2188 EARLY GRIFFIN & HOWE SPRINGFIELD 400 WHELEN RIFLE

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This item SOLD at 2023 Nov 04 @ 12:49UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,750.00 USD
Estimated at 3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
WITH TOWNSEND WHELEN'S LOADING TOOLS. Cal. 400 Whelen. S# 951470. At first glance this rifle appears to be the one pictured in Mike Petrov's "Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century" Vol. 2 pg. 153. There are, however, several differences including the G&H barrel number which on this rifle is "201". The pictured rifle is "202", the second 400 Whelen made after G&H started assigning numbers by caliber. The rifle for sale here is the first. It has 24" 1/3" round 2/3" octagon ribbed barrel without rear sights or band. Gold bead front sight is in integral ramp. Milled out portion on top of rib is engraved "No. 201 Griffin & Howe, Inc. New York". Model 1903 Springfield action "951470" is unaltered except for installation of Lyman 48 receiver sight and flattening and checkering of bolt knob. Military trigger is retained and bottom metal is unaltered. Stock of lightly streaked and fiddle figured European walnut measures 14 3/8" over checkered steel buttplate with trap (compartment is empty). Stock features early style G&H double shadow line cheekpiece, horn grip cap, schnabled tip, and sling eyes. Distinctive borderless checkering at grip and around forend has rounded pattern and small fleur-de-lis intrusions. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rifle is accompanied by an armory type walnut box with rectangular plate on top marked ".400 WHELEN RIFLE" "ACCESSORIES" "TOWNSEND WHELEN" "1922". Box contains a custom made cleaning rod, 2 steel drop tubes for powder, copper funnel, marked and dated sizing die, matching case length and seating die and a box of 20 - 1936 National Match .030M1 cartridges. This reloading set appears to be the one Mike Petrov borrowed while working on loads on his G&H 400, (barrel No. "202"). Reloading set is pictured in his book). It is possible that this particular rifle was made for Townsend Whelen although there are no markings on it that indicate this. Further research could be interesting. CONDITION: fine as lightly refinished. Metal parts with nearly all correct rust re-blue, screw and bolt stop are temper blued. Stock retains over 90% of an oil refinish over a few heavy marks and a good scattering of light subsequent marks. Bore is very fine, shiny with sharp rifling throughout, mechanically fine. (22-5790/MGM). CURIO. $3,500-5,500.