2207 FINE KORNBRATH ENGRAVED HOFFMAN ARMS MAUSER

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 13 @ 13:06UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD

RIFLE. Cal. 275 H&H Magnum. S# 1142. This very interesting rifle is engraved "Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio" on top of its 26 1/2" barrel, no S# is given. The company moved to Oklahoma in 1925. The bottom of the barrel (wood removed) is stamped with number "3" which also appears on the action. Barrel, action, bolt and bottom metal are all stamped with the number "1142". Michael Petrov in "Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century Volume Two" reports that, one of four known serial number "3" Hoffman rifles is a 275 H&H. He speculates that some of these low number rifles were made for showrooms and traveling salesman and were not numbered in the usual customers range. The name "J. A. Cook" is also stamped on bottom of barrel. (A salesman ?). 1142 is possibly a Holland & Holland number. Most Hoffman rifle barrels and actions were procured directly from England. Mostly from W & C Scott who assembled most of Holland's barrels and actions. This rifle in a Holland caliber has many Holland style features. The barrel is fitted with large and long, sleeved on quarter rib holding four folding leaf express sight. Sling eye and front sight ramp are also sleeved on. Standard length action is fitted with Lyman 35 bolt stop sight which appears to be original. Bolt has damascening on polished body, handle is cranked in usual H&H fashion, hollowed knob has two panels of checkering on bottom. Double pull trigger is retained. Dropbox bottom metal has hinged floorplate retained by button in bow. Front guard screw has large head slotted for coin in typical H&H takedown style. Barrel is engraved with lines of scroll and with a few scroll flourishes around front sight base. Scroll matching rear of barrel is on receiver ring. Bottom metal is engraved with about 60% coverage, typical Kornbrath shaded scroll which surrounds the gold monogram "AJC" (A.J. Cook) on center of floorplate. The head of a grizzly bear looking over its right shoulder is in gold semi relief on tapered trigger guard bow. Capped pistol grip stock of lightly figured, dense European walnut measures 13 3/4" over squished Silver pad and features H&H style shadowline right hand checkpiece, engraved grip cap with trap, horn forend tip, sling loop and vacant silver oval on toeline. Well cut borderless checkering has nascent fleur de lis intrusions into pattern. There is a silver rhombus at top of grip with central stamp of a five pointed star. CONDTION: very fine, retains what appears to be nearly all factory finishes, with a few light marks on barrel & on action, bolt handle and bottom metal show a goodly amount of wear and retain about 60% of their original blue. There are also a few minor marks in stock, checkering is dark with light wear. Bore is good, mostly shiny, shows some frosting and erosion at throat. (22-5787/MGM). CURIO. $8,000-15,000.