Think the buyer got a nice rifle
https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?lid=53674158#topoflot

You couldn't get it engraved today for what that rifle sold for. Congratulations to whomever bought it.

I'm curious to know who stocked this rifle. The mount and bolt handle look to be G&H, but the stock is not theirs. Any suggestions?

I had been watching that for awhile. Was a little surprised the estimate was so low. Someone got a really nice rifle I think.

Yes, someone definitely did well. Not just “in the style of Kornbrath”. That IS Kornbrath.

Ya I noticed when they added ‘in the style of kornbrath’ the price really shot up

The scope was added later, possibly much later. Kornbrath had a stroke in 37 and the first Alaskans were made in 39, as I recall. And the first ones didn’t have adjustment caps.

In my opinion, the fact it appears to be unmarked, the cheekpiece, front ramp, and barrel “island” swivel mount configuration rule out G&H. Cheek looks more like John Wright to me. Front ramp could be wright, looks a little Hoffman as well. But again, any well known maker building a rifle with Kornbrath bottom metal would have marked the gun.

I agree on the scope. I was thinking that scope may date to mid to Late 40s.

I was the high bidder for this rifle. I would not have gone any higher, but felt OK at this price. I haven't seen photos of Wright BA stocks and so don't have an opinion about him as the stocker. I hope the wood is marked inside but know that's not likely. When I get hands on it, I'll report what I learn. More opinions welcome.

You did well Bill. John Wright worked at Hoffman - compare to Hoffman cheekpieces. The straight line along the bottom of the cheek, parallel to the toe line, was common to wright and Owen (and I’m sure others), but checkering and forend shape point to someone other than Owen.

Nice grab Bill!

The grain flow through the wrist is scary, but it seems to have survived for 90+ years. I'll try not to fall down on it.

Nice catch Bill.

Yeah, don't fall on it...

Don't know why anyone would want a bubba'd military assault rifle.......

My oh my how prices have shot up over the last forty odd years.
Had a little look at the catalogue and there was a RIGBY MAUSER MAGNUM ACTION BOLT ACTION RIFLE IN .350 RIGBY MAGNUM and sold for $8,000.
Back in the seventies I had one of these, same date made as well but mine had a Lyman scope on it and I traded a long barrel S/W 44mag for it.
made cases for it out of 375 H/H with the band turned off.

bsteele, I looked at some Hoffman photos, and I think you're correct. John Wright's cheekpieces are this same style. Thanks for the insight. That's a good pedigree.

absolute worst grain flow through the grip. Stockmaker should be ashamed.

Hopefully he is having little rest in the afterlife?

Hope you are well James. I do not disagree on the grain flow but I did find your comment humorous seeing that the chap has been dead for decades.
Steve

I think the interesting thing about this topic would be if Bill is okay with sharing what he saw to arrive at a bid that he was "ok" with.

I am not criticizing, but coming from the point of view that I don't perceive the value. I keep thinking things like, how much would I pay for speculation, was there a thought to part it out under some disappointing scenario. I am inclined to cautiously pat Bill on the back and hope it's all that it could be rather thinking it's a great buy. Again, I'm not picking on Bill, I just see this as more interesting than a no brainer acquisiton.

Craig, I don't mind to say how I came to bid as I did, to the extent that I understand it myself. I like good vintage Springfield sporters. I recognized the engraver and concluded his work offset the grain flow issue and then some. I could see the action was an NRA Sporter and that Griffin & Howe had installed their mount and altered the bolt handle to clear my favorite scope, and installed their sling swivels. The metal all looked to be in great condition. I could see that in spite of the stock blank, the stocker knew what he was doing and had to be one of the best from that era.I had made what I thought was my top bid in advance and only happened to log into the live auction as this item was coming up. When I saw it go one step above my earlier bid, and then pause, my finger hit the bid button once. I blame my finger, but don't regret it yet. If it doesn't arrive in one piece, it will be insured. I try to be hard-nosed and rational about bidding, but some pieces can threaten my objectivity. I still feel OK about this one. PS: On second thought, Felix played a role here too. I was struck with his advice about being 80, and acting as if you're already dead. I thought his choice to keep on doing what you enjoy as long as you can made good sense.

I really believe that stock speaks volumes. The big name gun and rifle makers weren’t always craftsmen, but often in the trade for the work. Personally, for me the floor plate is incidental, it doesn’t seem to fit with any other part of the rifle, glad you’re looking at the whole rifle. Still, I find good engraving interesting. Congrats.

Craig, I have to disagree about vintage makers not always being craftsmen.Though some were better than others, I think they were craftsmen first and foremost, especially in the US where they were neither numerous nor well paid. Every major custom gun maker here was committed to the craft and had to know they would never be prosperous. The same is true today; it's a labor of love. That Wright, or whoever this maker was, used a piece of wood we'd reject doesn't detract from his labor on it.

An observation on current auctions: Those of us who appreciate custom work from 1900-1940 are a vanishing species. We're also older than current auction catalogers who often don't know these pieces as well as we do. That means there are bargains to be had from time to time. The downside is that when we go to sell these things, we're faced with the diminished market too. So, it's surely a mixed blessing.

Only conversation Bill.

The follow on thought might be, why let that stock out the door? If questionable grain flow showed as the blank was shaped, why not reject it? Or, was the job just to do great inletting and shaping? I think, in terms of labor, it may have been too costly to start over, or the customer specified it?

I don’t have the desire or ability to test wood grain strength, though I have put cracks in many stocks among other woodworking projects. But, a gun stock is only aesthetically pleasing to me if it has good grain flow. For others, fiddleback and mineral streaks are all that matters, including modern commissioned customs, that’s fine.

Throw the rules out for antiques and classics, the choice may be take it or leave it, because they don’t grow on tree or come out of card board boxes from a big box retailer. I still think it would be easier to walk into a shop a hundred years ago and ask for a routine non best job than it would be today, if the shop were capable of best work and had the reputation for it.

Anyhow, see if she’ll group decent, and keep your eyes peeled for the next one.

"I want you to make a stock from this treasured blank."

But the grain layout is wrong.

"I know, and I don't care."

Hmmmm. (I do need to get the engine rebuilt in the Ford.) OK. (Maybe I'll get lucky. Here's hoping.)

Craig, the grain in this stock would have been obvious before any work was done.I think what Gary D. said is possible, that a client insisted it be used. I've encountered that situation before when I was making stocks for others. This stock seems to have survived, and so it may be sound because it's just strong wood. I made my choice; I hope it isn't an error. I will be shooting it, and if it groups well, I'll feel the wrist issue is acceptable. You're exactly right; we can't revise what the old-timers did.

But it may have killed him

I do not disagree the grain layout in the grip could be better, given we have hindsight, but it has survived all these years.

Looking forward to hearing more about it once you get it in.

Well, The Springfield showed up yesterday, and I'm well pleased with it. It has more wear to the stock finish than the catalog photos showed. It has clearly seen a lot of careful hunting use. I don't mind that at all; after all, it's even older than I am. Of course there is no indication of the stocker's id, but the work is very fine. The inletting is crisp and detailed. Someone has glassed the recoil lug, carefully, which I appreciate since it makes shooting less likely to inflict damage. I think bsteele's attribution to the English stocker, John Wright, is most likely correct. In addition to the stylistic details, the very precise checkering is the flat top English type. I was somewhat concerned that the floorplate showed more finish wear than the rest of the metal, but I think it's that this rifle has been carried a lot, and that's the place where the wear appears. I should get to the range with it in a day or so. Looking forward to that.

Congrats! It’s good to hear that you are happy with it! You never really know what you’ve bought from an online auction until it shows up. I’ve experienced a pretty high level of anticipation waiting for a rifle to get delivered.

This rifle certainly has a lot going for it and I’m glad it ended up in a good home! I would enjoy seeing more photos and hearing about how it shoots.

-Tom

I finally got to the range with this rifle just this morning. When it arrived, the bore was badly fouled, and it took three days of off- and -on cleaning to get the copper out. I shot at 50 yds. The first target was with lead bullets, Fed 210, 38 grs. H 4831,and Lyman 31141, lino, GC. The first shot was outside the group by 1". The next 4 made a .600 hole. With jacketed bullets I got good results too. Fed 210, 48 grs. 4064, and Hornady 165 gr SP put three shots in .300" with the last two opening the group to 1". I was well pleased and look forward to 100 yd. trials next time.

Kudos to you Bill, high praise over on the other forum.