I happened to see the following passage in Michael Petrov's
"Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century" Volume Two, Page 23.
In writing about Townsend Whelen, Michael wrote "the first custom sporter he had made was on a 1903 done by an unknown Eastern seaboard gunsmith. This rifle was chambered for the 30-03 using a 220 grain bullet, introduced in 1903 and replaced in 1906 by the 30-06 cartridge. IT HAD A WOODEN COVER OVER THE TOP OF THE BARREL and used Winchester Model 95 musket sling swivels, much like the later Winchester Super-Grade sling swivels."
The bit in all caps is my emphasis.
