Does anyone have a Griffin & Howe rifle. I don't, but would like to see yours. There are few things I like better then fine wood and blue steel.
So if you have one, please show it off.....
So if you have one, please show it off.....
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Griffin & Howe rifles
- Thread starter Muddyboot
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Sure, we all want to see those!!!! 
LittleCooner
Member
I am too poor to afford that stuff.
Too poor myself.
I watched a really nice video on Holland&Holland craftsmanship a couple times. If I ever win the lottery I want a matched set of H&H side by sides. One in .303 Brit set up for 220gr bullets and one in 20ga.
I watched a really nice video on Holland&Holland craftsmanship a couple times. If I ever win the lottery I want a matched set of H&H side by sides. One in .303 Brit set up for 220gr bullets and one in 20ga.
CptCurl
SWCA Member
Many years ago I had a G&H Springfield Sporter. It was their absolute classic build. The stock had perfect classic lines and was of the finest figured European walnut. It had a scope mounted in the G&H side mount.
If I had a photo I would post it. Because of gun trading foolishness, the rifle is long gone. My bad.
I wouldn't mind having another one.
Curl
If I had a photo I would post it. Because of gun trading foolishness, the rifle is long gone. My bad.
I wouldn't mind having another one.
Curl
Capt. F.
Member
I don’t own one but have story about some of them.
About 35 years ago a gun nut friend and sheriffs deputy called me from the county jail and invited me to come down and drool.
He had night duty and had just helped bring in a gun collection from a wealthy lady who’s husband had just been removed from their home due to his mental instability.
About 75 guns were being temporarily stored in a jail cell.
Among these were cased sets (4 barrels) of Browning Midas grade shotguns, Parker’s, Winchester 21’s etc.
If my memory serves me correctly there were at least a dozen G&H rifles in various calibers along with pre-64 Model 70’s, Sako’s etc.
The workmanship of the G&H rifles were stunning, especially the checkering.
Drool we did for almost 2 hours.
My friend told me the guns were eventually taken away by an auction company and sold.
So, that’s my story and as close as I’ll ever get to owning one.
About 35 years ago a gun nut friend and sheriffs deputy called me from the county jail and invited me to come down and drool.
He had night duty and had just helped bring in a gun collection from a wealthy lady who’s husband had just been removed from their home due to his mental instability.
About 75 guns were being temporarily stored in a jail cell.
Among these were cased sets (4 barrels) of Browning Midas grade shotguns, Parker’s, Winchester 21’s etc.
If my memory serves me correctly there were at least a dozen G&H rifles in various calibers along with pre-64 Model 70’s, Sako’s etc.
The workmanship of the G&H rifles were stunning, especially the checkering.
Drool we did for almost 2 hours.
My friend told me the guns were eventually taken away by an auction company and sold.
So, that’s my story and as close as I’ll ever get to owning one.
BearBio
Member
Pachmayr's had a small gun shop in L.A. No signage except a small, maybe 12x12 inch sign saying "Pachmayr's and the hours". Kinda in a semi-industrial area. Shop had Burberry Clothing (Filson was the "cheap" stuff), G & H, Purdey and H & H rifles and shotguns. No handguns. Gunsmithing off-site. Walnut paneling and furniture, overstuff leather chairs. Left after drooling=I was a kid in my 20's.
No G&H, but I have a Hoffman Arms when they were in Ardmore, OK.
By the build # it was probably toward the end of their business before closing up shop mainly due to the Great Depression.
They only built just less than 500 rifles total IIRC from the ground up. Many more were gunsmithed and rebbl'd ect.
Orig shop was in Cleveland, Oh.
I think some old employees open a Hoffman Arms still later after Ardmore with some of the left over inventory and parts trying to assemble and sell some guns. I'm not really sure about that side of the tale.
When Hofman Arms is talked about it's either early (Cleveland,Oh) or later (Ardmore Ok) shops.
Short history life.
They opened in Cleveland in 1923. Moved to Ardmore in 1925/26.
Went under in 1930.
I've read they expected to build about 1000 sporting rifles/yr from scratch orig.
They ended building slightly less than 500 total in those yrs '23 through '30.
The move to Ardmore kind of a sudden thing. A group of customers,,oil men from that region with big pockets , liked the guns Hoffman was making and thought it would be so much better to have Hoffman's where they were.
So they bought the entire company in a (to me) complicated stock offering and the Ardmore oil guys provided a multi acre site in OK to build a new shop w/ ranges, ect. The move to Ardmore was on.
Many of the orig employees went too. But some split and went their own ways.
Stockmaker John DuBeil stayed on. I believe he made the stock on my Hoffman rifle, though it's not marked. Just little details.
Dubeil worked for Hart Arms of Cleveland Oh before going to Hoffman when they too were in Cleveland.
The Springfield 03 sporter I have from Hart Arms is probably (I believe ) a DuBield stock job.
Hoffman had bbl maker Eric Johnson on their staff too. I'm not sure if he went to Ardmore with the move or not. He did eventually end up working for Winchester afterwards which ever was the case.
Orig James V Howe of Griffin& Howe was lured over to work at Hoffman Arms when Hoffman was still in Cleveland. But didn't stay there and went back to G&H. Howe was kind of hard to work with I have heard.
The word was that Howe only stayed long enough to get his name on the door. ,,ouch!
The Hoffman Arms Co rifle is built on a Mauser 98 in 30-06. Nothing fancy, no engraving from Kornbrath, who was their go-to engraver.
Just their plain sporter stocked in English Walnut.
Hoffman bought commercial Mauser 98 actions from W/F Mauser, they did not use any surplus WW1 actions, parts or bbls.
All wood was imported Walnut.
The Springfield '03 Sporter built by Hart Arms is based on a Nat'l MAtch '03. That is confirmed in a search of Springfield Research Records.
Again I believe John Dubeil stocked the rifle. This one has what was an optional steel trap door butt plate. Lightly engraved, these plates were imported from Germany and were a common 'add-on' option.
Underneath are 3 holes. 2 for loaded 30-06 rounds. The third slightly larger for a cleaning pull-thru which was still in place.
Other than that just classic shaped sporting rifle from the US preWW2 period. Both have Lyman 48 rear sights. Front sight ramp with bead.
The 03 Sporter has a detachable scope mt base (only) on the left side of the rec'ver. Looks professionally mounted with 3 screws and 2 reinforcement pins. I'm guessing it was done after the rifle was sold, but could be wrong.
In the only catalog I've seen from Hart Arms,,this rifle was the standard grade 'Sporter' built usually on the customer provided bbl'd action.
A few options were available such as the trapdoor butt plate.
The customer would buy the bbl'd action from the DCM and have it shipped directly to Hart (or G&H or Hoffman) for them to do the work for you..
Before 1938, it was perfectly legal for those outfits to grind any markings and the ser# off of the rec'vr to do any custom work or even plain stippling. The latter was a very popular option.
No laws prevented it.
In 1938 the Federal Firearms Act specificly prevented the now famous removal, alteration, obliteration of the mfg'r ser#.
G&H adv literature after that 1938 date reflects the change and they apologize to their loyal customers that they'd no longer be able to offer that custom touch in building their rifles.
I have some (so-so) pics of the Hoffman below,,I'll see if I can click a couple of the Hart '03.
Hoffman Mauser 98, cal 30-06
I'd guess and it's just a guess at a build date somewhere around 1927 going by the rifle #417. I think the highest Hoffman is about #48X
By the build # it was probably toward the end of their business before closing up shop mainly due to the Great Depression.
They only built just less than 500 rifles total IIRC from the ground up. Many more were gunsmithed and rebbl'd ect.
Orig shop was in Cleveland, Oh.
I think some old employees open a Hoffman Arms still later after Ardmore with some of the left over inventory and parts trying to assemble and sell some guns. I'm not really sure about that side of the tale.
When Hofman Arms is talked about it's either early (Cleveland,Oh) or later (Ardmore Ok) shops.
Short history life.
They opened in Cleveland in 1923. Moved to Ardmore in 1925/26.
Went under in 1930.
I've read they expected to build about 1000 sporting rifles/yr from scratch orig.
They ended building slightly less than 500 total in those yrs '23 through '30.
The move to Ardmore kind of a sudden thing. A group of customers,,oil men from that region with big pockets , liked the guns Hoffman was making and thought it would be so much better to have Hoffman's where they were.
So they bought the entire company in a (to me) complicated stock offering and the Ardmore oil guys provided a multi acre site in OK to build a new shop w/ ranges, ect. The move to Ardmore was on.
Many of the orig employees went too. But some split and went their own ways.
Stockmaker John DuBeil stayed on. I believe he made the stock on my Hoffman rifle, though it's not marked. Just little details.
Dubeil worked for Hart Arms of Cleveland Oh before going to Hoffman when they too were in Cleveland.
The Springfield 03 sporter I have from Hart Arms is probably (I believe ) a DuBield stock job.
Hoffman had bbl maker Eric Johnson on their staff too. I'm not sure if he went to Ardmore with the move or not. He did eventually end up working for Winchester afterwards which ever was the case.
Orig James V Howe of Griffin& Howe was lured over to work at Hoffman Arms when Hoffman was still in Cleveland. But didn't stay there and went back to G&H. Howe was kind of hard to work with I have heard.
The word was that Howe only stayed long enough to get his name on the door. ,,ouch!
The Hoffman Arms Co rifle is built on a Mauser 98 in 30-06. Nothing fancy, no engraving from Kornbrath, who was their go-to engraver.
Just their plain sporter stocked in English Walnut.
Hoffman bought commercial Mauser 98 actions from W/F Mauser, they did not use any surplus WW1 actions, parts or bbls.
All wood was imported Walnut.
The Springfield '03 Sporter built by Hart Arms is based on a Nat'l MAtch '03. That is confirmed in a search of Springfield Research Records.
Again I believe John Dubeil stocked the rifle. This one has what was an optional steel trap door butt plate. Lightly engraved, these plates were imported from Germany and were a common 'add-on' option.
Underneath are 3 holes. 2 for loaded 30-06 rounds. The third slightly larger for a cleaning pull-thru which was still in place.
Other than that just classic shaped sporting rifle from the US preWW2 period. Both have Lyman 48 rear sights. Front sight ramp with bead.
The 03 Sporter has a detachable scope mt base (only) on the left side of the rec'ver. Looks professionally mounted with 3 screws and 2 reinforcement pins. I'm guessing it was done after the rifle was sold, but could be wrong.
In the only catalog I've seen from Hart Arms,,this rifle was the standard grade 'Sporter' built usually on the customer provided bbl'd action.
A few options were available such as the trapdoor butt plate.
The customer would buy the bbl'd action from the DCM and have it shipped directly to Hart (or G&H or Hoffman) for them to do the work for you..
Before 1938, it was perfectly legal for those outfits to grind any markings and the ser# off of the rec'vr to do any custom work or even plain stippling. The latter was a very popular option.
No laws prevented it.
In 1938 the Federal Firearms Act specificly prevented the now famous removal, alteration, obliteration of the mfg'r ser#.
G&H adv literature after that 1938 date reflects the change and they apologize to their loyal customers that they'd no longer be able to offer that custom touch in building their rifles.
I have some (so-so) pics of the Hoffman below,,I'll see if I can click a couple of the Hart '03.
Hoffman Mauser 98, cal 30-06
I'd guess and it's just a guess at a build date somewhere around 1927 going by the rifle #417. I think the highest Hoffman is about #48X
Last edited:
OP
Great post, thanks. I've never heard of Hoffman, but now that I have I'll keep an eye out for them, thanks again....No G&H, but I have a Hoffman Arms when they were in Ardmore, OK.
By the build # it was probably toward the end of their business before closing up shop mainly due to the Great Depression.
They only built just less than 500 rifles total IIRC from the ground up. Many more were gunsmithed and rebbl'd ect.
Orig shop was in Cleveland, Oh.
I think some old employees open a Hoffman Arms still later after Ardmore with some of the left over inventory and parts trying to assemble and sell some guns. I'm not really sure about that side of the tale.
When Hofman Arms is talked about it's either early (Cleveland,Oh) or later (Ardmore Ok) shops.
Short history life.
They opened in Cleveland in 1923. Moved to Ardmore in 1925/26.
Went under in 1930.
I've read they expected to built about 1000 sporting rifles/yr from scratch orig.
They ended building slightly less than 500 total in those yrs '23 through '30.
The move to Ardmore kind of a sudden thing. A group of customers,,oil men from that region with big pockets , liked the guns Hoffman was making and thought it would be so much better to have Hoffman's where they were.
So they bought the entire company in a (to me) complicated stock offering and the Ardmore oil guys provided a multi acre site in OK to build a new shop w/ ranges, ect. The move to Ardmore was on.
Many of the orig employees went too. But some split and went their own ways.
Stockmaker John DuBeil stayed on. I believe he made the stock on my Hoffman rifle, though it's not marked. Just little details.
Dubeil worked for Hart Arms of Cleveland Oh before going to Hoffman when they too were in Cleveland.
The Springfield 03 sporter I have from Hart Arms is probably (I believe ) a DuBield stock job.
Hoffman had bbl maker Eric Johnson on their staff too. I'm not sure if he went to Ardmore with the move or not. He did eventually end up working for Winchester afterwards which ever was the case.
Orig James V Howe of Griffin& Howe was lured over to work at Hoffman Arms when Hoffman was still in Clevelan. But didn't stay there and went back to G&H. Howe was kind of hard to work with I have heard.
The word was that Howe only stayed long enough to his name on the door. ,,ouch!
The Hoffman Arms Co rifle is built on a Mauser 98 in 30-06. Nothing fancy, no engraving from Kornbrath, who was their go-to engraver.
Just their plain sporter stocked in English Walnut.
Hoffman bought commercial Mauser 98 actions from W/F Mauser, they did not use any surplus WW1 actions, parts or bbls.
All wood was imported Walnut.
The Springfield '03 Sporter built by Hart Arms is based on a Nat'l MAtch '03. That is confirmed in a search of Springfield Research Records.
Again I believe John Dubeil stocked the rifle. This one has what was an optional steel trap door butt plate. Lightly engraved, these plates were imported from Germany and were a common 'add-on' option.
Underneath are 3 holes. 2 for loaded 30-06 rounds. The third slightly larger for a cleaning pull-thru which was still in place.
Other than that just classic shaped sporting rifle from the US preWW2 period. Both have Lyman 48 rear sights. Front sight ramp with bead.
The 03 Sporter has a detachable scope mt base (only) on the left side of the rec'ver. Looks professionally mounted with 3 screws and 2 reinforcement pins. I'm guessing it was done after the rifle was sold, but could be wrong.
In the only catalog I've seen from Hart Arms,,this rifle was the standard grade 'Sporter' built usually on the customer provided bbl'd action.
A few options were available such as the trapdoor butt plate.
The customer would buy the bbl'd action from the DCM and have it shipped directly to Hart (or G&H or Hoffman) for them to do the work for you..
Before 1938, it was perfectly legal for those outfits to grind any markings and the ser# off of the rec'vr to do any custom work or even plain stippling. The latter was a very popular option.
No laws prevented it.
In 1938 the Federal Firearms Act specificly prevented the now famous removal, alteration, obliteration of the mfg'r ser#.
G&H adv literature after that 1938 date reflects the change and they apologize to their loyal customers that they'd no longer be able to offer that custom touch in building their rifles.
I have some (so-so) pics of the Hoffman below,,I'll see if I can click a couple of the Hart '03.
Hoffman Mauser 98, cal 30-06
I'd guess and it's just a guess at a build date somewhere around 1927 going by the rifle #417. I think the highest Hoffman is about #48X
OIF2
Member
How about a John Rigby 98 Mauser in .375? Awesome rifle. This one killed several moose (mooses?) in Sweden.
Bob
Bob
schutzen-jager
Member
G + H is still in business here in N.J. - check out their website -
How about a John Rigby 98 Mauser in .375? Awesome rifle. This one killed several moose (mooses?) in Sweden.
Bob
.......meese........
Eltioloco
Member
attachment.php?attachmentid=462778&...nt.php?attachmentid=462780&stc=1&d=1595861968
The Griffin & Howe that I have is in .22 Hornet. It was converted from a Springfield M1 .22 by Griffin & Howe. The inletting is first rate and fits like a part of me. I bought it from Jim Wilkinson from the Rifle Ranch in Prescott AZ many years ago. It was love at first sight. It is a great little rabbit gun, not good for the big bears.
Ken
The Griffin & Howe that I have is in .22 Hornet. It was converted from a Springfield M1 .22 by Griffin & Howe. The inletting is first rate and fits like a part of me. I bought it from Jim Wilkinson from the Rifle Ranch in Prescott AZ many years ago. It was love at first sight. It is a great little rabbit gun, not good for the big bears.
Ken
Attachments
JJEH
Member
schutzen-jager
Member
I check their inventory at least once daily
not far from me - completely out of my league - but when i visit their store in ripped jeans + work boots i am still treated with respect -
JJEH
Member
The used section is not out of anyone's league I think. Some very affordable pieces, fair condition, fair priced. I'm glad they treat you with respect, just like it should be.
I can tell plenty of stories back when I worked for Mercedes... terrible.
StrawHat
SWCA Member
I am looking for a G&H 22 Hornet. I have a Springfield Model 1922 that was converted but still wears the military stock. In all aspects except the chambering it is pure 1922. I have considered restocking it as a sporter in the style of G&H or maybe Hoffman.
Probably easier and less money to find one!
Kevin
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