OK class write a report on this rifle.
Very early Griffin & Howe. In fact, a 1923 from the year G&H was founded.........Howe leaving that same year.
Originally fitted with Lyman 48 receiver sight and G&H side mount. Both which are missing now and base recesses of each in stock refitted with wood pieces. Receiver drilled & tapped for more recent rings and bases, and bolt forged for low scope. Unsure if the bolt is G&H work.
Wrist checkering with top parting line and extends into the rear tang area of the floorplate. Checkering has secondary smaller points that disappeared in later G&H patterns when they became more "standardized". Can't see the entire forearm pattern, but suspect by looking at the angles it might be of two panels with a small uncheckered line separating them underneath.
Stock is thicker through action area than later G&H, and wood is "rounded" to metal (which method Linden described in his pamphlets as "shoeshine" sanding). Later G&H stocks were treated with "flats" on the upper and lower surfaces where metal was inletted.......typical of virtually all custom stocks now.
Early schnabble forend treatment that was more popular in that era than subsequently.........when standard G&H was a black tip of different wood or material.
Can't see if it has a cheekpiece, but likely not.
Appears to have more drop in the butt than later efforts. Early compromises still favored open sights......even if scopes were mounted higher than currently.
That's the limit of my observation/knowledge. <grin>
EDIT: In light of Michael's last post. I think it might be an important acquisition......if only for the date it was made. The D&T stuff to the top of the action is unfortunate, and the bolt work is questionable. The other stuff like the side mount and Lyman sight could be redone......at some big costs I suspect. It would certainly have more value if original.
