RUDOLPH KORNBRATH ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID EARLY GRIFFIN & HOWE SPRINGFIELD SPORTING RIFLE WITH SCOPE

RUDOLPH KORNBRATH ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID EARLY GRIFFIN & HOWE SPRINGFIELD SPORTING RIFLE WITH SCOPE.

22-5797
Cal. 30-06
S# 817. (CA 1928)

A major part of Griffin & Howe’s early work was the conversion of NRA Springfield rifles into first class sporters. The work ranged from reshaping and checkering the standard “C Type” stock provided, to a complete reworking with fine embellishment as is the case with this fine rifle. The original 24″ star gauge barrel has had sling eye and front sight ramp with gold bead sleeved on. Top of barrel is engraved “No. 817 GRIFFIN & HOWE inc. NEW YORK”. Action has had tang reshaped, numbers removed, receiver ring stippled, G&H side mount installed. Original Lyman 48 base has blank slide fitted. Bolt has body polished and damascened, bolt knob is checkered, bottom flatened. Cocking knob is removed giving faster lock time. Military trigger is retained. Bottom metal is unaltered.

Barrel, bolt handle, receiver sight base and bottom metal are all engraved by noted master engraver Rudolph Kornbrath; prolific independent engraver who specialized in work on firearms. He emigrated to Hartford, CT in 1910 and worked until he sufferd a stroke in 1937. He worked for Colt, Hoffman and private people, as well as doing the preponderance of work for Griffin & Howe in their early years. Barrel has triangle of relief scroll at rear and some scroll decoration around front sight. Top of sling eye band is engraved to match. Receiver itself is not engraved but Lyman base is near fully engraved. Bolt handle is fully relief engraved with some acanthus and rose blossoms which are essentially a Kornbrath signature. Bottom metal is near fully engraved with intricate relief scroll and some ribbons which surround circular vignettes of game animals in relief gold. The center of floorplate depicts a bugling elk on a hilltop, center of trigger guard bow has the portrait of a mountain goat. This scene is flanked by more blossoms. Steel grip cap with trap is engraved to match. Pistol grip stock made of a very fine piece of well figured and marbled European walnut measures 13 1/8″ over checkered and engraved steel buttplate with trap (empty). The stock is of the style thought to be the work of Seymour Griffin with its destictive small cheek piece with shadow line on edge. Stock also features horn forend tip, sling eye, and well cut point pattern checkering around grip and forend. A gold oval engraved with crossed keys is on toeline. Rifle is mounted with what appears to be its original R. Noske 2 1/2 X “Hunter” scope with picket post reticle in steel G&H rings and slide (rear with micrometer adjustment for windage).

Status: CURIO