Won a couple Springfield's on auction yesterday. A 30-06 and a 35 whelen. One is average looking and the other has more details. The metal and wood have detailed engraving and carvings, double trigger,4 shell holder in stock, two scope mounts and open sights. Someone put a lot of effort into this rifle and I was wondering if anyone here could give me some history on this gun.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LbwvXxDCLbWHcyPNAThank You Jim
It just occurred to me that it was advertised as a 30-06 ,maybe because it had 4 of said cartridges in the stock but there are no markings on the barrel as to caliber ,,,,,guess I better confirm before loading a round
Jim
I'll guess that whomever crafted this piece ate sauerbratten for dinner at evening--RWTF
Post war german built 1903a3, the large scope in the jaeger style fine tooth side mount is very cool. They used pre war scopes and left over peices (likely the cartridge trap) to assemble guns after the war for sale to officers etc. The other gun on top looks fairly standard post war american built sporter 50s-60s time period base on rings and scope.
hmmmmm.... maybe a relative of the person that did my 9mm garden gun. Thanks for the info. Jim
The carved rife looks like the mag.is shortened?
The carved rife looks like the mag.is shortened?
looks about factory length to me, would be a tricky job to shorten
https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4256
The mag looks short because they used the stamped 03-A3 magazine. It seems a lot of the post war German '03 sporters used the stamped mags and added DST and engraving to them.
The rifles were provided by the GI having the work done. The rifle may very well have started out as a 1903-A4. An old German gunsmith friend of mine built a lot of these "cigarette" rifles after the war, when times were very hard for Germans. Most of them were built on Mauser 98s, using turned down 1919-A4/A6 MG barrels. He lived close to the border and also built rifles for Russian officers , some on Mosen(?) Nagants . The main point is they used what they could find, to live until they got their country back.
Mike
The goal was to end up with a 35 Whelen so the actions and barrels were swapped out and now it is a fancy 35 Whelen and a plain 30-06. Took it out and fired a few rounds through it............could not figure out the double set trigger until ..........this gun fires when you release the trigger......now that takes some getting used to !!
Jim
Tradin,
The double set trigger (DST) on your rifle is badly out of adjustment and is currently dangerous. This is the result of someone turning the little screw between the triggers, without understanding what he was doing. When you pull the rear trigger, until it "clicks", the front trigger should hold it in that position. BTW, verify the rifle is completely unloaded while checking, adjusting it. The rear trigger is actually a "striker" that strikes the "kick off" that is connected to the rifle's sear, causing it to fire. The adjustment screw adjusts the engagement of the sear between the two triggers. The "fix", hopefully, is to turn the adjustment screw until it holds the rear trigger (even when bumping the butt on the floor or with your hand). If it can't be adjusted to "hold", the problem might be one of two things. The little sear between the triggers may be damaged so it won't hold, or the small sear spring may be weak/broken/or missing, leaving the sear unable to hold. To fix this will likely require the services of a gunsmith, such as "Dutchman Wood Works" or "New England Custom Guns". Fortunately, unless something else needs attention, it may only be necessary to send the triggerguard assembly with the DST attached. The gunsmith should be questioned about this. With a properly adjusted DST, you should be able to "set" the rear trigger when you put the rifle to your shoulder and touching the front trigger should fire it, when you are ready. It shouldn't fire without your deliberate action, if properly adjusted and in good working order. Don't let this make you abandon DSTs, they are wonderful devices. Good luck.
Mike
The goal was to end up with a 35 Whelen so the actions and barrels were swapped out and now it is a fancy 35 Whelen and a plain 30-06. Took it out and fired a few rounds through it............could not figure out the double set trigger until ..........this gun fires when you release the trigger......now that takes some getting used to !!
Jim
This is most scary and as Mike said DANGEROUS. Please follow Mike's advice. There is nothing wrong with not knowing however the triggers work, however messing with them when not enlightened on them is wrong.
Thanks for the responses. There is a slight difference between actions that prevents the sear from working properly with the firing pin rod. The rifles were disassembled and parts returned to where they were on each gun and everything works as it should.
Jim
Tradin,
Without checking the particular rifle, the problem may be the rifle's sear return spring. When installing a DST, the rifle's sear return spring must be considerably shortened to allow the "kick off" to override it. It is possible that while changing parts around, the shorter sear spring wound up in the wrong rifle.
Mike
So is the scope worth more than the rifle ?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174272386658Jim