Make: Rock Island Arsenal

Model: 1903, Customized by Seymour Griffin

Serial Number: 51111

Year of Manufacture: 1906, customized from ca. 1910-1921.

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine Fed

Markings: The chamber ring is marked "U.S. / ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL / MODEL 1903. / 51111". The floorplate and trigger guard bear elegant floral scroll hand engraving, with the former exhibiting a well executed panel scene of an 8-point buck (4 points on each antler).

Barrel Length: 24" Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade on a textured, ramped, banded base fixed to the front of the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood which is not present. The right of the bridge has been drilled and tapped with a Lyman 48 receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation. The sight has matching assembly numbers on the mount, retainer, and sight arm.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece hand checkered walnut with a Schnabel forend, capped pistol grip, ebony inlay in the top of the wrist behind the receiver tang, sling swivels at the front and rear, and a checkered steel buttplate with trapdoor storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stock has some light nicks and scratches, as well as general light handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is generally well defined. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some light wear and minor discoloration with well defined checkering. Overall, the stock is in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original to customization.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about a 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish. There are some scattered minor nicks, scratches, and spots of surface oxidation. The engraving on the bottom metal appears to be cut through the finish, giving it a nice silver appearance. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a letter from noted gun writer Rick Hacker detailing his history of ownership of the rifle, a signed letter from Griffin & Howe to Rick Hacker with their assessment that this is a very early Seymour Griffin custom rifle, a hand-written note from Robert "Bob" Beach (previously G&H research director) regarding that letter, information about the Griffin & Howe Research Project, and a hand-written letter from collector Harry Daugherty to Griffin & Howe, presumably from shortly before the rifle was acquired by Griffin & Howe. Also included are copies of the June/July 2020 and December 2023 editions of the American Rifleman, each of which feature an article by Rick Hacker pertaining to Griffin & Howe, their history, and most importantly, this very rifle.

Our Assessment: Much of the following information is based on the writing of the aforementioned Rick Hacker.Now famous, Griffin & Howe formed in 1923 to produce custom sporting rifles based on M-1903 Springfield actions. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s hunting exploits in Africa from 1908-1910 with, among other arms, a custom sporterized M-1903 Springfield built for the President by Springfield Armory, cabinet-maker Seymour Griffin of New York decided to try his own skilled hand at restocking a M-1903 Springfield for sporting use. Griffin began turning out beautifully customized sporter M-1903 Springfields with stocks of finely figured Carcassian walnut that were handsomely oiled and hand rubbed, perfectly inletted, and ultra-finely hand checkered, given Schnabel forends, and exhibited Griffin’s trademark, a downward-angled slope cut into the stock parallel to the bolt ejection port. In addition, Griffin had a number of his custom guns engraved, primarily on the floorplate and trigger guard, often utilizing the immensely talented engraver Rudolph Kornbrath. Soon, the lucre from Griffin’s riflemaking began to exceed the income from his cabinetmaking. Interestingly, Griffin did not sign his work until 1922, when he began using a small “S.R. Griffin New York” banner, usually part of the engraving on the floorplate. In 1923, none other than Colonel Townsend Whelen, commander of the Frankford Arsenal, suggested James V. Howe, the foreman of the Arsenal, would greatly improve Griffin’s budding custom rifle business. The partnership of Griffin & Howe was formed in 1923, they would expand their custom rifle making to other actions beside the M-1903, and they remain one of the premier custom hunting and sporting rifle makers today, more than a century later. Over the years, their customers have included such legendary outdoorsmen as Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, and Ernest Hemingway.

This particular rifle was owned and inspected by Griffin & Howe themselves, who then sold it directly to Rick Hacker at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show in 2007. Among a multitude of other provenance including two magazine articles written by Rick Hacker showing this very rifle, this beauty includes the hand signed and 2009 dated factory letter from Griffin & Howe to Rick Hacker confirming its authenticity. The letter states “It is our opinion that this service rifle was purchased and subsequently customized by Seymour Griffin prior to 1923, the year he and James Howe started the firm of Griffin & Howe. As such, this rifle is one of the earliest known examples to have been sporterized by Seymour Griffin, as it exhibits many of Mr. Griffin’s craftsmanship trademarks…Everything points to this being a very early Seymour Griffin rifle and a forerunner of the rifles eventually created by the Griffin & Howe Company. As such, it is a significant firearm indicative of Seymour Griffin’s early craftsmanship and the skills that eventually evolved into Griffin & Howe making some of the finest sporting firearms in the world. Congratulations on acquiring this fine and historic rifle.” LSB is proud to offer this wonderful piece from the personal collection of esteemed gun writer, NRA Field Editor, and winner of the John T. Amber Literary Award, Rick Hacker. A signed letter from Mr. Hacker is also included with some more information about the rifle. This beautiful custom rifle is from the early days of one of the finest makers in American history, with an equally impressive pedigree of ownership, from the hand of Seymour Griffin, to the factory collection of Griffin & Howe, to the personal collection of Rick Hacker. It will take a prized place in any subsequent collection.