I put in several bids in the Amoskeag auction, but only one serious one. There was one rifle in particular that I wanted to win, that I thought might be in my price range. (still broke from the last auction). One of Marks Krag sporters caught my eye. I ended up with the hi bid on this rifle and hope to have it in the next few weeks.




I am curious if anyone else saw anything that stood out about this rifle or can tell me who the gunsmith was that did the work. I will post some clues tomorrow if nobody identifies it.

Regards,
John

John,

No knowledge on maker, but this post on the Krag Collectors sight might shed some light on the barrel sleeve. I hae one like it on an unknown Krag I have.
Krag barrel sleeve
Thaine

I recognize the tapered flute on the stock, but the pistol grip looks a bit steeply pitched. Added??

Yes, the stock is the original military stock that has had wood added to the pistol grip and the top of the comb. The rifle is illustrated and the maker identified in a book from the early 40's. One of my favorite stock makers did the stock modifications. He honed his stockmaking skills while employed by Hoffman Arms, but this rifle is from a later date when he was employed by another gun-making firm from Ohio.

That should give it away.

John

The rifle was converted to a sporter by Harvey Rodgers while at Hart Arms and has a Hart 3 round conversion on the magazine and a Hart bolt sleeve sight. The rifle is illustrated in Lenzs book Muzzle Flashes.



Lenz did all the illustrations in the book and even went so far as to accurately draw in the grain of the wood so we could identify the rifles years later. I have little doubt that it is the same rifle, and I suspect upon closer inspection we will find Hart Arms on the sling as they sold there own slings.

Michael told me one time he had found the 69 that is mentioned in the third paragraph. The final paragraph reminds me of Jerry Fisher and the way he talks about the "wood hawks".

Regards,
John Holliger

Nice catch John. Nice to see the research done prior to the auction. It's a whole lot more interesting now that we know what we're looking at!

That does sound like Jerry, but you do know that he's willing to pay as much or more than any of us for a "killer" walnut blank?

Neat piece and great research (or memory!). Look forward to seeing and hearing more when you get it.