Tell us more about Emil Koshollek's rifle!
I'll tell you what I know.............and more about what I suspect.
One of our group bought the gun in Stevens Point, WI.....Emil Koshollek's home town. It's stamped "E. J. Koshollek" behind the grip cap, and also under the butt plate. Probably by a home made stamp from typewriter keys. The seller said it was Koshollek's hunting rifle, and my friend found the nephew who verified that fact.
Now here's where there's a little mystery. Not sure if it came from the nephew, or if it was our uneducated assumption that any period sporter was a "Linden".......but the gun carried the reputation of having been stocked by Linden.
It's obviously a very early effort, because although the dimensions are spot on, it comes up like a dream........the lines of the stock aren't as refined as done by an accomplished professional. The stock has metal grip cap and butt plate, but rather primitive. The checkering is well done, but very coarse.....about 10 lpi. When I acquired it, and I believe also when originally bought by my friend, the barreled action had been glassed into the black walnut stock, and it carried a Redfield receiver sight. All else was original 1903 Springfield.
I personally believe the entire ensemble was done by Koshollek himself. I could be wrong, and it may be a very early Linden job. I believe the metal furniture was Koshollek's earliest efforts at that type of work. Why still hunt with it rather than upgrade it with the type of work he ultimately became capable of? It's a tool. It worked. The good stuff was sold to make money......not to afford yourself with those luxuries!
Idared will post pictures of this rifle for further discussion. Right Larry?
