Re: Request for pics of classic Springfield sporters

27 July 2004, 06:15

54JNoll

Jeff,

Tell me about it. First he teases me by sending me that photo and then I got to wait and wait and wait

But it will be worth it. It is just darn hard to be patient sometimes

23 July 2004, 12:32

Dago Red

All right guys, I know that there are some people on here that have some classicly done up sporters built on 03's and 03a3's (I know that these are not as desireable for sporter's, but I am going to use it on this next project and I think it will turn out all right).

I am looking for all pics, full rifle and ESPECIALLY pics showing metalwork, bolt stops, trigger bows, floorplates, tang etc. Anything that can be reshaped or smoothed, ground etc. to make prettier or more functional.

Remember guys, these are guns we're talking about, you can never have too many pictures of guns! :-)

Thanks,

Red

23 July 2004, 12:43

M1Tanker

Red,
Did you have torturing me in mind when you wrote this post? I am glad I have a plastic keyboard protector on my computer or I would have drool inside my computer shorting it out. I am salivating just thinking about custom Springfields.

23 July 2004, 13:49

2mp

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=696305&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

24 July 2004, 03:39

Dago Red

Thanks 2mp! Got the pics. Anybody have close ups of the metal work?

Red

24 July 2004, 04:26

alvinmack

Here is a new rifle that showed up on Maurice Hallowells site:

http://www.hallowellco.com/jules_labantchni_custom.htm

24 July 2004, 05:46

54JNoll

Well I can not give you any pictures of a completed Springfield Sporter, but I can give you pictures of a work in progress.

Here are some pictures showing before and after views. The metal work was done by Jim Dubell, custom Talley bases, modified the trigger bow and custom hinged floor plate, new Bolt handle with engraving by Roger Kehr (AKA Scrollcutter), Jewelled bolt, 3-pos safety.

This is the blank picked out by Chic (AKA Customstox)

24 July 2004, 16:15

JLHeard

Here's my '03. 25in Douglas barrel, Timiney trigger and Wenig stock

This is as close to a full stock that I have.

Springfield on the top

On the bottom.

24 July 2004, 16:32

JLHeard

PS, here is a beautiful Springfield:

http://www.acgg.org/18brochure.pdf

24 July 2004, 18:25

Idared

PS, here is a beautiful Springfield:

Please, let's not go there again.

24 July 2004, 20:20

BFaucett

I don't know if this will be of any help, but it's a nice little bit of history.

-Bob F.

Osa Johnson pictured in the Serengeti with her [Griffin & Howe] Springfield rifle, 1928.

The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum
http://www.safarimuseum.com/

24 July 2004, 21:25

Dago Red

I know I will catch flak for this, but who was Osa? :-(

Thanks for the pics guys, some great stuff out there.

Red

25 July 2004, 01:49

GrandView

Here's three more Griffin & Howe examples, Dago.

GV

25 July 2004, 04:29

MarkP

Dago Red .. I sent you a few pix e-mail of my favorite 03-A3.. I think they are worth the effort .. good luck

25 July 2004, 06:03

Wstrnhuntr

54JNoll,

WOW! That is going to be one fine springfield, whats it chambered for?

I just got off the phone with my 'smith, my barreled action is ready, Ill pick it up today. Now Im going to start working on the stock and blueing. The rifle is going to be rust blued with a piece of AAA curly Maple from Tiger Hunt in a classical style, thinking about going with reddish brown dye and Ive got a dark burly piece of black walnut for the forend tip and grip cap.

Ive never tried the Maple thing before, I thought it might go well with a Springfield. Its almost a given that no one else in camp will have anything like it.

25 July 2004, 06:21

<allen day>

This is a nice exercise in nostalgia, but those stocks don't exactly enhance target acquisition or shootability.

Shoot one of those archaic Springfields in .30-06 alongside, say, an Al Biesen rifle in .30-06 and see which design is more shooter-friendly........

AD

25 July 2004, 08:41

GrandView

Quote:

Originally posted by allen day...
This is a nice exercise in nostalgia, but those stocks don't exactly enhance target acquisition or shootability.

Shoot one of those archaic Springfields in .30-06 alongside, say, an Al Biesen rifle in .30-06 and see which design is more shooter-friendly........

Depends entirely upon what era Biesen you're talking about.

The heyday of Griffin & Howe Springfields likely had more drop at the heel than what's popular now. And they certainly had higher scope mounts than are available now.

However, Biesen's style wasn't as "straight" as is popular for scope mounted rifles now. All of Jack O'Connor's Biesen stocks were built "to clear the bolt at the comb nose and 1/2 inch more drop at heel".

I've found that dimension to work very well for me. I've listened to people profess the virtues of the straight comb, only to see them shoulder their favorite smoke pole thusly stocked........and have an inch of butt plate protruding above their shoulder.

Other than a stock that was built expressly for me.......I can shoot a stock with marginally more drop at the heel better than one that has less than desired. I find straight comb stocks decidedly uncomfortable. They must be built for people with very short necks.

GV

25 July 2004, 09:32

BFaucett

Quote:

I know I will catch flak for this, but who was Osa? :-(

Thanks for the pics guys, some great stuff out there.

Red

Red,

Martin and Osa Johnson (married couple) did some of the first motion picture photography of animals in Africa. They also did a lot of still photography work. They weren't really safari sport hunters, per se, but Osa did a lot of the shooting on their trips. She stopped several charges of dangerous game while protecting her husband while he was filming. Martin and Osa also filmed in the South Pacific but they are most famous for their work in Africa during the 1920s and 30s. Osa wrote several books about their adventures and they made some movies. Also, they were both pilots and did a flight from Cape Town to London.

You can learn more about them at the The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum web site: http://www.safarimuseum.com/ I thoroughly enjoyed her book Four Years in Paradise.

-Bob F.

25 July 2004, 09:44

fla3006

Bob, do you know which crater the Johnsons referred to as "Lake Paradise"? I don't believe it is Ngorongoro.

Other good books by the Johnsons are "I Married Adventure" and "Safari".

25 July 2004, 10:00

BFaucett

Quote:

Bob, do you know which crater the Johnsons referred to as "Lake Paradise"? I don't believe it is Ngorongoro.

Other good books by the Johnsons are "I Married Adventure" and "Safari".

From:

http://www.which-way.com/africa-guide/destinationsg2a/DestID~176

Marsabit National Reserve - Kenya

Marsabit National Reserve covers an area of 1500 km2 and consists of a forested mountain that rises like an oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness and is the only source of permanent surface water in the region. The reserve has three spectacular crater lakes that provide habitat for a variety of birdlife. One of the lakes, Lake Paradise, is most scenic and famous from early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville. Marsabit reserve is also known because of large elephants like the famous Ahmed, an elephant that was provided with a 24-hour protection by a presidential order. Ahmed, who boasted some of the biggest tusks ever recorded, died at age 55, and his body was preserved and is now on display in Nairobi National Museum.

More information at:

http://kenya.geopassage.com/city.asp?cityID=10

To All: Sorry for the off topic post but I wanted to answer his question.

-Bob F.

25 July 2004, 17:54

Dago Red

Bob, didn't they fly? I might have heard the name before. I read an article in a flying magazine about a plane that had been made as a replica to one used in Africa and I want to say the people using it were doing filming. Beautiful amphibian. Mag is probably around here somewhere.

Red

25 July 2004, 19:05

BFaucett

Red,

Well, it looks like this is turning into the Martin and Osa Johnson thread! Well, she did use a Springfield sporter!

Yes, they did fly. They did some of the first aerial photography in Africa. They did a flight from Cape Town all the way to London.

Here's an excerpt from
http://www.kshs.org/portraits/johnson_osa.htm

After obtaining pilot licenses in 1932, the Johnsons flew the entire length of the African continent in their two amphibian planes taking the first aerial photographs of Africa's wildlife.

Osa's enthusiasm for their chosen career was evident in her responsibilities. It was she who directed camp life, laying in supplies, providing for their comfort and overseeing the preparations of meals. She loved to hunt and fish and secured plentiful supplies of fresh meat through her prowess with the rod and gun. Sometimes when Martin was photographing in potentially dangerous situations she stood by the camera, gun in hand, ready to protect her husband. When needed, Osa could effectively operate the camera and sometimes she took off on photographic expeditions of her own. Like Martin, she learned to fly, and was the first to fly a plane over the China Sea.

Their planes were a Sikorsky S-38 (twin engine) named Osa's Ark and a Sikorsky S-39 (single engine) named Spirit of Africa. Both were amphibians.

Some photos of both of their planes can be found here:
http://www.airminded.net/sikorsky1/osasark.html

Someone currently has a reproduction of Osa's Ark though I can't remember the details right now. It's a restored S-38 made to look like Osa's Ark. I'm sure a little searching on the web would turn up a story about it. I know the plane has made some appearances at the Martin Johnson Airport in Chanute, Kansas for the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum located there.

Some more information about the replica is here:
Sikorsky, N-28V, 1929, #14 S-38

Here's a photo of it:

Here's a Plane & Pilot Magazine article about Chanute that has some more information about the Johnsons:
http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/content/pastissues/2001/apr/travel.html

Martin and Osa certainly had an adventurous life. I recommend reading their books. Osa was quite a gal! I wonder where her Springfield sporter is today?

-Bob F.

26 July 2004, 05:49

fla3006

I visited the museum about 15-20 years ago, just ordered their film "Simba" off the website. Hope it is the one featuring Osa stopping rhino charges with her double rifle. George Eastman (Eastman Kodak) accompanied them to Lake Paradise and I believe helped finance their trips.

27 July 2004, 03:50

54JNoll

I went "classic" ... 30-06.

I like reddish brown stain on Maple. Should make a very nice piece. Tiger Hunt has some good wood too.

Here is a piece of Grade 6 Suger Maple with Reddish Brown Stain. I wish the rifle was done but this is the test piece. There are actually 4 shaes on this piece in the picture. Divide the picture in four equal parts and you will roughly get each shade with lightest on the right (1 coat of stain) and darkest on the left (4 coats).

27 July 2004, 03:55

jeffeosso

Chic,
you are KILLING me..

jeffe

27 July 2004, 08:47

Skibum

Trust me, it will be worth it

Jeff

27 July 2004, 10:05

54JNoll

Yeah I know. It is in very capable hands so on one hand it makes the waiting easier because once I do get it I know it will be right.

The other side of me just wants to hold and shoot the final product and having to look at that blank every day just get the juices flowing .

But I am willing to waite for right.

Of course if I lived in Wa rather than Mo I could at least visit with permission.