I have come into possession of a Remington Hepburn #3 . I believe it to be a Grade B Match Rifle , I'm looking for someone with knowledge of these rifles . The s/n is 58xx . It has the E. Remington and sons roll stamp on the barrel , so I know from research that it was made prior to 1888 . I also have questions about the Gunsmith who rebuilt the rifle at some point long ago in it history . His name was C.C Johnson , of Thackery , Ohio . Mr. Johnson somehow took a barrel chambered for an old BP round (38 . 1 3/4) , and made it a .22 Hornet ! Which only presents more questions . Any information on either subject would be appreciated ! I will post some Pics , if anyone might have some info .
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Remington / Hepburn #3 Rifle
- Thread starter oneoldsap
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
I don't know anything beyond what Flayderman says, not over 1000 made and the Grade B was nicer than Grade A.
C.C. Johnson was a well known gunsmith of his day, back in the 1940s and 1950s when you could convert a nice old target rifle to a varmint rifle without getting the collectors upset. He apparently lined the barrel from .38 to .22 and chambered for .22 Hornet.
Pictures would be interesting to show how much Remington was left and how much Johnson went in besides the barrel work.
For real information, I found this on google, although several years old.
C.C.Johnson's grandson frequents the assra.com web site.
C.C. Johnson was a well known gunsmith of his day, back in the 1940s and 1950s when you could convert a nice old target rifle to a varmint rifle without getting the collectors upset. He apparently lined the barrel from .38 to .22 and chambered for .22 Hornet.
Pictures would be interesting to show how much Remington was left and how much Johnson went in besides the barrel work.
For real information, I found this on google, although several years old.
C.C.Johnson's grandson frequents the assra.com web site.
Rem / Hepburn # 3
I'll tell you what Jim , Mr. Johnson was a craftsman . The barrel isn't original to the gun , it's 4 digits off . I suspected the barrel had been relined with a Nickel Steel liner . Or is the heavy Ordnance Steel barrel up to being chambered for a smokeless round ? Either way , I can not see a joint , even under magnification where the liner was installed , although it does have a recessed crown . Which of course would be a dead giveaway to anyone who knows these rifles , I would think . I know later guns were chambered in 22 Hornet , but they all have the Remington Arms Co. roll stamp , which they went to in 1888. Pretty interesting stuff . I'll see if I can make contact with Mr. Johnson's Grandson , maybe there's some kind of shop record in his possession . Thank you for your response , it's been helpful ! If you'd shoot me your email address I can send some pics , can't seem to upload them here .
I'll tell you what Jim , Mr. Johnson was a craftsman . The barrel isn't original to the gun , it's 4 digits off . I suspected the barrel had been relined with a Nickel Steel liner . Or is the heavy Ordnance Steel barrel up to being chambered for a smokeless round ? Either way , I can not see a joint , even under magnification where the liner was installed , although it does have a recessed crown . Which of course would be a dead giveaway to anyone who knows these rifles , I would think . I know later guns were chambered in 22 Hornet , but they all have the Remington Arms Co. roll stamp , which they went to in 1888. Pretty interesting stuff . I'll see if I can make contact with Mr. Johnson's Grandson , maybe there's some kind of shop record in his possession . Thank you for your response , it's been helpful ! If you'd shoot me your email address I can send some pics , can't seem to upload them here .
Last edited:
Jim Watson
New member
I got the pictures.
That is an amazing job by Mr Johnson. It is in all respects that I can see, a No 3 Grade B... except for caliber. Most varmint caliber conversions of that sort got a Unertl or other target scope and the tang and globe iron sights went in the gunsmith's box of odds and ends.
A barrel four numbers away implies that he had at least two such rifles and was not careful in reinstalling the original after he lined them.
I think I can see the liner at the muzzle, the bright gray circle around the bore. The slightly discolored area out into the recessed crown being the old steel that has oxidized a bit. What they would do was to peen the seam between liner and barrel to close the gap, then finish the crown. It is obvious at the breech. I would expect a thorough craftsman to have bushed the firing pin to smaller smokeless diameter.
I don't know what it is to be FOR except maybe to shoot with visions of .22 WCF dancing in your head. It could be returned to a BPCR caliber but then it wouldn't be a CC Johnson any more.
I hope you get in touch with Mr Johnson the Younger, he is said to have CC's records. Certainly the specialists on the ASSRA board will be interested and informative.
That is an amazing job by Mr Johnson. It is in all respects that I can see, a No 3 Grade B... except for caliber. Most varmint caliber conversions of that sort got a Unertl or other target scope and the tang and globe iron sights went in the gunsmith's box of odds and ends.
A barrel four numbers away implies that he had at least two such rifles and was not careful in reinstalling the original after he lined them.
I think I can see the liner at the muzzle, the bright gray circle around the bore. The slightly discolored area out into the recessed crown being the old steel that has oxidized a bit. What they would do was to peen the seam between liner and barrel to close the gap, then finish the crown. It is obvious at the breech. I would expect a thorough craftsman to have bushed the firing pin to smaller smokeless diameter.
I don't know what it is to be FOR except maybe to shoot with visions of .22 WCF dancing in your head. It could be returned to a BPCR caliber but then it wouldn't be a CC Johnson any more.
I hope you get in touch with Mr Johnson the Younger, he is said to have CC's records. Certainly the specialists on the ASSRA board will be interested and informative.