Originally Posted By: Terry Buffum
Originally Posted By: Ryan McNabb


I say we let people chase factory made Mauser sporters for another decade or so while we keep scrounging for these old jewels. "Barney Worthen? Huh...never heard of him. But I'll take it off your hands for, oh...$500."


I actually had that experience a few years ago at a major gun auction. The catalog did not mention the maker of a custom Springfield. While I was trying to read the tiny marking on the barrel, one of the employees of the auction house said "Oh, that is just the moron who used to own it!" What it said was "Barney Worthen, San Francisco, Cal."


It must have been the same auction house I got the solid frame one from. They listed two 1903 custom sporters without pictures. I emailed ask if they knew who the makers were and could they send pictures. Pictures arrived and one looks like Worthen to me. A dealer friend was going to the preview so I called him on his cell, he picked up the rifle and said it was engraved "Barney Worthen, San Francisco, Cal." on the barrel. Rest is history.

MP Sadly Deceased as of 2/17/2014