doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Alvin Linden

Everyone has heard of Alvin Linden, most likely the best known of the pre-war custom makers. Linden did not mark his work so there are many opportunities to find one of his rifles sold as an unknown.

The rifle below was made for his friend Art Vinje and is pictured in the Kennedy book on checkering.

Alvin Linden was capable of doing the finest work possible but now and then his inletting was less than perfect. After I wrote my first article on Linden I was taken to task by some guy named Jerry Fisher. He felt that I was a little hard on him and I should remember the harsh conditions that he had to work under. When Mr. Fisher returned home, being the nice guy that he is, he sent me a Linden buttstock made for a Farquharson pictured in Kennedy’s book page 3 for my collection. Now there is no way I’ll ever have a Farq that will fit the stock, should I make a lamp out of it?

Handome rifle.

Is that scope really attached at the barrel, ring, and bridge?

Jerry Liles

Yes, It's a Weaver 330? something, Linden called this setup a brush-dodger, built so brush would not catch between the scope and the rifle.

I just realized that I don't see provision for iron sights. Was this rifle setup for scope only? Seems like a rather early rifle to be scope only.

Speaking of Fisher, I've always liked his work. Any pictures or insights into his career.

Jerry Liles

Scope sight only and yes, it’s very unusual for a pre-war sporter not to have irons.

I like Jerry Fisher a lot, he as well as other custom makers have been very supportive of my work and has encouraged me along the way. I like his work and love the little round bottom 98 Mauser that, I think, is in SDH’s book. I have about worn the checking off of it having picked it up at every show he brings it to. If Steve can't post a picture of this rifle I will.

A Linden-Newton I found at a gunshow, the dealer was selling a collection of Newton rifles. I picked this one up and ask “Why So Cheap” he said it was plain to see that someone has screwed up a perfectly good Newton. This rifle is a 30-06 with parabolic rifling. I tried for several years to get it to shoot with little luck. The floorplate is hinged to the forward action screw. One day I dropped down the floorplate and forced one more turn, and I mean forced, shoots sub-moa now.

Just the opposite of the other Linden rifle this owner liked sights. It has a King reflective front sight (the one with the little mirror) an open barrel sight, a receiver sight with a Merit adjustable disk and a Niedner side-mount with a Hensoldt scope, the scope has fine cross wire and dot. I was surprised to see the Newton bolt peep had been removed and the slot filled.

That 'scope on the '03 certainly doesn't look like it'll be going anywhere soon! I've seen pics of that style front mount before,,was probably another Linden rifle or some other that copied the mounting.
Do you think Linden removed the striker knob also? Or did he have Emil Kolochak(sp?) do that type of metal work for him.
Great looking stock for sure.
I do like that Newton though!

I believe that Emil Koshollek made the buttplate and grip cap on this rife as well as modify the bolt and checker it. The rifle is a 1903 National Match with a headless cocking piece and a reverse safety. They were built that way so the shooter was not hit in the nose while shooting prone.

Mike,
The only pix of Fisher's round-body '06 I have are in Custom Rifles. I do have photos of a single shot FN Mauser (.220 Swift) that was kind of the inspiration. I'll start a new thread with them.
BTW, Jerry's '06 seems full-size to a guy like me and not "little" at all!

The bottom metal on that Newton sure is complex, never seen the like...
Funny about the accuracy.
Best,
Steve