1903 Springfield Griffin and Howe barrel.

[Calfed]

I ran across a rifle that looks similar to a 1903 Springfield Heavy Barrel Style T target rifle, but purports to have a 28" barrel installed by Griffin and Howe.
The rifle is chambered in 30.06.


The stock is obviously different than a Springfield target stock and kind of looks like it could be a G&H stock, but I'm coming up blank on whether G&H ever made up 1903 Springfield HB target rifles.


Anyone able to shed any light on the question?

 

[LAH]

Like that rifle.

 

[Calfed]

Thanks, LAH

 

[Jim Watson]

I found a note that the G&H researcher has retired and detailed information is not available, but you should be able to look for the serial number at
http://secure.griffinhowe.com/Research-getserial.cfm?make=97

 

[Calfed]

Thanks, Jim! No hit.

 

[44 AMP]

Griffin & Howe, in addition to everything else, also did custom work, "one offs" for individual customers. What ever the customer wanted, (and paid for) which I doubt you will find any organized records for today.

If, for instance JT Targetshooter said, "I want this action, this barrel, this stock, and these sights..." G&H would put it together for him. This gun would not be found in their lists of products they made and sold to the public, as it was a custom order.

I think that's likely what you have, a rifle made up for a specific customer, not a "production" item.

 

[Calfed]

I'm still waiting for it to arrive at my FFL. I'll take additional pics and post them when it arrives.

 

[Calfed]

My 1903 finally arrived at my FFL. I got a chance to snap a few quick pictures before it went into his safe for the obligatory 10-day "cooling off" period.

The bore is very good...shiny, sharp and the muzzle measures "0" on the CMP muzzle gauge. The bluing is excellent.

The barrel is marked "Griffin and Howe Inc New York"

And "30.06 Gov"

Bolt had striker modified and the bolt handle is marked "J5"

Stock has interesting grain

 

[Calfed]

When I finally picked up my rifle from my FFL, I went over it carefully. I couldn't find any more markings on it, other than this. Under one of the scope blocks I found "No 1x27". The X digit was drilled through for the scope block.

Bolt body has "damascene"

Muzzle is tight..."0"- on the CMP gauge.

With this new information, I contacted Bob Beach, Griffin and Howe's historian, with this result...

"I regret that I have retired from doing the research and letters of provenance effective the end of 2018. There is a current G&H employee who intends to continue the service but it will take some time to rearrange his present responsibilities and familiarize him with the available documents.
A new Research email account has not yet been set up for him so I will continue to read and respond to inquiries. As you may know there are no original G&H& records prior to 1970 except for those rifles sold through Abercrombie & Fitch which owned G&H from 1930 until 1976 and sold many G&H rifles as both new and used guns. I checked all of the possible G&H serials numbers in the A&F records that were in the form 1x27 and there were four possibilities, but each does not seem to describe your rifle.

No. 1127 is built on a Winc. M54 action

No. 1627 has a 26 inch barrel

No. 1827 is a Winc. model 70 in .270 caliber

No. 1927 is in caliber 257 Roberts.

This suggests that your rifle could be:

No. 1027 built in 1930 – 31

No. 1227 built in 1933

No. 1327 built about 1933 - 34

No. 1427 built in 1935

No. 1527 built about 1936

or No. 1727 built in the early 1940’s

These dates are derived from the dates of near number G&H rifles sold at A&F and Michael Petroff’s research. I will check the files at G&H when I next get there which may not happen until November. G&H does have some paperwork for guns that were sent back for shop work post 1970 but these haven’t yet been put into the database that I can check. If I find anything more for you I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Thank you for the inquiry and enjoy owning this piece of undocumented history.

Regards,"

 

[Bart B.]

That rifle is related to this one:

http://sportsmanslegacy.com/firearm...-wimbledon-cup-engraved-inspired-elmer-keith/

That record stood until 1970 when a friend broke it with a 7mm Rem Mag.

 

[RC20]

Nice Rifle!

 

[Calfed]

That rifle is related to this one:

http://sportsmanslegacy.com/firearm/...d-elmer-keith/

That record stood until 1970 when a friend broke it with a 7mm Rem Mag.

Yep.

I've come to believe that this rifle was built as a Wimbledon style "bull gun". I found that article about the Wimbledon "Bull Gun" made by Griffin and Howe for Ben Comfort, who won the 1935 Wimbledon match with it. Comfort's rifle was chambered in 300 H&H and was built on a Remington model 30 action, which bears a strong resemblance to a 1917 action. I've read, however, that prior to Comfort's Wimbledon cup win, most "Bull Guns" built for Wimbledon competition were chambered in 30.06 (like my rifle) and many were built on the 1903 action.



Griffin & Howe .300 H&H Magnum bull gun, Ben Comfort, 1935 Camp Perry Wimbledon Cup, engraved, inspired by Elmer Keith - Sportsman's Legacy, Fine firearms, related books and sporting collectibles. Representing estates, collectors and nonprofit conservation organizations.

The barrel profile, although chambered in 300 H&H mag rather than 30.06, appears to be very similar to mine.

Muzzle seems very similar to mine also.

Damascene markings on the bolt seem similar

 

[Calfed]

I mounted a Lyman Super Targetspot on my rifle and comparing it to Ben Comfort's Wimbledon "Bull Gun" is what convinces me that is probably what my rifle was conceived as.

 

[Calfed]

 

[DaleA]

As others have said, a VERY nice looking rifle.

Looking forward to a range report.

Good luck.

 

[Calfed]

Thanks, Dale