Marked "No.1 JAS.V.HOWE PHILLA. PA 1922" serial number marked 172154 over 3

The serial number on the receiver dates to much later, It looks like someone found a .400 barrel and had this made up. 172154 may have been the original serial number the barrel came off of. I wonder if the original low number receiver wasn't replaced with a high number?

The original stock it seems was broken, When I got the gun it was in a clunky aftermarket bishop.

Certainly interesting. Can we assume you will be stocking the action or having someone stock it? If yes might be an interesting project to watch develop. Thanks for sharing.
BTW did you also get the trigger guard and floorplate, are they also engraved?

I do plan on keeping it, bore is excellent, should make a pretty good gun. the floorplate I suspect is original to the replacement receiver, not the barrel its got standard military finish no engraving. The stock did, however, have the original super grade stud and the gun came with super grade style swivels.

I like it and I think you are correct, the same metalsmith. The quarter ribs are very similar. Same engraver too I think.

Dan asked me to post some pictures of the markings on his 400 Whelen by Howe

There is a fair amount of difference in the quality of the stamping between the 2 barrels. The stamping of Dan's barrel is nicely finished off. While the barrel at the center of this post is fairly crude and certainly not of the quality as to the other markings on the barrel. The Howe name stampings look like and after thought and after the barrel was finished when it was done. IMO given the evidence provided

Excerpt from Micheal's Custom gunmakers volume 2

"I've only seen a couple of rifles that I know were made by Howe when he was in Philadelphia. One rifle is marked in a single line "JAS. V. HOWE PHILA. PA." It is also marked ".400 Whelen" & "No. 11". I believe this to be one of the four original .400 Whelen rifles."


My rifle has the same JAS. V. HOWE PHILA. PA. as Dan's but also has the No. and date marking in the line and is stamped below the wood line.

Here is a rifle that could have had the No. 1 Barrel and also is now missing its original .400 Whelen barrel. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/col.-townsend-whelen-s-custom-james-howe-1903-spr-195493c930

FWIW,the caliber marking on the OP bbl in this post is done in the same font/style and careful hand engraved cut as the one in the Proxybid thread.
https://www.proxibid.com/Custom-Mauser-Bolt-Action-Sporting-Rifle/lotInformation/47410058#topoflot

Hi Kutter,

I was hoping you would weigh in on this discussion, do you think that the same person that engraved the 400 Whelen Mauser also engraved this rifle

Whelen Howe 1903

the scroll work looks similar, but I value your trained eye.