Cooper Arms of Montana Model 21 Custom Classic .222 Remington

Cooper Arms of Montana Model 21 Custom Classic .222 Remington

Serial No. B208 | Rare Early Production | Original Brass “CC” Bolt Insert | 24" Barrel

OVERVIEW

Offered here is an exceptionally interesting early Cooper Arms of Montana Model 21 Custom Classic, chambered in .222 Remington, serial number B208, and retaining one of the rarest identifying features found on the earliest Cooper rifles: the original brass “CC” insert in the bolt handle.

The Model 21 was foundational to Cooper Arms of Montana and helped establish the company’s reputation for building exceptionally accurate, beautifully finished American sporting rifles. Built as a compact single-shot bolt action, the Model 21 paired precision-rifle performance with high-grade walnut, fine checkering, polished metalwork, and the traditional lines of a classic sporting rifle.

This particular rifle is especially significant because of its very early production and surviving brass bolt-handle insert stamped “CC,” denoting Custom Classic.

According to company founder Dan Cooper, who later discussed the earliest Cooper rifles under the username “bamaslammer” on the AccurateShooter forum, only 50 rifles total were originally produced with these brass bolt-handle inserts. Cooper recalled that 25 were stamped “CC” for Custom Classic, 20 were stamped “VE” for Varmint Extreme/Express, and the remaining few were supplied to gun writers and others.

Even more significant, Cooper explained that the original bolt-handle construction proved problematic. Many of those first 50 rifles were subsequently returned to Cooper for repair, at which point the company transitioned to silver-brazing the bolt handle to the bolt. That repair eliminated the original stamped brass insert.

As a result, while 25 CC-marked rifles were reportedly produced originally, the number retaining their original brass “CC” insert today may be considerably smaller.

Serial B208 retains that distinctive early feature intact, providing a visible connection to the formative period of Cooper Arms of Montana and making this much more than simply an early Model 21.

FEATURES & HIGHLIGHTS

• Serial No. B208
• Rare early-production Cooper Arms of Montana Model 21
• Desirable Custom Classic configuration
• Original brass bolt-handle insert stamped “CC”
• One of only 25 CC-marked brass-insert rifles reportedly produced
• Part of the approximately 50 total early Cooper rifles originally fitted with brass bolt-handle inserts
• Many of the original brass-insert rifles reportedly lost this feature during factory bolt-handle repairs, making surviving examples particularly noteworthy
• Chambered in the classic .222 Remington
• 24-inch barrel
• Single-shot bolt-action design
• High-grade checkered walnut stock with cheekpiece
• High-polish blued metalwork
• Scope bases installed
• Important early-production example from the formative years of Cooper Arms of Montana

SPECIFICATIONS

• Manufacturer: Cooper Arms of Montana
• Model: Model 21 Custom Classic
• Serial Number: B208
• Caliber:.222 Remington
• Action: Bolt Action
• Capacity: Single Shot
• Barrel Length: 24"
• Finish: High-Polish Blue
• Stock: High-Grade Checkered Walnut
• Bolt Detail: Original Brass “CC” Insert
• Optics Mounting: Scope Bases Installed

CONDITION

This rifle remains in very nice overall condition with attractive figured walnut, crisp checkering, and well-preserved blued metal with minimal signs of handling. There is a small but notable handling mark on the right side of the barrel towards the tip.

Please review all photographs closely for the best representation of condition, markings, and configuration.

COMPLIANCE & SHIPPING

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Please feel free to reach out to info@tylergunworks.com with any questions or for additional information.