Griffin and Howe heavy barrel M1903 target rifle

I recently glommed this rifle at an auction and have been scouring the internet for any information about it with almost almost no luck.

The auction pics and description...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../maaR3tF-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tfomjpg1-1.jpg

"Custom U.S. Springfield, Model 1903, Bolt Action Rifle, with 28" custom heavy barrel by Griffin & Howe, .30-06 caliber, SN 1269532, custom heavy walnut checkered stock, very nice condition."



It arrived a few days ago and I got a chance to snap a few pictures before it went into my FFL's safe for a 10-day "cooling-off" period.

Anyone have any information on G&H heavy barrel target rifles?

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"

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...knsljpg1-1.jpg

And "30.06 Gov"

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...jNZfjpg2-1.jpg

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...YTbgjpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c7BVjpg1-1.jpg

Stock has interesting grain

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rC3ujpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...uUTijpg1-1.jpg

Isn't that nice...I'd love to give that stock a bit of oil and watch the figure pop out...nice catch.

For some reason, I can't see any of the pictures that I posted. In fact, I can't see any pictures that anyone else posted.

Can't help you there, sometimes it's the device you're on. Maybe you're looking on a phone or Ipad or tablet and things are different...I ALWAYS use the same laptop in a desktop role and usually don't have issues...once in a while...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Can't help you there, sometimes it's the device you're on. Maybe you're looking on a phone or Ipad or tablet and things are different...I ALWAYS use the same laptop in a desktop role and usually don't have issues...once in a while...

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I tried using Google Chrome instead of Firefox and can now see the pictures...thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calfed

Firefox

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I've avoided the other like that one deliberately. Bing too...no thanks.

Finally got in and picked up my rifle.

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.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4OF4jpg1-1.jpg

Bolt body has the previously referred to "damascene"

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Rkcmjpg1-1.jpg
Muzzle is tight..."0"- on the CMP gauge.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...iONKjpg1-1.jpg

The barreled action is G&H but the stock certainly is not. G&H would never let checkering that bad out their door. Flat diamonds and border overruns are never seen on a G&H made stock. Nor would a Lyman 48 relief cut ever been done like that. Check with them, they may have records of what it was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr humble

The barreled action is G&H but the stock certainly is not. G&H would never let checkering that bad out their door. Flat diamonds and border overruns are never seen on a G&H made stock. Nor would a Lyman 48 relief cut ever been done like that. Check with them, they may have records of what it was.

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You could be right. A poster on another forum advised that the relief cut for the sight looked like it had originally been done for a Vaver sight. I checked the Vaver sight for the 1903 and it looks like that poster could be correct.

I heard back from Bob Beach, the now-retired historian for Griffin and Howe...


"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,"

I've come to believe that this rifle was built as a Wimbledon style "bull gun". I found this article about a 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.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fOkIjpg2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bvkMjpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...O8JUjpg1-1.jpg

Muzzle seems very similar to mine also.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Jlrfjpg1-1.jpg

Damascene markings on the bolt seem similar

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...w4RBjpg1-1.jpg

The Model 30 is built from M1917 actions which explains the resemblance. The M17 is directly copied from the Pattern 14, which is directly copied from the Pattern 13, so there's the family history. Why Mauser never figured out how to build a proper safety I do not know, but RSAF Enfield certainly did.

Very handsome pieces to see, thanks.

I have a half dozen model 30's and just got a 720 with the barrel date 6/'42--the last of the American Enfields. I like 'em all; and you're right about the safety.

From what I've learned, prior to Ben Comfort using a rifle chambered in 300 H&H magnum, most bull guns were chambered in 30.06 (like my rifle) and based on a 1903 Springfield action.

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.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fOkIjpg2-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qHz4jpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bvkMjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...A7dXjpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...z9ZEjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rC3ujpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Jlrfjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...iONKjpg1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e3vKjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tfomjpg1-1.jpg