The Accurate Reloading Forums
Hemingway's G&H 30-06
08 April 2021, 05:29
JeffreyPhDHemingway's G&H 30-06
I would really appreciate seeing pictures of your G&H. If you have any trouble posting pictures here I'll do that as well.
quote:
Originally posted by Bryndon:
I know you mentioned not wanting pictures of “one just like it”, but Hemingway’s was #956 and I have #950. Other than barrel length and the fact that mine has a double lever G&H mount, rather than a single lever on his, it is nearly identical in all other respects - cheek piece, the sharp cornered feature running vertically down from the back of the bolt stop, etc. No doubt the same stocker did mine and his. There was still some artistic license allowed to the individual stockers in 1930, but shortly after this G&H standardized their stock. The standard design is a classic, for sure, but not an improvement over 950 & what we know of 956.
Let me know if you’d like some pictures of 950 and I’ll dig it out.
08 April 2021, 07:26
BaxterBWow. That’s a beauty. I’d say that’s about as close to Hems as you can get.
What scope is on it?
08 April 2021, 07:28
BryndonTrying to relearn imgur...
08 April 2021, 07:29
JeffreyPhDBeautiful rifle. Is it my imagination, or is the grip on this rifle more open (more British influence) than later G&H rifles?
quote:
08 April 2021, 07:32
Bryndon
The scope is a zeiss zielklein
The grip is the most comfortable I’ve held. It is more open and is also of a diamond cross section like an English shotgun
08 April 2021, 07:39
BaxterBThat is an astoundingly beautiful American rifle.
Built in 1931 or so?
08 April 2021, 07:47
BryndonThanks, I sure like it. Most importantly it shoots around 1” at 100 if I do my part. I load light loads from a recipe a friend worked up to be gentle on M1 Garlands.
I think 1930, as I recall reference in the Hemingway guns book of Hemingway getting his in 1930
08 April 2021, 08:01
LHeym500Thank you for sharing your G&H with us. The rifle is both elegant and historically important.
08 April 2021, 08:43
NormanConquestVery Nice! I recall about 25 years ago when "Gun Digest" actually placed customers ads nationwide for gun sales before they started writing articles. I recall a few G+Hs for sale in the $650.00- $850.00 range. Hindsight is 20/20.
Never mistake motion for action.
08 April 2021, 17:48
yumastepsideThanks Bryndon, a truly beautiful rifle.
Roger
08 April 2021, 19:35
DArcy_Echols_CoThat is a grand old rifle and I agree completely a G&H 1903 has a wonderful feel when in your hands, the overall grip shape, the for-end shape and length, the balance and point-ability makes a statement that clearly says someone did know sheep shit from cotton seed when this was assembled. A trait sadly in decline today.
I wonder if Hemingway ever was concerned with the rifles overall weight ? or the lack of a 50mm objective lens for the scope or for that matter the construction of his jacketed bullets or their lack of adequate velocity and energy beyond 600 yards ?
He seems to have put it to good use where ever he hunted with it. No fuss, no muss
My how times have changed
08 April 2021, 20:20
xausaD'Arcy, you need to remember that the animals Hemingway was hunting were not educated enough in ballistics and bullet construction to know when to lie down and die and when to remain standing. Hemingway obviously did not have access to modern bullets, so no self respecting animal nowadays would succumb to the primitive bullets Hemingway and his contemporaries were using.
08 April 2021, 20:27
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)Yeah and a wood stock!
08 April 2021, 20:38
BaxterBDid they need to shorten the safety to clear the scope? Looks tight - but maybe the angle of the pic.
And I’m impressed the sight hood in intact after almost 100 years!
09 April 2021, 21:24
xausaA nice rifle and very much like mine, with a good example of the G&H windage adjustable side mount, which was a necessity with the elevation only German scope.
Mine probably started life with a single lever windage adjustable mount, but the shift to a 1" diameter scope forced a change to a double lever mount and the windage adjustment was unnecessary. Also, the lower scope mount required an altered bolt handle and safety and the Lyman 48 slide had to be removed to accomodate the scope. It bears G&H serial number 1250.
10 April 2021, 01:18
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)Great example...but you just gotta get rid of that whit e line pad
10 April 2021, 02:43
Aaron LittleHe knew how to hold a forend folks. Take note!
10 April 2021, 05:13
kda55+1. All the reason for shorter forends.
10 April 2021, 08:18
BryndonThe safety clears the scope by about the thickness of a sheet of paper.
D’arcy, I think the story goes that Hemingway was so impressed with the Lyman 48 that he removed the scope and it was lost to time before the rifle was stolen. No 50mm objectives for Papa. And I always figured if anything needed to lose weight for a hunt it would be best coming off me than the rifle.
G&H is only the most famous of the Springfield sporters. So many other makers were doing work as well or maybe better. Pick up an Adolph, Wundhammer, S-Man, or one of countless other custom stockers and you’ll never look at a model 70 again. The perfect bolt action rifle was being defined by these people and hasn’t been improved on since about 1927.
10 April 2021, 10:59
CougarzMany years ago a friend of mine had put together a very close copy of a G&H Springfield in .35 Whelen. I forget now who did what work on it but the rifle was a real beauty. He decided he would sell it to me but since had promised it long before to his brother first he thought he better ask.
His brother didn't hunt or shoot much anymore so I was hopefull he wouldn't be interested so I unashamedly did my best to coerce him to sell it to me instead.
Long story short his brother ended up wanting it. Family ties run deep sometimes. It was a beautiful rifle I still think about.
Thanks guys for posting those pictures.
Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.
*we band of 45-70ers*
10 April 2021, 21:04
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)Some darn fine Springfield sporters have been produced. but in my opinion the high water mark belongs to Barney Worthen, a San Francisco stockmaker and gunsmith
11 April 2021, 06:56
Craftsmanquote:
Some darn fine Springfield sporters have been produced. but in my opinion the high water mark belongs to Barney Worthen, a San Francisco stockmaker and gunsmit
Any pictures ?
Craftsman
11 April 2021, 08:15
kda55You might search Micheal Petrov's posts on doublegunshop.com, a wealth of information. Sadly now deceased and his collection scattered.
11 April 2021, 10:52
CougarzDuane,
All the work was done by gunsmiths in the Tacoma area. I just don't remember now who did what. Sadly all those guys are past history now.
Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.
*we band of 45-70ers*
19 April 2021, 11:56
DCS MemberQuite a twistedly amazing individual.
I suppose we could say the same about General Patton.
I meant to be DSC Member...bad typing skills.
Marcus Cady
DRSS
19 April 2021, 22:13
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)quote:
Originally posted by Cougarz:
Duane,
All the work was done by gunsmiths in the Tacoma area. I just don't remember now who did what. Sadly all those guys are past history now.
Does Jim Clowsard ring a bell?
19 April 2021, 22:42
Frostbitquote:
Looking at the seated shot I wonder if Hemingway was right handed and left eye dominant like I am.
Jim
19 April 2021, 23:12
BaxterBJim - no, his vision in his left eye was 2/20. As an adult he always used glasses - this is a set up pic.
I’m also left eyed and right handed, which sucks now that I’m older because my right eye is requires more correction than my left.
Blame my dad who changed me from left to right handed as a kid...oh well...
23 April 2021, 10:22
Cougarzquote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
quote:
Originally posted by Cougarz:
Duane,
All the work was done by gunsmiths in the Tacoma area. I just don't remember now who did what. Sadly all those guys are past history now.
Does Jim Clowsard ring a bell?
Duane,
Sorry I just don't remember now and to be honest I probably wouldn't have known one gunsmith from another back then. I looked at the rifle in the early 1990's.
Bottom line is even I could see it was a beautifully executed rifle that I was ever so close to getting.
Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.
*we band of 45-70ers*
23 April 2021, 15:41
bluefishSee the pic of him shooting while sitting? Did he have unusually large hands? His right hand trigger finger appears to be resting near the second knuckle of the trigger finger on the trigger itself. Just me or was it too short LOP for him?
23 April 2021, 18:05
BaxterBAt the time he ordered the rifle he described him self as 6’ 190 lb with small hands for his size. Not sure what LOP was.
23 April 2021, 21:16
gasgunnerquote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Some darn fine Springfield sporters have been produced. but in my opinion the high water mark belongs to Barney Worthen, a San Francisco stockmaker and gunsmith
I'll see your Barney Worthen, and raise you a Harvey Rodgers.
Although no doubt Worthen was a great gunmaker, I think his specialty was really shotgun work.
Some were great stockmakers, others great metalsmiths, but G&H probably put the whole package together as good as any and better than most.
John
