Becoming Historic & Scarce

[Strangely Brown]

Some further information I have found is Bert Whitakers CV which may clear up a few unknowns.

http://www.melsim.co.uk/cv1.jpg
http://www.melsim.co.uk/cv2.jpg

I have not been able to understand how to add an image yet!


Chris Whitaker

Chris,

Thank you so much!
I really didn't expect to end up with your Dads CV, this has now been stored with all my other notes on the "Transitional" period of change over from .303 to 7.62mm.
I hope to do an article for the HBSA at some time using these notes. :cheers:

[chrisipj]

Ok now understand how to post images;



Chris

[chrisipj]

Just to show that the Specials did shoot;

Bert Grand Agg 1967

[ovenpaa]

What an amazing CV, I do wonder how many of the new generation of rifle builders have such an impressive grounding, you must be very proud of your father Chris.

Am I correct in assuming you are not a shooter yourself?

[chrisipj]

Some other points from memory, hopefully accurate.

Trigger, I assume that most specials had the three adjustment trigger, two for travel and one for weight. Bert was in the process of designing a new trigger mech as a collapsible link to overcome the design problems of the normal trigger when he died.

Accuracy was much influenced by the bedding setup. He used an epoxy putty with I seem to remember a pre-load on the barrel. I think I still have the preload jig somewhere.

Chris

[Strangely Brown]

Keep it coming Chris! :goodjob:

I cut and paste all of this information for future use.

Interesting about the trigger.........

[chrisipj]

Still sorting through old papers, so some more for the history book,

Business card. (About 1972)



Cutting from Daily Telegraph, July 1976 after match in Canada
Both using Whitaker Specials. Ray Bramley (WS.No.62) and Bert (No.1 & No.64)


---------------------------
I sent further information to Jim Hallam last year for the NRA Museum at Bisley.

Chris

[targetman]

Great stuff....

[rox]

Cutting from Daily Telegraph, July 1976 after match in Canada

Some interesting names in there - some of them still shooting (and very well, too). Chris Belk still regularly wins our club championship - as he has been doing since the 1950's, and Simon Belither, one of the most prolific collectors of Queen's Final badges currently competing.

[huntervixen]

I was given a Geoff Hart Whitaker Special last year, but being a Military Enfield Puritan and declaring it heracy that anyone could do that to a "T".

I chopped it in for a 1917 Enfield made SMLE to keep my 1943 Maltby No4 company. By coincidence I discovered not long ago, that my Father-in-law used to shoot with Geoff!

Cheers, John.