The Titherington Project

INTRODUCTION

I am refurbishing a Titherington rifle.   I inherited this rifle from my late father and I have been tracing it's history.    The rifle was accompanied with a "Shooters Box".    This box contained a wealth on information about the rifle's past (I believe).   The rifle is a custom 22LR made in the 30's or 40's when small bore target match shooting was very popular.   The barrel is a 1" diameter bull and a custom receiver in a custom claro walnut stock.    The bolt is a standard Winchester Model 52.   The Winchester Model 52 was a very popular rifle back then.    The rifle has a removable cheek plate to allow removal of the bolt.   The butt plate is a standard "White Line".   There are three mounts on the barrel for iron sights and scope.     The rifle was accompanied with a Unertl 1 1/4" Target scope of the era.   The trigger is a custom made unit that is of interesting design.   I t is completely adjustable and is pressure sensitive.    It appears to be hand made.   The trigger can be adjusted so that there is no noticeable trigger movement.   Just apply pressure!

I can remember when I was a toddler going to rifle matches with my father.   This was around the mid 50's.    I can't remember too much detail but I do have NRA membership cards that indicate him as a Master.   He shot a lot at the Willows Rifle Club in Willows, CA and in 1951/52 he was their secretary.

The shooters box contained a leather covered notebook that has shooting notes and addresses.    Some of the addresses are of some prominent folks of the era.   I believe that the shooters box belonged to R. C. Pope.   I believe this for several reasons:

    1. His name and address is in the notebook.
    2. R. C. Pope was a member of the rifle team that traveled to Britton to bring back the Pershing Trophy in 1939.
    3. The shooters box has two decals on it.   A "United States Rifle Team, 1939" and "Regent Palace Hotel, London".
    4. The rifle team stayed at the Regent Palace Hotel in 1939.

As it happened, the team did bring back the trophy that year after the British had it for two years.

I believe that my father knew R. C. Pope.   I do recall his name around the house.