(Photo Provided) This rifle made by Lowell gunmaker Cecil Brooks, who dubbed it the Shrine Rifle, is being auctioned by McLeish Auction Services, with all the proceeds to go to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

A rifle crafted by a renowned gunmaker is being auctioned for a good cause for a second time.

The late Cecil Brooks, of Lowell, made the rifle in the 1990s for the annual Marietta Shrine Club benefit auction, said Keelan McLeish, who owns McLeish Auction Services with his father, Charlie. It was purchased then by “a very well-known and respected Washington County resident,” he said.

That individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, has kept the gun ever since but approached McLeish a few months ago about auctioning it again, with 100% of the proceeds to be donated to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a very worthwhile cause,” McLeish said. “This particular rifle is the one that Cecil referred to as the Shrine Rifle.”

The stock of the rifle is decorated with Masonic symbols, gold bees and a gold rope beehive and accented with gold and silver inlays.

(Photo Provided) Close-up details of engravings and metal inlays.

Brooks, who died in 2006 at the age of 93, made presentation rifles for the National Rifle Association. They were given to keynote speakers, including actor and NRA President Charlton Heston.

A typical Brooks rifle took about two years and between 500-700 hours to make.

Brooks rifles rarely surface on the secondary market and are often handed down in families, auctioneers have said. A rifle made in collaboration with local knifemaker Raymond Babcock sold in 2023 for $17,117.10. A presentation longrifle made by Brooks sold to a Marietta resident in 2022 for $15,750.

McLeish said his business is donating all of its services so whatever price the rifle fetches will go directly to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

He called the gun a piece of local history.

“It was made in Washington County. It was sold in Washington County. It stayed in Washington County. And it’s back up for sale in Washington County,” McLeish said.

The online auction began Feb. 12 and will continue until 6 p.m. Monday. It can be viewed at mcleishauctionservice.hibid.com.