https://www.gunbroker.com/item/937666907

It states that the bottom metal has been replaced,,,and I'd say that who ever engraved that wasn't anyone who engraved for Hoffman Arms.
What little of what I believe to be orig to the rifle/Hoffman engraving you can see at the muzzle of the bbl pic. That's all I see in the pics.
That small bit of scroll looks well done. Beyond that there isn't much to judge the (orig) engraving on or who did it.


I wonder if the whole rifle is something built around an orphaned Hoffman bbl.
They talk of a 'reprofiled' bbl.
"...Although reprofiled, the barrel is original as the date stamp is partially visible on either side of the ramp (the left number being a "5" and the right being a "2")...."

..A date stamp... one digit on either side of the front sight ramp??
I do see the '5' in the pic but admit I've never heard of such a date coding system. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

No pics of the action, engraving on it or the breech end of the bbl. No pics of the 'full coverage grip cap'.
4 pics for an $8750 gun..

It's a military barrel from May of 1922 or 1932. I'm not sure if Hoffman ever used the military barrels but if the barrel is marked Hoffman they must have. This seller always has only 4 photos on his expensive guns, wonder if he ever sells any of them on GB?

Well, at least they didn’t try to claim its Kornbrath’s work— which it clearly is not. There was an engraver who did a few guns for them when they were in Ardmore, his name escapes me and it’s in my records at home, and I’m presently in Kenya. Most of the later Ardmore guns were not engraved. I agree with Kutter and think this gun is a “put together” Hoffman. They’ve had it for sale for a long time and given the prices on their items, you can understand the reason.

I thought of the military date on the 03 Springfield bbl, but it didn't seem right with just one number on each side of the ramp.
Makes more sense now that you say the 2 could be either from 22 or 32 (yr).
Also thinking why a builder like Hoffman wouldn't had taken the time to remove the number(s) if they were going to show which they obviously do.
Peening and some careful filing can take care of it. It's a custom build after all, or supposed to be.
That bbl muzzle engraving does look professionaly done however.

Being marked 'Hoffman.." doesn't really prove originality.
The old saying around the restoration biz "... What do you want it to say?...and How many do you want?"

David;

Kutter's comments are prudent and his experienced eye and knowledge produces an opinion of this rifle that I support; and further to my mind everything about this rifle shouts "buyer beware".

As to the suspect engraved bottom of the floorplate of the rifle it reminds me of the engraving work of Asian engravers that one sees on rifles that GI's brought home in the 1950's after a tour in occupied Japan. Observe how the screw does not fit the replaced bottom of the floorplate of the rifle--I can hear the screw crying about its mistreated life.



Kindest Regards;
Stephen Howell