James V. Howe (Griffin & Howe) Springfield Model 1903 Sporting Rifle Info Needed

[Ed Hicks]

James V. Howe (Griffin & Howe) Springfield Model 1903 Sporting Rifle...This is the first Howe rifle I've seen and it is quite the custom rifle with a slick crisp action and beautiful stock with super checkering...From my initial research Howe was a gunsmith/gunmaker who worked at Frankfort Arsenal and became part of the legendary firm Griffin & Howe.

If anyone can tell me more about this rifle please contact me . Thanks for looking. Ed

"Incited by Mr. Roosevelt’s book, New York cabinet maker Seymour Griffin decided to dismantle his own Springfield rifle, spending weeks crafting a replacement stock of venerable French walnut.Over the next 13 years, Mr. Griffin’s business shifted from cabinet making to re-stocking as many rifles as he could for eager sportsmen. African Game Trials had spurred America’s imagination and gunsmiths could not keep up with the demand for sporting rifles. The foremost authority on rifles at the time, and the writer of many articles on the subject, was Col. Townsend Whelen. In April of 1923 Col. Whelen suggested to Mr. Griffin that his business could be improved by the addition of an accomplished metal worker, specifically James V. Howe. Mr. Howe was the foreman of the machine shop at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, and a year earlier he had designed a modified 30-06 necked up to accept a .35 caliber bullet naming it the .35 Whelen. In May, the three men, along with James M. Holsworth and James L. Gerry, formed Griffin & Howe, (G&H)...http://griffinhowe.com/history/

Information

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[eb2151]

SA#935321 looks as if G&H did the work,rifle is circa 1921 and the parts fit the time frame.
The Lyman #48 is a shortened long shank which is correct ,long shanks had gone out of vogue
because of the stock breakage issue.The "WL3" bolt was started about that time frame.
The stain looks like "log wood" stain which would still be used on expensive rifle stocks.
It's application is quite time consuming and exacting.
Respectfully submitted
Ed Byrns

[Ed Hicks]

Thanks, Ed. My hope is to find out if this was Howe's personal firearm (which is what the previous owner, now deceased, was told), a presentation or what history can be found. Ed

[Rick the Librarian]

Excellent --- I have a G&H-modified NRA Sporter which I treasure.

[browningautorifle]

Very nice looking rifle...

[Fred G.]

Technically, it can't be called a G & H rifle since it appears to be dated at least two years before they joined business. If so, it has to be rare.

[Chuckindenver]

Fred beat me to it..nice rifle... had to clean drool off my keyboard

[Fred G.]

Beautiful rifle! I'm Green with envy!!!

So you have a "Howe". Rare rare rare.

[relics6165]

Ed:

Congratulations on one fine rifle, unfortunately you just missed the one man that could most help you, Michael Petrov. We lost Michael 2 years ago this coming February. His passionate research and friendly manner with all of us novices was sorely needed, and we lost the finest champion of this type rifle. Michael is sorely missed, and will never be completely replaced......................

Now that I have done my best at cheering you up, you have a short window of opportunity to obtain his books before they go out of print. Michael's remaining copies are being sold by Jojodo (a fantastic gentleman in his own right, by the way) on the big auction site that everybody loves to hate, but most of us still use........................

Custom Gunmakers of The 20th Century Vols I II by Michael Petrov | eBay

I own two rifles by James V. Howe, both with the Hoffman Arms Company pedigree. One is undoubtedly stocked by Howe, the other is stocked by John Dubiel, with the metal work (including a full length integral rib barrel) by Howe.

I can't suggest strongly enough the importance of Michael's two books in this case. These books, along with a copy of Howe's two volume masterpiece, The Modern Gunsmith, are a must have for you.

Good luck!

HTH

[henry r]

wow. so beautiful.

the screws in the butt plate just melt my brain, i had never even considered work like that.