2209 FINE JOSEF FUGGER ENGRAVED GRIFFIN & HOWE

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 13 @ 13:07UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD

SPRINGFIELD SHORT RIFLE WITH SCOPE. Cal. 35 Whelen. S# 1656 (CA 1939). After suffering a debilitating stroke in 1937, famed engraver Rudolph Kornbrath retired. His coworker Josef Fugger continued on and was responsible for almost all of Griffin & Howe's work until 1960. His scroll is much more delicate then that of Kornbrath and he most often depicts full bodied animals. This classically embellished prewar Griffin & Howe rifle has 22" light weight barrel without rear sight, but does have sleeved on wide sling eye and stippled front ramp with gold bead and sight protector. Top of barrel is engraved "No. 1656" "Griffin & Howe Inc. New York". 1903 Springfield action has had rear tang slimmed and tang safety installed. A G&H side mount and Lyman 48 sight are also fitted. Bolt body, extractor, follower and bolt runway are engine turned, bolt handle marked "NS" has been lowered. Knob is checkered in five panels. Bottom metal has had trigger guard thinned and slimmed. Two stage trigger is retained, blade checkered. All metal parts are tastefully engraved with sprays of scroll and small scroll borders. Larger areas of scroll incorporate oak leaves and other acanthus elements; and this engraving scheme extends to Lyman sight base, side mount, bolt shroud and bolt handle. (Oak leaves are in semi relief at root). On the floorplate this lovely treatment surrounds a finely detailed game scene of two bighorn rams in alpine environment. Trigger guard bow depicts a quartering buffalo bull. This work is unsigned which is not unusual, as Fugger's signature is quite scarce. Very attractive, flesh tone, lightly streaked and figured European walnut pistol grip stock measures 13 1/2" over engraved and checkered steel buttplate with trap. Trap contains staff for receiver sight and oiler. Stock features swept right hand cheek piece, horn tip, closely spaced borderless point pattern checkering at grip and around forend, and a case hardened and engraved grip cap with trap (contains rear sight aperture). Toeline is fitted with sling eye and gold oval engraved with the initials "NEJ". Rifle is fitted with unmarked (appears to Swarovski or Zeiss) 1.5-4.5 scope with duplex reticle in G&H rings and slide. Rifle is accompanied by a brown leather sling in M70 type detachable loops. CONDTION: fine as refinished. Metal parts retaining essentially all of a fine reblue most likely done by the factory, engraving remains sharp and clear. Stock retains most of a glossy oil finish with a scattering of marks most notably four or five scratches on left side below bolt stop. Bore is very good, a bit dark in grooves (may clean), action smooth. Receiver sight base is fitted with a slide which has had aperture removed. Slide in buttplate trap has matching assembly number to base. Scope has a fair number of scratches on exterior, optically fine. (22-5796/MGM). CURIO. $5,000-8,000.