doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Any thoughts on this rifle

I saw this on gunbroker and wondered why it didn't go for a higher price.
nice 1903

Probably would have sold better if someone had not refinished the stock and polished and hot blued the metal. But then again we don't know what it looked like before.

John

When I saw that ad it looked a little odd to me. The pictures looked like a refinished barreled action with a restocking. Reading it appeared to be near the truth. The seller believed that G&H only did the metal. The stock has a few quirks such as the initial plate that appears out of line with the rifle centerline. Irregardless, it all looks refinished. All these things prompted only 5 bids, which is really low for this type of listing.

I like it. For a little less money, I might have bought it and rust blued it.

With no G&H number on the barrel, the G&H work on the gun may just be the barrel.

I was wondering about the barrel. It seems odd they didn't use their front sight, and I'm thinking it's a military barrel, you can see the number 4 just below the ramp.

Looks like a 4groove GI bbl that was turned down in profile a bit.
That was probably done before the G&H name was applied.
The buff & blue done after the G&H name was engraved on it. Lettering drawn out.
No real way to tell if the G&H marking was done by G&H or someone else. But it's nicely done hand cut lettering in the correct style.

The bbl channel was originally inletted for a fatter bbl. Then shimmed for this profile.
It's mentioned in the auction info. But worded in a manner that doesn't really draw direct attention to it. "..the barrel channel had inlay wood pieces hard to see.."

The bolt checkering doesn't look like G&H quality.
Bottom metal is straight military '03 I believe. No reshaping of the TG bow done. Just a high polish buffer job and blued. Military guard screw(s) with mis-shapen slot(s).

The stock checkering is so-so with some cross over lines and the 'fluers' are mis-matched. The rear one on the forend is terribly mishapen and 'off'.
Some over size inletting on the bottom metal. Repairs to chip out damage at the rear tang.
Lyman48(?) rear site missing the top portion of the sight, a pricey part to replace.
I'm not crazy about the wood.

Nice Bore!!

The stock looks like very early G&H rifles. That double pointed grip cap has been seen on a few rifles from the ‘22-‘23 era. No 8 35 Whelen comes to mind. Also the convex beaded cheekpiece is an early touch and I recall one of Michael’s early guns having that checkering pattern, though this one appears to have been heavy handed when refreshed.

Should shoot just fine.

Wish they could tell their stories.