2440

*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY TOOL ROOM HEAVY INTERNATIONAL STYLE TARGET RIFLE FOR WORLD

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY TOOL ROOM HEAVY INTERNATIONAL STYLE TARGET RIFLE FOR WORLD
SN 2022. Cal. 22. Extraordinarily rare and unusual Springfield Armory tool room-made heavy International style target rifle with 30" tapered heavy rnd bbl with special heavy collar front sight base pinned in place, similar to "T"-series rifles with dovetail occupied by a Winchester globe sight. Bbl is mounted with two collars that may be integral or applied and have integral target scope base dovetails. Receiver is a standard M1922 model with orig dual striker firing pin in bolt body having the long throw for ejection and is mounted with a Lyman 48 sight. Bolt has standard shroud with headless striker. Receiver and trigger guard are mounted with Woody dbl set triggers. The magazine well of the trigger guard is without floorplate, follower or magazine attachments and has a plate screwed to the inside with a steel mount which contains a cork ball palm rest of a style observed on other Springfield Armory target rifles which are also pictured in The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. Mounted in an orig Armory half stock without reinforcing bolts, with checkered flat pistol grip and a semi-crescent serrated aluminum buttplate identical to others pictured in the referenced publication. Forestock is without grasping grooves as has been noted in early sporters and tool room pieces. Accompanied by a copy of a Springfield Research Service letter regarding Capt. Crossman's other special Springfield rifle being sold elsewhere in this auction. This letter mentions this item and notes "that the serial number of this rifle falls within the range of a group of Cal. .22 International Match rifles; therefore I would expect No. 2022 to be an authentic example of this rare model." Capt. Crossman is pictured on pp. 139 & 507 of the referenced publication. It should be noted that Capt. E.C. Crossman was an internationally famous target shooter and one of the more knowledgeable individuals as regards Springfield rifles. He and Col. William S. Brophy were close personal friends as was Capt. Crossman's son, Col. Edward B. Crossman. Capt. Crossman is pictured on p. 139 and p. 507 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. Accompanying this lot is a copy of a letter from Col. E.B. Crossman to Mr. Brophy regarding these two rifles wherein Col. Crossman states that in 1947 he consigned a number of his father's rifles to two different dealers for disposition and has no recollection of what he may have consigned to which dealer and has no recollection of these two pieces. PROVENANCE: Bob Rosenthal Collection; Capt. E.C. Crossman; Richard C. Ware Collection; Richard Ellis Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl & receiver retain virtually all of their orig armory finish with bolt body and handle polished bright. Trigger guard retains dull orig blue. Stock is sound with minor handling & storage marks and retains most of its orig armory oil finish. Cork ball palm rest retains most of its dark brown finish with a few minor nicks & scratches. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-39222-1 JR120