Need help identifying and History of a rifle

[James n TN]

Today I acquired a Stolle Panda with no serial number on it and what appears to be a coned Renington bolt.

This is what I do know it came from the estate of Ralph Culverson, the action actually says R Stolle Panda
And scribed on the side of the action says Culver 01. The action has a Jewell trigger installed via a hanger.
Word from Jim Kelbly is there were only 5 of these made and that Speedy Gonzalez was the only smith that worked on these to add a coned bolt head and added a hanger style setup for the trigger instead of the pins.

If this is true or not I have no clue, so I'm hoping you guys here that's been around the circuit long enough that may know more history on this rifle and if it has any value.

Here are photos I took of the action bolt trigger and engraving.

Also not knowing squat about tuners, whose tuner is this?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.

James

 

[Dick Grosbier]

James,
It certainly has value. At least the value of an average older BR rifle with a thumbhole stock. I suspect what Jim Kelbly says is true. I surmise it is one of Ralph Stolles original actions. That would make it a collectors item but Benchrest shooters in general do not pay big money for historical rifles. The tuner is anybody's guess, is there any writing on barrel? Tuner does not look exactly like any I have seen so I would guess it was probably made by the "Smith" who put that barrel on.
Dick

 

[zippy06]

Well, the scope rings are of this age. Got a set last year. The extra tall ones. Nice. Now my cheek don't rub.....Yea what Jim and Dick said.....Cool.

 

[mwezell]

Someone else will hopefully correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Culver and Stolle were partners to some degree early on. Looks like you have stumbled upon one of their first. I don't think this adds much to what you might have already known, but. just wanted to mention it. I thought all of Stolle's early actions used a Rem style bolt nose.
As for the tuner..It looks familiar but not sure whose it is. I think I've seen pics of one or more like it on here, pretty recently. fwiw---Mike

 

[Dick Grosbier]

I thought all of Stolle's early actions used a Rem style bolt nose.

You are probably correct on that. I take the statement "Speedy Gonzalez was the only smith that worked on these to add a coned bolt head " to mean the coned bolt was added later.

 

[James n TN]

Thanks for responding guys.

Here's a little more info I have in the rifle as of today and I hope to gather more this coming week.

Direct from Speedy....



"Yes, those were Benny Burns bolts. I was the only one one brave enough at the time to add the trigger hangers to rifles that were to be glues in or had the timing way off requiring the trigger to be repositioned. How much are they asking for her?

If you need more info, you can contact Speedy at SG Rifles LLC."