While I will admit the two guns are certainly very similar, I don't believe it can be said with any degree of certainty that the rifle in the rack is the EXACT SAME rifle purchased by Mr. Petrov at auction. I am sure that there were numerous rifles with the white stock fittings, to come out of Hart. In fact, I saw one on auction a few years ago, that had been sent to Emil Koshollek and Alvin Linden for additional work at a later date. It may be the same rifle in the photo, but to state THAT IT IS, is a little presumptious. Wishful thinking perhaps? JMHO G'DAY
welcome Mr. Montana Man,
As an introduction here I would suggest you search some of Mr. Petrov's previous posts before you doubt his notions of period photo interpretation or his knowledge of Rogers rifles. I would also suggest you inquire about purchasing a copy of his book Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century if you are interested in vintage American Sporting rifles and there makers.
I can honestly say, in my 35+ years in the custom gun business I have never met a more reliable source for historic information, nor been more frequently surprised at the depth of knowledge and serious collecting of guns, historic paper, anecdotes, related accoutrements and ephemera involving one focus of gun collecting than I have in Michael Petrov. Nor have I ever met any man more likely to reliably recognize the makers of pre-war custom guns from the features of the existing examples.
To doubt that the Rogers Rifle in the auction and the one in the photo are the same, in Michael's estimation, is simply foolish. If you are interested in the guns and stick around this venue, I'm sure you will come to agree...
BTW: Where in MT are you from?
