It's a beautiful rifle and a great story. Tell us more about the owner and how you got it. Very seldom can an un-named rifle be traced back to anyone.
Classic story for gun nuts.
A group of us guys that grew up together would frequent a local gun show that was held twice a year. We were all in our mid to late 20's with good middle-class jobs, and loved guns. We traded guns a lot and even rented a table a time or two.
On this occasion I was the only one of the group that was able to attend, so I asked my wife if she wanted to go with me. She acquiesced, so we found ourselves in the shuffling line around the tables of guns. I looked up about 3 tables ahead and saw someone handling a period Springfield custom that looked like a "Linden". In truth, Linden was about the only old custom gun maker I even was aware of.......so any good looking period sporter would have been a "Linden".
When we got to that table, I asked the elderly gentleman (who would have been about 69 at the time.....only 7 years older than I am now!) if that Springfield custom was a "Linden". "Why yes, it is!" was the reply. He seemed surprised that a young guy would even know who Linden was. I had to have it.
His price was a princely $750. I had about $25 with me and asked him if he'd hold it for me with that sum. He picked it up and put it in an old leather sheepskin lined case, gave me his address, and told me to come around to his home when I had the money. Cash.....not a check.
We had just built a house that year, so I didn't have that kind of money laying around. Borrowed it from my brother-in-law. The whole project with my wife's approval!
That's the story. I talked for an hour with old Homer when I picked it up that weekend, and saw him once more after that at another gun show. He showed me the Colt Bisley he had just purchased. Wish I'd been more curious.
Funniest thing.........I never noticed the engraving until I picked up the gun that weekend from Homer. As Michael posted earlier, it's Kornbrath.
