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I have an 1863 Springfield with "A.L." carved into the stock. No doubt about it, Abraham Lincoln owned this beauty during the Civil War. Everyone knows Springfield made up many Presentation Rifles for politicians. Talk about rare of the rare. You will see this baby on Gunbroker very soon. Let the party roll!
Col. Whelen did not develop the .35 WHELEN cartridge. In his own book (WHY NOT LOAD YOUR OWN BY Col. Townsend Whelen) he says under the .35 WHELEN loading data:
”This cartridge was developed by James V. Howe in 1922 and was named for the writer, the idea being a cartridge, more powerful than the 30-06 that could be used in any bolt action suitable for the latter cartridge without alteration”
In my opinion a “Springfield Sporter “ that has been modified loses a lot of value unless it has some particular significance, i.e. ( one modified by Bob Owens for E. C. Crossman and documented ). A sporter modified by some unknown gunsmith for some unknown purchaser would not command a significantly higher price.
JMHO
In later years Whelen started sharing the spotlight with others, he clearly designed the .35 Whelen and it’s well documented in circa 1923 publications.
I would disagree that a unknowns custom sporter has little value, I can think of several that would sell between 5-10K and the maker is unknown.
An unknown maker of a nondescript .35 Whelen without papers commands 5-10K. Where? Please hurry with your response. Not on the Left Coast and we have at least 2 Hitler Lugers out here. By the way, guys tell me it is nothing to fake up "real" papers.
Calif-Steve, Where did the word nondescript come from? I believe Michael was speaking of a high qualilty rifle from an unknown maker. I collect the 1922 series Springfields. Out of the dozen or so in my collection my favorite is a 1922M1 that was sold through the DCM as a barreled receiver and stocked by an unknown. It is also probably the most valuable and my collection includes some closet queens.
This is merely a "story" gun. The "story" is that is was made for Col. T. Whelen. Has anyone contacted the Whelen family? Nothing anywhere proves this story. Sorry, it is a nice M1903 rifle, for sure. Then why not sell it as such? Why force a story out into the marketplace that is probably not true in the first place and turns off honest collectors in the second place. Nothing in this rifle tells me Mike Koklus didn't build the stock and it was then put together in Southern California. Sorry, sell it as is, with no "story" and watch it fly out the door.
Has anyone contacted the Whelen family? Yes but not for this, anyone interested in this rifle should READ my first post.
It Bob Owen no "S".
Might be worth your time to try to find a copy of MISTER RIFLEMAN. Might even be possible to compare photos...
i had a rifle said to be built by Whelen, it has a small spot in Brophys, i have posted some pics in the past..a 1922 in cal, 22 Hornet with a single digit serial number.
no proof, but still cool.
:wave:In Part 3 of Whelen's book "Mister Rifleman" entitled "A Rifleman's Battery"[photo of rifle is in book !] the ONLY .35 WHELEN, Whelen mentions ever owning was a rifle originally built by James V. Howe at Frankford Arsenal in caliber .400 WHELEN IN 1922. It was a 1903 Springfield with a NIEDNER barrel and sent to Douglas in 1950 and only then, rebarrelled to .35 Whelen. The rifle itself is described as heavily engraved, with a finely checkered trap buttplate w/oil can, floorplate and triggerguard are scroll engraved with a gold TW, and with a gold Buffalo inlay on the guard , the rifle is equipped with a Howe-Whelen bolt sleeve sight with safety. It is safe therefore to say this rifle was NOT the property of COL. TOWNSEND WHELEN !!! Warmest Regards Jerry