Remington is celebrating a quarter-century's production of its famed and popular Model Seven short-action bolt rifle with a special 25th Anniversary Edition. It's not a "commemorative" to be displayed unfired as a collector's item; it's a real working gun that is nonetheless laden with such a list of unique and beautifully executed special design and appearance features that many who buy it will be loathe to subject it to the wear marks of the hunting fields. Maybe they'll buy two.

I first saw a Model Seven in the hands of a Remington sales representative at a local gunshop in 1983, the year it was introduced. I've always had a passion for short, lightweight hunting rifles, and I immediately bought the first 7mm-08 Model Seven that dealer received. It had the then-standard 18.5-inch barrel and Schnabel fore-end wood stock. I've hunted with it ever since and currently own six other Model Sevens in varied subsequent calibers and configurations. If pressed, I would probably admit the Model Seven has been my personal favorite rifle for all those years. Like I said, I like light and handy rifles.

The new Model Seven 25th Anniversary Edition has all the basic Model Seven characteristics that have made it so popular for so long. I have often heard the Model Seven described as a "compact Model 700," and to a degree that's true. While the Model Seven receiver is a half-inch shorter than a Model 700 short-action receiver, it has the same cylindrical design as the Model 700 to provide a consistent bedding area in the stock, and it features the same famed "three-rings-of-steel" strength as the Model 700 action with the boltface, barrel, and receiver encasing the cartridge head.

The design, position, and throw-arc of the bolt handle and the two-position manual thumb safety are also the same as the Model 700. The box magazine with drop-down, hinged floorplate is also the same as the Model 700's. However, the Model Seven's 23⁄8-inch shorter overall length (in standard configuration) and 133⁄8-inch length of pull compared to Model 700 counterparts in the same calibers make the Model Seven perfectly sized for small-statured shooters and dense-cover hunting situations--or anywhere a fast-handling compact design is warranted.

The Model Seven 25th Anniversary Edition is offered only in 7mm-08--considered by many as the most classic Model Seven chambering--with a 22-inch standard-contour barrel. Regular-production 7mm-08 Model Sevens have 20-inch barrels. The metal finish on the barrel and receiver is a special high-sheen blue. There are no sights, and the receiver is drilled and tapped to accept standard scope mounts.