it was when it was left in!

I subsequently rang the house (as the mobile was disconnected a LONG time back) and left a message with herself. I got a call back from what I assume was his sister and was promised that he would ring me the following day and would root out and post on the parts - needless to say, no joy.

At this stage all I want is my bits back - I don't even care about the deposit I gave him on the work to be done - so I'm hoping that those who know him on here can have a slightly less than quite word in his ear to sort this out.

I can be contacted here by PM.

Jerrystevens

try here he was working there the other week , you are not alone,there are lots of lads trying to contact him from what i hear

Mulvihill Firearms
GUNSMITHS
Phone: 0906432245
Address: BALLYMAHON, LONGFORD

extremetaz

Just tried that number there now and got the mobile number for David who appears to be the main man in that operation. The mobile rang out but I'll try it again later.

Cheers.

deerhunter1

Jerrystevens wrote: »

try here he was working there the other week , you are not alone,there are lots of lads trying to contact him from what i hear

Mulvihill Firearms
GUNSMITHS
Phone: 0906432245
Address: BALLYMAHON, LONGFORD

HATE this ****,seems too be a trait with most RFD's in this country,get your money and wont answer phone afterwards:mad:

extremetaz

Right so Dave rang me back yesterday evening and I asked him to get on to Fergal for me - will give it a few days and see what happens now so.

that's awful poor form in fairness, imagine if it was worth a few grand

td5

I left a rifle with Mr White back in june. Only found out there was a problem through this forum. After several anxious weeks I finally got my rifle back from Gards in Athlone. Minus the bolt. It took another 3 weeks to get bolt and in all that time he never once spoke to me about it. I also paid a deposit. No sign of getting it back. I wonder just how many have fallen victim to this guy ?

extremetaz

Got an email from him this morning, he had the scope and mount for me and is posting them on but reckons the bolt never left the rifle.

Have been back in touch with Athlone GS and they say they have one bolt there but I don't get the impression it's my one from talking to them... the saga continues.

If the bolt is gone then the rifle is finished - there's next to no chance of getting a replacement.

Kinzig

He certainly offered a customised service..you wouldnt get that nowhere else in the world:pac:

deerhunter1

Kinzig wrote: »

He certainly offered a customised service..you wouldnt get that nowhere else in the world:pac:

:D:D:D:D:D:eek:

tac foley

@OP - what is your rifle that you will never find a bolt for it?

Maybe I can help?

tac

extremetaz

pm sent tac.

tac foley

Thanks, taz - I've acted on your information. The multi-site readership I've addressed includes around 100,000 readers, some of whom may be able to help you. I'll keep you posted with anything I find, 'kay?

tac

extremetaz

yer a gent!

tac foley

Don't get your hopes up, Sir - the NEWEST of these little rifles was made back in 1937...Numrich - THE spares people over in the USA - has no stock of any bolt parts at al.

I'm hoping that one of the readers on the other fora I scribble on might have a bitsa to cannibalise.

tac

extremetaz

Yeah, that much I was aware of - 5 year production run and only ~160000 built over that time.
Like I said, she's a rare beast and with a unique chambering mechanism to boot so there isn't even any chance of cross compatible parts.

tac foley

My pal Bion is going over to to a gunshow at Lansing tomorrow, says it will be an excuse to prowl the tables....

tac

rowa

What rifle is it ? I am a member on a few of the classic rifle forums based in america and could ask if i knew what it was.
Where is fergal white ? I'd find him and quiz him as to where the bolt is.

deerhunter1

rowa wrote: »

What rifle is it ? I am a member on a few of the classic rifle forums based in america and could ask if i knew what it was.
Where is fergal white ? I'd find him and quiz him as to where the bolt is.

Do more than quiz him:(

rowa

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/remington-model-34-22-rifles-for-sale-in-surrey/rifles/7739

Buy it and use the bolt ? Send yer man the bill.

extremetaz

Nicely spotted sir.
That might be the best solution at this stage.

With regard to contacting him, I have done and (thankfully) he has responded, but this might just incentivise the effort to get things resolved alright.

I'll get in touch with Dave Mulvihill about getting that one imported.

Cass

This might be a better option for you Extremetaz.


I just got a phone call from Jim Griffin of the tackle shop in Rahan, Tullamore. He seen this thread, and has the exact same rifle in his shop. He said if you contact him and have a chat he might be able to help you out with your situation.

His number is 0579355979


I can pass n his mobile via PM if you need it. It'll save you buying one in, and having to go through the trouble on importing, etc.


Give him a buzz and let us know how you get on.

extremetaz

Cass you are an absolute superstar!!

Just off the phone with him - heading over to him later this evening.

Cass

And they say being a hoarder is a bad thing .


I'd like to take credit, but i just passed on the message. Fair play to Jim for seeing the thread, and calling me. Hope ye get sorted lad. Let me know how you do get on.

bravestar

Cass wrote: »

And they say being a hoarder is a bad thing .


I'd like to take credit, but i just passed on the message. Fair play to Jim for seeing the thread, and calling me. Hope ye get sorted lad. Let me know how you do get on.

I think that's, being a whore, is a bad thing...

Fair play to Jim and Cass, great to see a bit of unity and I hope it's a happy ending for you Taz, my heart went out to ya!

extremetaz

Got back from Jim's there about 2 hours ago. He had a 137xxx serial model so probably the last production year. Mine is a first production year piece but the bolt fits and operates perfectly.

As an added bonus his one also had the original loading arm, intact, and in perfect nick - the one in mine was replaced with a homemade part about 20 years ago so I swapped those out as well; and the original rear sight - which is just your average rear sight blade with the stepped riser, but it's nice that it's aged to match the barrel so it doesn't look out of place like a new one would.

Got a spare stock in the deal too - it appear to be beech or some other softwood as opposed to the one on mine which has a far tighter grain. Mine is split though and needs some attention so no harm to have the option to swap it out if required.

All that remains to be done now is test fire it, so I'll do that when I'm zeroing in the new rearsight tomorrow.


Jim himself is an absolute gent - couldn't say enough good things about him. I actually mentioned that I was still awaiting the return of the old weaver scope and the mount... he walks over behind a counter and pulls out the EXACT scope and mount in better condition than mine!!


Mega thanks to everyone on the thread here - it's an old rifle, it was never an expensive rifle, and in monetary terms it's little more than junk - but I actually went looking through Dave Mulvihill's stock earlier today, and the lads in Outdoorsports in Mullingar (before I spotted Cass's reply on this thread), and there wasn't anything that I'd have felt inclined to replace it with at any price.

I'm delighted to have it back!

Cass

You know Christmas is not for another 4 - 5 weeks.

Sounds like you not only got what you needed, but some other good stuff on top of that.

I've known Jim now for some 14 years. It never fails to amaze me how he can put his hand on something that the main importers cannot get, either as quick or at all, or something that was produced some 100 years ago. Gas man.


Still you're sorted, and more to the point, happy with what you got. I know the feeling when you "make do". Still you're sorted and that's what counts.

extremetaz

lol - y'know it's funny you put it that way because if it had come to Christmas morning and I had unwrapped that bundle of parts I'd have been over the moon!!

rowa

Its a shame it had to happen though, another rifle had to be sacrificed when it was unnecessary. A bit of carelessness leads to a load of trouble for someone else. Alls well that ends well though.

One shot on kill

Well done fair play. At least you got sorted. Sometimes set backs leads us down a path that ends up better than we a expected.

Don't know if it makes a difference but beech is actually a hard wood.

extremetaz

One shot on kill wrote: »

Don't know if it makes a difference but beech is actually a hard wood.

That I didn't know. Might throw up pics of both stocks and see if anyone can tell me what either of them is actually made of - haven't got a clue myself.