Now that the smokes cleared, what thoughts do you have concerning This Sporter ?

Not mine and I don't know who got it. It is the first time I can recall seeing a grip cap done in this manner and wondered if it, the overall style and the use of the tapered cover on receiver/barrel junction helped identify the maker. I've see the cover on Krags and know they were sold commercially, but hadn't seen one on a 1903.

Thaine

The square-ish checkering reminds me of English muzzle loaders. Agreed on the grip cap - new one on me.

Interesting piece, for sure.

Thaine,

The new Paul Wolff that I got has barrel ring to cover the sight spline, see the recent PW thread.

Dan,
Thanks for pointing that out. I had completely overlooked it. I spent more time comparing the fore ends than I did noticing the different barrel profile.

One of Michaels "unknowns" also had a barrel ring to cover the sight spline. Maybe barrel rings were in fashion with various makers for a short time.

The overall shape of the grip is reminiscent of a Remington Hepburn, but the ebony piece on it makes me suspect. I wonder if it was all wood when first made, and then the bottom got chipped or damaged, and someone cut it off and added the ebony piece as a repair? It looks so odd I can't imagine it began life with that ebony piece on it.

I think the sleeve was fairly common. I’ve seen them on SR Griffin rifles and several unknowns. Probably available from stoeger or somesuch.

They seem to go away around the time Sporters were available from the armory. 1922-23 if I recall? Maybe if the spline cut bothered you enough to put a sleeve over it you just ordered a barrelled action without the cut?

A lot of the early makers filled the spline groove, I think doing so was written up in some of the gunsmithing books. The S-man usually filled the groove.

Pretty quick shipping, neat rifle its had a fair bit of use but I like it.

The stock looks nicely sealed and well-inletted. Can you tell what material they used for the grip cap and forend tip?

It looks like some sort of horn for both