ITEM # 31
.39-55, 30" medium to heavy weight octagon barrel with a bright excellent bore. Top of barrel is marked "GEO. C. SCHOYEN DENVER". This rifle was one of Rowland's favorites and was one of only three of his remaining target rifles in his possession at the time of his death in 1936. The rifle is in quite lovely condition, the barrel retains about 85% evenly thinning original brown finish. The action retains about 95% original case colored finish which is just softened slightly over time. The checkered pistol grip buttstock and forend are of very highly figured walnut with buttstock featuring large Monte Carlo type cheek piece and is fitted with a Stevens Schuetzen buttplate. The stocks are wonderfully made and are probably original, special order Winchester products. The rifle is fitted with double set triggers on an unnumbered tang and has a finger spur lever which retains most of its original dull case color. The barrel has two holes drilled and tapped on its underside several inches back from muzzle which were likely for some type of rest. The rifle is equipped with a Lyman Super Targetspot 30 power scope mounted on blocks, there are two additional holes with filler screws just ahead of action. The rifle is sighted with a Winchester windgauge front and midrange vernier tang peep sight in addition to the telescopic sight. In addition to the false muzzle, the rifle is accompanied by Rowland's wooden shooting kit which includes two Schoyen bullet molds, a Schoyen lubricating pump, Schoyen piston bullet starter, nickel plated Schoyen-Peterson duplex powder measure, cartridge cases, cast lead bullets and a cast brass forearm with Pope type Palm rest and special rubber covered knob. Also included with the rifle are six of Rowland's targets with his handwritten notes, three copies of a black-and-white photo showing Rowland shooting the rifle and a July 10, 1947 dated letter from C.C. Hankins of Buffalo, Wyoming certifying that he sold and delivered to Robert G. Rowland the "39 caliber Schoyen Winchester Schuetzen rifle that was the property of his grandfather, the late C.W. Rowland. This rifle has been in my possession since the death of C.W. Rowland". The story of how this rifle's barrel came to be is quite interesting. While passing a spot where workers were excavating for a new building near Boulder Creek, Rowland saw a piece of steel that had been unearthed and asked to look at it. After determining that it was indeed an old rifle barrel, the workman gave the barrel to Rowland who in turn brought it to the Mines and Metallurgy department at the University of Colorado where it was examined and determined to have been buried for between 50 and 75 years. Rowland then took the barrel to his friend George Schoyen and asked him to restore and rebore it to a .38-55. Schoyen found the pitting to be so deep that he had to bore it to a .39 caliber. Rowland never did learn the history of the barrel but is said to have thought it was an old Hawken barrel probably a 30 caliber "peashooter" as he called it. Rowland felt that the many years this barrel laid buried in the ground had imparted a mellowness to the steel and aided, along with Schoyen's rifling, it's superb accuracy. A very fine, important and interesting rifle, a favorite of one of America's greatest target shooters. Truly an investment quality, well documented American rifle. {Provenance: C.W. Rowland, C.C. Hankins, Bob Rowland, Ray Day} (1915-5) [Ray Day Collection] (25,000/35,000) SOLD FOR $34500.00 |
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