A new model Turnbull Manufacturing AR-platform rifle that "just about buckled the knees" of a veteran gun editor was featured on GunBroker.com as a 2013 SHOT Show auction rifle and shattered the all-time SHOT Auction record with a high bid of $136,024.00.
The specially prepared Turnbull TAR-10 .308 included features rarely seen on an AR-style rifle, including case hardening, hand engraving, elaborate gold inlay and special select walnut stock. In addition, the first-of-its-kind Turnbull rifle featured serial number TAR-000001.
"We did our best to make this a very special rifle and we had hopes of beating the all-time record of $83,025.00, but we never imagined the bidding would surpass $100,000 and then soar to more than $136,000.00," commented Doug Turnbull, President of Doug Turnbull Manufacturing.
Helping to drive the bidding, the rifle received an extraordinary 200,060 views on www.GunBroker.com.
"When I first saw this gun, it just about buckled my knees," commented Jim Bequette, Editor of Guns and Ammo and a firearms publishing veteran. "It was the most beautiful AR I had ever seen. The color case-hardened receiver is extraordinary."
"Our objective in creating the Tar-10 was to show that the AR platform is more than just a military rifle. We wanted to emphasize that these types of rifles can be made to look like any other custom rifle in terms of appeal," commented Doug Turnbull, founder of Turnbull Manufacturing. "These are hunting rifles and we plan on making them look and feel like the new generation of guns for hunters and collectors." Regular production Turnbull TAR-10 rifles will be the same as this special SHOT Show rifle minus the elaborate engraving and presentation-grade wood.
The SHOT Show rifle was engraved by Adams and Adams featuring more than 50 inches of fine gold inlay. The stock, forend, and pistol grip were hand select walnut by Lucent Solutions.
The rifle was equipped with a Zeiss 1.5-6x42 T #60 Victory HT scope supplied by Carl Zeiss sports optics.
The SHOT Show auction is administered by the Hunting Heritage Trust for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF ). All proceeds from the auction will benefit programs to further America's hunting and shooting sports heritage.
