Page 329 - 4090-BOOK3

LOT 3627
Documented Historic Griffin & Howe Customized Springfield
Armory Model 1903 Bolt Action Sporting Rifle with Scope
Attributed to Townsend Whelen, Famed American Sportsman
and Writer - Serial no. 1932, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut stock. Popularly known as “Mister Rifleman,” Col.
Townsend Whelen was an avid hunter, competitive shooter, soldier,
and a prolific writer who contributed thousands of articles to well
known American firearms publications, as well as publishing several
of his own books, before his death in 1961. Throughout his career as
an outdoorsman, Col. Whelen continually sought to improve upon the
bolt action sporting rifle to match his own ideals, which were reflected
in the various rifles he used. This Springfield Model 1903 rifle is a prime
example of that pursuit, and is specifically detailed in Col. Whelen’s
autobiography “Mister Rifleman.” As Col. Whelen notes on the rifle:
“When I was ordered to duty at Springfield Armory in the fall of 1929, I
determined that I would have made up the finest possible .30-06 Springfield hunting rifle that it was possible to construct. Accordingly I asked the foreman of the barrel shop to keep me in mind when
his shop was making sporting type barrels, and when they turned out one that they deemed was perfect, to set it aside for me. To hold it six months, and then if they did not find a superior one,
to let me have that one. Accordingly late in 1930 he delivered me a barrel, not chambered, which star-guaging showed grooved .3080 inch, and bore .3000 inch for every inch of the bore,
24 inches long, and had been bored straight. I then obtained a complete breech action, not numbered, nickel steel receiver and bolt, and not heat treated. This I sent to Griffin & Howe and had them matte the top of the receiver ring, turn down the bolt handle for
low mounted scope, and install a Lyman peep sight of their own design on the cocking piece (having both elevation and windage adjustment) and also fit a trigger guard safety. This action was then returned to me at Springfield Armory, heat treated, the above barrel
assembled to it, chambered, headspaced, and blued. I then sent the barrel and action assembly to Alvin Lendin (then our most celebrated stocker) and had him stock it with
a very dark American walnut stock to my measure, checker it, and fit an imported butt- plate trap. Then it went back to Griffin & Howe and was fitted with a 2 1/4x Zeiss Zieklien scope with Griffin & Howe double-lever scope mounts.” He further notes at the end of
the passage: “About 1945 I became dissatisfied with the 2 1/4x Zeiss scope for distances over 200 yards, and accordingly had Griffin &
Howe fit it with a 4x Lyman Challenger scope. At this time I had Griffin & Howe number the rifle with the number ‘1932’ on the lower
tang.”The rifle largely retains its current configuration as outlined above, with exception of a Weaver K 2.5 scope fitted to the Griffin & Howe mount. Features a hooded brass bead blade front with matte
ramp fitted to the star-gauged barrel and adjustable peep fitted to the custom casehardened cocking piece, with the front trigger
guard tang marked “1932.” Fitted with a multi-point checkered walnut pistol grip stock with horn forend tip, an engraved metal grip cap with a trap serving as storage for a rear sight eye piece, and engraved checkered metal buttplate with butt
trap with tools inside. Includes a hardback copy of Col. Whelen’s books “Mister Rifleman” and “Why Not Load Your Own!,” an
April 1938 issue of “American Rifleman” featuring the rifle on the cover, and papers. A truly unique and storied
Model 1903 sporting rifle that was not only owned and used by Col. Townsend Whelen, but meticulously put
together to his own specifications!
CONDITION: Very fine overall, retaining 85% plus period custom matte blue finish with scattered handling marks and spotting, most noticeably on the left side of the barrel and scope mount. The stock is also very fine, with a chip missing on the left side of the horn forend tip, a few light scratches, and crisp checkering. The scope has clear optics. Mechanically excellent. Exceptional condition for a rifle used extensively by a celebrated sportsman such as Col. Whelen.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
327
"When I was ordered to duty at Springfield Armory in the fall of 1929, I determined that I would have made up the finest possible .30-06 Springfield hunting rifle that it was possible to construct. Accordingly I asked the foreman of the barrel shop to keep me in mind when his shop was making sporting type barrels, and when they turned out one that they deemed was perfect, to set it aside for me." - Col. Townsend Whelen