I’m working on an article about custom makers who used the original armory stock to make a custom sporter. During the depression years even large firms such as Griffin & Howe would work over an armory stock. Some of these are marked with the makers name but most are not. I would like to correspond with anyone who has one of these, marked by the maker or not.
Thank you, Michael

Those not familiar with the conversions can look at this one.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=55893331

mike ,i would have expected an email from you on this you know i have the cleanest one around ,too bad i cant post pics but i will send you some slides or did i send you some already ...paul

Paul,

You will need to refresh my memory or perhaps make a new one. I do not recall any of your rifles as having the original Springfield Armory stock reworked. Tell me about it.

the gun was advertised in the gun list thats how long ago it was ,it is an exact copy of the one pictured at the back of the american rifleman magazine stateing that g&h would "remodel your springfield" they ran a series that went 25 ,50,75,100,years ago this is what was happening and so forth also this gun is not marked by g&h it has there front sight,there barrel band,model 70 buttlike they all do,lyman 48,checkerd bolot handle horn forend the gun appears to be unfired it came from texas was bought at auction with another marked g&h,i emailed you the pics from my friends computer you told me "if you dont buy it i will" i will send you some pics ...paul

Michael,
A good friend of mine has a gun store here in Wenatchee and recently bought an estate with over 175 rifles. There are two that were customized from the original stock and the work is first class including the checkering. One is an 03 and the other an 03 A3. Very good prices too.

I will try to get some photos and post them in here.

mike i found some pics mostly slides i will send them to you, my gun is a 6 digit s.n.in flat new condition.....paul

quote:

Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:
mike i found some pics mostly slides i will send them to you, my gun is a 6 digit s.n.in flat new condition.....paul

Paul, Please send them up, I went through my "Paul" file and don't have a picture.

MP

quote:

Originally posted by Customstox:
Michael,
A good friend of mine has a gun store here in Wenatchee and recently bought an estate with over 175 rifles. There are two that were customized from the original stock and the work is first class including the checkering. One is an 03 and the other an 03 A3. Very good prices too.

I will try to get some photos and post them in here.

Very interesting I would love to see them, looking forward to it. MP

quote:

Originally posted by SDH:
Damn nice rifles, all things considered. A whole bunch of work went into the conversion.
Please let us know when and where the article is scheduled to appear.
Nice photo of yours, hey, hey!
SDH

Right! Photo by Mike, tutoring by Steve ;-). The article will be in Precision Shooting some day.

Michael

Would it be possible to see a picture of the grip cap and buttplate on that rifle of yours, or at least get a description of them?

Many thanks

I have two mauser stocks that were made from orig. military stocks. they are very small, almost dainty but very much to my liking. I bought one of them just for a pattern as it had some cracks and bad repair jobs. I latter bought a complete rifle that is my current project. If this is of interest to you I will try to get some pics posted. I am just learning to use my dig. cam. so be patient.

Sorry this isn't a Springfield, but this was allegedly done by Williams in the early 50's on a regular basis. 1891 Argentine Mauser, peep sight added and orginal stock checkered and carved.

quote:

Originally posted by Idared:
Michael

Would it be possible to see a picture of the grip cap and buttplate on that rifle of yours, or at least get a description of them?

Many thanks

Griffin & Howe offered two different grades of remolding the armory stock one used the Winchester buttplate and one the trapdoor plate. The pictured rifle has the Winchester buttplate.

riverman1: I’ll look at any custom sporter, can’t remember seeing many Mausers done using a military stock.


Browningguy: Neat old rifle, my first centerfire rifle was a 91 Mauser that I sporterized when I was 15, bought it a Sears for $17.50.

mike, i will send the pics i have to you my gun is exactly like the one you posted ,it is flat new but it is not marked by griffin because they did not stock it, i have slides and prints of it ....paul

quote:

Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:
mike, i will send the pics i have to you my gun is exactly like the one you posted ,it is flat new but it is not marked by griffin because they did not stock it, i have slides and prints of it ....paul

Some are marked others are not and I have no idea why, the one listed on GunBroker has a work-order number on the barrel as well as the name and address. The one I posted a picture of has “Griffin & Howe New York†on the barrel but no number, others by G&H are unmarked. Many questions, few answers.

I have a Springfield that looks like the economy model of the one in the auction. The stock looks very similar, except no cheekpiece. The ebony fore end tip has a white line spacer. The checkering pattern is very similar, with a couple of oops's. The Butt plate may be original.

The front sight is original, as is the barrel marked 4/30 above the flaming bomb. The saftey is marked Beuhler. The receiver is drilled and tapped for a Lyman 48, and a chunk of wood glued in to replace the cut out piece.

What got my attention is the barrel band connected to the sling stud. Mine is the only one I've seen. Are those common on springfields?


My rifle shoots well considering the terrible pitting and cleaning rod damage. I put 3 shots of korean M-2 ball into one inch (once.)

Jason:

Hi, there have been thousands of 1903 Springfields converted into sporters, all with varying degrees of skill. Before WWII there were only a handful of well known makers who turned out a higher-grade rifle. There were also small makers who never got national attention whose work is as good and in some cases better than the big named makers.

If you could send me some pictures to mjpetrov@acsalaska.net I would be glad to have a look.

Michael

mike, i will take some more pics most likey prints and send them to you, also i spoke with a fella who was very friendly with Jules Labantchni i know he is not pre war but he did turn out some nice rifles which are hard to come by im going to get some more info on him.... paul

APaul,
just a couple of good pictures or slides will be fine, I'll look for them.

Thanks, MP

Tell me what you guys (and gals?) think of this one.

http://rogerbain.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/24/...769341cc0333864bbca1

nice looking gun and a new gun sight for me mike!! although there are no bargains ...the 350 rigby is real nice but not for 15k too bad ive been looking for one for a while .....paul

quote:

Originally posted by SDH:
I like it more that the custom G&H Springfield on the same site.

It's a nice rifle, What’s the giveaway that this is an armory stock as well?

i dont see the cross bolts ,but the comb is high unlike early griffins also the groove for the bolt release is not there ....paul