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LOT 1442
Fabulous Factory Game Scene Exhibition Quality Engraved
and Gold Inlaid Griffin & Howe Model 1903 Bolt Action Sporting Rifle with
Scope - Serial no. 858, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/gold finish, fancy
checkered walnut stock. Griffin & Howe has long been America’s premier builder of
fine rifles with a history stretching back nearly 100 years to when New York carpenter
Seymour Griffin began building fine stocks for surplus military rifles. Built with a blued
barrel featuring a fully scroll engraved ramped hooded blade front sight and a wedge of
scroll at the muzzle, engraved barrel band, and 3 1/2 inch wedge of scroll engraving at
the breech. The barrel is signed “No. 858 GRIFFIN & HOWE INC. NEW YORK” along with the
hand cut caliber marking at the left of the chamber. The barrel is fitted to an unknown
Model 1903 action which shows a matted front bridge and featuring a fully engraved
Griffin & Howe scope mount holding a period scope in engraved rings, engraved Lyman
rear peep sight, and an engraved bolt handle with knurled knob. The bottom metal
and triggerguard display fantastic floral scroll engraving surrounding a relief gold inlaid
mountain lion on the bottom metal and a squirrel on the triggerguard in the same gold
inlay. While the engraving is unsigned, given the time frame this rifle was built (1927-1930)
the engraving was likely done by Austrian born Master Engraver Joseph Fugger who studied
under famed Griffin & Howe Master Engraver Rudolph Kornbrath. The rifle is mounted with
a gorgeous highly figured and multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with horn forend tip,
engraved sling swivels, engraved blue grip cap with a small relief gold inlaid pronghorn, raised
cheekpiece, blank gold inscription oval, and an engraved and checkered blued
steel trapdoor buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as elaborately embellished/built by Griffin & Howe, retaining
98% blue finish with some minor loss on the bolt body, 99% gold finish, minor handling
evidence, and sharp checkering on the stock. Mechanically excellent. Scope optics clear. A rare
chance to own an absolute gem of an American bolt action rifle!
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000