Other than Duane's fantastic little take down, it has been pretty slow around here. So just for fun, we will see how everyone's knowledge of early 20th century American Custom Gunmakers is. Can anyone tell me what these two rifles have in common? Well, besides the obvious that they are both Springfields, although one is a 1922 and the other an 03.



Regards,
John

Both stocked by the same person.

quote:

Originally posted by setters5:
Both stocked by the same person.

That is true, but something a little bit more. They are both unmarked, how do we know they were stocked by the same person?

John

Both have headless NM style firing pins.

quote:

Originally posted by RogersGunWorks:
Both have headless NM style firing pins.

The 1922 is an M1 so they came that way. The 03 has had a speed lock conversion done to it.

The answer I am looking for is not a characteristic of the rifles, but something else.

Hint, the answer is in your gunsmithing library, or should be, at least in my opinion.

John

Would it be possible to see how the speed lock was accomplished? I understand it would require taking the bolt down.

In petroves book (which I don't have) G&H and Fugger.

quote:

Originally posted by richj:
In petroves book (which I don't have) G&H and Fugger.

No, but his first book will give you a big clue. G&H had a small hand in one of these rifles, but neither are G&H guns.

John

quote:

Originally posted by swarf:
Would it be possible to see how the speed lock was accomplished? I understand it would require taking the bolt down.

I should be able to do that. Give me a day or so.

John

quote:

Originally posted by swarf:
Would it be possible to see how the speed lock was accomplished? I understand it would require taking the bolt down.

Pulled it apart this morning. I had it confused with another rifle. This one does not have a speed lock, just the national match headless firing pin assembly. I guess you could say that is a speed lock as it was designed to reduce the lock time, but it does not shorten the firing pin fall as the Sedgley and Hart Arms speed locks do.

John

Another hint. The 1922 is a 22 Hornet, and the 03 was built for Art Vinje who was a friend of the stockmaker. You will find them under "K" in the library's card catalog.

John

Alvin Linden stock maker, Emil Koshollek made the scope Mount. Is the 03 Vinje's rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by setters5:
Alvin Linden stock maker, Emil Koshollek made the scope Mount. Is the 03 Vinje's rifle?

Correct on all three. I'll give you partial credit for it.

The answer I was looking for is that both rifles were pictured in Monty Kennedys book Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks. This book was a follow up to Lindens three volume set on restocking a rifle. While the book is authored by Kennedy, there is a lot of Linden work as well as examples and text from many of the top gunsmiths of the day including Brownell, Shelhamer, Mews, Goens, Hearn and of course Kennedy, as well as others. The book is a great resource for the student of pre-war and early post-war custom rifles. I also found it a great text book for learning checkering, although some would argue otherwise. As a kid I pretty much taught myself how to checker through the instruction in this book. While I am no James Anderson or Jerry Fisher, I think I do a fair to middling job of checkering when I get the chance.

I searched off and on for the Hornet for 35 years or so. It finally just kind of dropped in my lap. It was still in Wisconsin where it was built. Although G&H did the Hornet conversion including there neat little magazine box, the stock work was done by Linden. Who did the engraving is likely lost to time.

Anyway, I hope some of you found this interesting. If you have any questions about either rifle feel free to ask.

John

thanks for sharing, John.

Thanks, I don't have Kennedy's book for some reason, wish I owned the Hornet!

Greg