doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Who made this Rock Island 1903

This is a strange High Number Rock Island 1903 that I acquired a while back that I am curious about who made it and when.
First the barreled action, 30-06 R/I, serial # 3444623, the barrel has no sight cut for an issue sight, it does have C120 stamped across the barrel on top about � way between the funky quarter rib and the forend tip, it has never been drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. The G&H scope base is installed like G&H did , no screws or fasteners showing, however I think it may have done later as the inletting for it looks newer than the stock inletting. The bolt and follower have unusual polish work similar to scraping on machine tools, the bolt handle has been lowered for scope, the saftey has been cut down for clearance. Polishing and blue is very good. The scope is not the original one as it is a Lyman All American 4X, that it is mounted in G&H windage adjustable steel mount and rings.
The stock is Black walnut and is well fitted to the stock, inletting is good but not highest quality, the butt plate is a winchester steel plate, the Q/D sling swivels I believe are original to the stock. The cheek piece is a bit large and kind of an odd shape, the inletting for the trigger guard has a small hump where it meets the front of the guard bow. The forend tip is inlett to the stock with dove tail tenon and small wood screw, the grip cap appears to be the same material as the tip. Checkering is probably 24 to 28 lpi and is borderless, has some minor overruns, the forend pattern is odd in that it could easily have better coverage.

More photos at http://s36.photobucket.com/user/james-l/library/Rock%20Island?sort=4&page=1

James, no idea on my part, but I would think that the forend tip would be a major clue. Is it just camera angle, my imagination or is the length of pull short and the forend a bit boxy in shape? A nice and interesting rifle that deserves identity and thanks for sharing.
Thaine

The bolt handle appears top be by G&H and was probably altered in conjunction with installation of the side mount.

LOP is 14" and forend like a 0 (long oval). I am thinking that it may have been made by a talented amateur, the grain flow on it is near perfect in that it flows from the toe with a slight up sweep to the forend tip.

It looks well done, I like the inletting, the C120 stamped on
the top of the barrel could be a "star-gauge" number. I am
going to try putting a link to a section of Brophy's book that talk
about how National Match barrels were stamped. It was possible to order all sorts of things from the CMP.

Brophy section on star-gauge markings

Thanks for the grain flow lesson, that must be what caught my eye in the first glamour shot of unknown 98.