GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
HOFFMAN ARMS MAGNUM SQUARE BRIDGE MAUSER DANGEROUS GAME RIFLE MADE FOR HARRY SNYDER, ORIGINAL PARTNER IN HOFFMAN ARMS CO. HOFFMAN BOLT RIFLE 4 404 Jeffery MODERN; C&R Cal. 404 Jeffery. (One of a set of rifles numbered 1-9, made for Harry Snyder as a return on his investment when he relinquished his portion of the business.) This fine rifle is fitted with 26-1/2" medium weight sporter bbl engraved "No 4 Hoffman Arms Co. Cleveland, Ohio" on top center, and with caliber on left rear. Bbl is fitted with broad, matted, quarter rib holding four folding leaf express rear sight with leaves for 200, 300, and 400 yards. Matching sleeved-on front ramp holds gold bead, and has sight protector with knurled end. Ramp is surrounded with geometric and feather engraving. A wide sling eye engraved with flower on top, is also sleeved-on. Magnum length square bridge Mauser action has been fitted with Hoffman's folding peep sight on dovetail through bridge. Mauser name on sidewall has been milled away, and area engraved "Hoffman Arms Co". Receiver ring is stippled and flanked by feather engraving. Damascened bolt with long cocking piece and standard flag safety retains orig pear shaped bolt handle which has been checkered. Double pull trigger retained. Drop box bottom metal with hinged floorplate release in trigger guard bow is engraved with about 50% coverage very well cut varying types of scroll. "HARRY SNYDER" is gold inlaid on floorplate. This fine engraving was most likely done by Rudolf Kornbrath who did most of Hoffman's engraving. Lightly streaked, dense, European walnut stock measures 13-3/4" over open sided Hawkins pad, and features right hand shadow line cheekpiece, engraved steel grip cap, and horn forend tip. Checkering at grip and forend is nicely cut and has acanthus carving at sides and ends which has stippled background, all in classic early Hoffman style. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/16", drop at comb: approx 1-13/16". Cast: approx 1/4" off. Weight: 9 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 13-3/4". CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Metal parts retain most of what appears to be their orig blue, on bbl and action. Bolt and action damascening remains strong. Trigger guard and forward part of bottom metal retain most of their blue, beginning to gray. Floorplate appears to have been re-blued, and retains nearly all of that blue. Wood retains nearly all of an old oil refinish over numerous minor marks and dents, as well as a few scratches. Carving slightly softened. Checkering lightly worn, and has not been re-cut. Pad is most likely original. Bore is excellent, bright, sharp and shiny throughout. Action is smooth. A fine, classic Hoffman; this rifle is pictured in ORIGINAL OBERNDORF SPORTING RIFLES by John Speed et al, as figure 962 on p. 425, and described and pictured again on p. 252. 50655-13 MGM149 (15,000-20,000)