John Llewellyn Warne
April 6, 1923 – May 21, 2019
Warne Scope Mounts honors the passing of its founder and firearms industry icon, John (Jack) Llewellyn Warne. Jack, as he preferred to be called, passed away at home May 21, 2019, in the presence of his wife of 72 years, Marjory and his son Steve. He was 96.
Jack Warne was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1923 and had a long and industrious career in both metal products manufacturing and firearms and accessory design and production, both in Australia and in the United States.
As founder of Australia’s only official firearms maker, Sporting Arms Limited, Jack designed a full line of sporting rifles, including the Sportco Model 62, known in the USA as the Winchester 320. His design and manufacturing prowess led him to an association with Omark Industries in 1958, for whom he manufactured under license Omark’s powder-actuated construction tools through 1968-at which time Sporting Arms Limited was acquired by Omark Industries. Jack Warne’s career at Omark Industries continued until 1985, when he retired as President / Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to his retirement from Omark Industries, Jack helped his son Greg develop the family business, Kimber of Oregon, where he designed Kimber’s Model 82 and 84 rifles in the late 1970s.
Jack Warne founded Warne Manufacturing Company in 1991, which became known throughout the global firearms industry for manufacturing and marketing high quality riflescope mounts. He sold the company ten years later in 2001, and it is now known as Warne Scope Mounts-or just Warne to its loyal customers.
Jack Warne is survived by his wife, Marjory, son Steve, three grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
Jack Warne’s Obituary-courtesy of The Oregonian-can be read here.
Lithgow rifles, still in business and others founded before he was born might disagree about being the only firearm manufacturers in Australia!
That said I have a least three sets of Warne mounts on various rifles. A great product.
RCC, I agree. I only have one set of Warne rings. Bought them with a used semi custom Remington 700 in 30-06. Fiberglass bedded, trigger job, etc. I wouldn’t close the deal unless the seller threw in the Warne rings. The U.S. firearms industry could take a lesson from him today.
Sad to see he is gone.
I have a Winchester 310 and 320, which I bought because he designed them.
I use Warne Extra-High Detachable rings on a couple AR’s.
Great products that are sometimes overlooked these days.
Warne mounts is all i use…yes they are $80 but they are worth every dime. God bless a true legend, thank you for your industry expertise and standards of great quality.
Your photo of Jack Warne firing a rifle with fellow designer Fred Gray was supplied by the sportco.org.au website.
Photo taken by Don Fleetwood in 1956