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LOT 1443
Historic R. G. Owen Built Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Sporting Rifle with Scope
Built for American Handgunner Elmer Keith - Serial no. 301788, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24
inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Built on a Springfield Model 1903 action by famous
American rifle maker R. G. Owen for his long time friend Elmer Keith, the renown American
handgunner and driving force behind the creation of the .357 Magnum, the .41 Magnum,
and the .44 Magnum cartridges. The rifle is fitted with a blued barrel with a ramped blade
front sight and signed “R.G.OWEN - SAQUOIT - NEW YORK - NUM 272” on the top. The barrel
is fitted to the blue finished action which has likely been rehardened and retains its original
manufacturer, model, and serial number markings. The action is fitted with a Lyman adjustable
rear peep sight as well as an R. Noske scope mount which is holding a Hensoldt-Wetzlar Ziel-
Dialyt 2 3/4x scope. The magazine floorplate is wonderfully engraved with the three letters
“K” flanked by a smaller “E” and “M” for Elmer Merrifield Keith. The rifle is mounted is a nicely
figured and multi-point checkered Schnabel tip pistol grip stock with a filler block in the
magazine cut-off area, a set of sling swivels holding a leather sling, and a red rubber recoil pad.
This is rifle has an exceptional pedigree being built by one of America’s finest riflemakers for
one of arguably the most famous sportsmen in the country and who Smith & Wesson historian
Roy Jinks called “The father of big bore handgunning”.
CONDITION: Very fine as built by R. G. Owen, retaining 98% blue finish with minor handling
evidence, a few scratches on the wood, and sharp checkering on the stock. Mechanically
excellent. Scope optics clear. A fantastic chance to own a rifle by one of America’s finest
craftsmen for one of the biggest names in shooting!
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500