Description:
Griffin & Howe .300 H&H Magnum bull gun, engraved "Ben C. Comfort" with his 1935 Wimbledon Cup-winning score. Built on Remington 30-S Express action serial number 23063 (made 1932 per Remington), G&H rifle number 1415 was "likely" (per G&H Archivist) completed in 1935. (Attempts to locate G&H records for this rifle were unsuccessful). According to the chapter "Ben Comfort's Sighters" in "The National Matches-1, The First 100 Years" from the NRA's Competitive Shooting Division (NRA sponsors the Wimbledon Cup), Comfort had "...only just received his custom-built rifle. He had no sighting data for 1,000 yards...", this supporting the G&H Archivist's assertion that the rifle was made/shipped) in 1935. This same chapter states that G&H built Comfort's rifle on a 1917 action (the Remington 30-S being visually similar to a 1917 without the rear sight "ears"). Also, the chapter cites a 1936 G&H ad that the barrel was 30-inches long and tapers from 1.3 inches at the receiver to 1.0 inch at the muzzle. The barrel of this rifle is, indeed, 30 inches long and measures 1.241 inches at the receiver and .941 inch at the muzzle - the slight difference likely a result of finishing. It also reports that Comfort's rifle was a single shot, as is the subject (the magazine box is filled with a walnut insert). A G&H ad in the November, 1935 issue of American Rifleman reads "Wimbledon Cup won this year by Ben C. Comfort with a Griffin & Howe .300 Magnum rifle". A search by the NRA failed to turn up any specific reference to Comfort's rifle by serial number. In Keith, An Autobiography, Elmer Keith writes "In 1933 I booked Ben Comfort and Vic Asby from St. Louis for a month's sheep, goat and deer hunt in the Big Horn Craig's." After relating some happenings of the hunt, Keith remembered "While Vic and Gerry were off on a side hunt down Roaring Creek, we got a three-day blizzard. While Ben and I were waiting it out, he asked me what it would take to win the Wimbledon cup. I told him the best cartridge I knew would be the .300 Magnum bull gun, and he had Griffin & Howe build it...The next year at Camp Perry he won the great Wimbledon cup and sent me a picture of himself drinking beer out of it. He was a big, fat man and I surely enjoyed the picture of him drinking beer out of that huge Wimbledon cup. After that, it was a long time before the cup was son with anything but the .300 Magnum." Elsewhere, Keith recalls his response to Comfort's questioning about the ideal rifle Wimbledon Cup rifle, "...a .300 Magnum bull gun with a 30-inch barrel, prone stock...", then "...Ben had Griffin & Howe make it up, and the shooting world knows what he did with it...". MARKINGS: "No. 1415 Griffin & Howe Inc. New York" centers on the barrel. "Ben C. Comfort, 1935 Winner, The Wimbledon Cup Match, Camp Perry. Ohio. Score-100-14V" appears on the left side of the barrel near the front ring. "659" is written in pencil three times along the barrel channel. FEATURES: Bolt body, extractor and rail are jeweled, cheekpiece with shadow line, metal pistol grip cap, blank oval in toe line, inletted base with loop for shooting sling. DIMENSIONS: Weight (sans scope) is 13.2 pounds. Length-of-pull is 13.6 inches. SCOPE: Lyman 10x Super Targetspot number 6439 with straight "cross hair" reticle and threaded metal lens caps. Lenses are nearly pristine. CONDITION: Bore is strong and bright. Rust blue is about 95% with evidence of open sights (absent). Rear bridge has been tapped (two holes plugged one filled). The Lyman base is missing its sight. Wood is about 85%, with strong finish and a number of modest field impressions. Stock has what appears to be an original splice fo the rear of the pistol grip, adding more wood for additional depth. INCLUSIONS" American Rifleman, October, 1935 and a host of photocopies relating to the rifle and Comfort. The price is firm and layaway is available. Photo package by request (include direct email address).
Condition:
Used - See Item Description
Brand:
Griffin & Howe
Caliber:
.300 (all)
Location:
MT
Trades Accepted: Fine bolt & double rifles, handguns, hunting books
Shipping Notes: See Description
Each item is listed at the lowest acceptable price and will remain firm.
When specifically indicated in the listing description, layaway purchases are welcome - subject to an agreeable timeline. (Usual terms are 1/3 plus shipping down, with 1/3 at 30 days and balance at 60 days.) Other suggestions will be given every consideration.
Wire transfers are accepted.
Personal checks are accepted ( a 10-day bank hold is required).
No sales tax is required.
California purchases are welcome.
Unless specifically approved, p
