*RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 SPORTER SECRETARY OF NAVY TROPHY RIFLE FROM 1936.

Revised: 9/8/2011

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The 1934 trophy rifle was won by Charles Blenman, Jr – Williams brother, who retired a Rear Admiral. Both the 1934 and 1936 trophy rifles exhibit fine jewelling on receiver rails.

*RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 SPORTER SECRETARY OF NAVY TROPHY RIFLE FROM 1936. SN 1417337. Cal. 30-06. Beautiful Sporter trophy rifle with 24″ tapered rnd bbl marked “SA / flaming bomb / 9-35” and has a sleeved M1903 front sight. Muzzle is stamped with the star gauge mark and bottom of bbl is stamped with the star gauge number “G/76” with a small “P” proof below. Receiver ring has standard M1903 markings and the rear bridge is mounted with a Lyman 48 receiver sight. Bolt body, extractor & handle are polished bright and the shroud, safety & striker are blued. It has standard milled M1903 trigger guard & floorplate and is mounted in a nicely figured M1922 Sporter half stock with nicely checkered forestock & pistol grip. Buttplate is Model 1922 checkered steel shotgun style. It has a standard M1903 sling swivel on bottom of butt and a grooved band around the forestock with sling swivel. Right side of butt is inlaid with a 2″ diameter round silver plate engraved “SECRETARY OF NAVY’S RIFLE TROPHY / WON BY MIDSHIPMAN / WILLIAM BLENMAN U.S.N. 1936”. The center of the plaque is engraved with a 3-masted sailing ship with anchor and spread-winged eagle in the foreground surrounded by “NAVY DEPARTMENT / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”. Stock has two reinforcing crossbolts. On p. 213 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. Lt. Col. Brophy is discussing presentation rifles he states “These presentation models are the rarest of rare, as only five are known to have been awarded.” Consignor of two other trophy rifles being sold elsewhere in this auction states that of the five known awarded prize rifles two are in the Springfield Museum, he owns two of them, leading one to understand that this is probably the fifth rifle. This cataloger is of the opinion that there are actually more than five prize rifles known. Lt. Col. Brophy was probably speaking from personal knowledge at the time of the publication of his book. It is this cataloger’s contention that there are more than five of these rare rifles known today. Accompanied by a printout of A Citation for Gallantry, awarding the Silver Star to Commander, then Lt. Commander, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity 15 June to 4 July 1944 as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Shubrick, a destroyer protecting landing forces at Omaha Beach on D-Day and afterward. Blenman was a 1936 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and retired as a Rear Admiral. PROVENANCE: Rear Admiral William Blenman. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig arsenal blue on the bbl & receiver with wear on the front sight sleeve, probably from a stamped sheet metal sight guard. Receiver has sharp edge wear. Receiver rails are polished bright and the outside rail is professionally jeweled, as is the follower. Trigger guard & floorplate retain just about all of their orig arsenal blue with some minor flaking, not wear, turned to dark patina. Stock is sound with a scratch on left side of butt and a couple of small dings and retains about all of its fine orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-42456 JR114 (9,500-12,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1065	$10,350.00	Revised: 9/8/2011 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The 1934 trophy rifle was won by Charles Blenman, Jr – Williams brother, who retired a Rear Admiral. Both the 1934 and 1936 trophy rifles exhibit fine jewelling on receiver rails. RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 SPORTER SECRETARY OF NAVY TROPHY RIFLE FROM 1936. SN 1417337. Cal. 30-06. Beautiful Sporter trophy rifle with 24″ tapered rnd bbl marked “SA / flaming bomb / 9-35” and has a sleeved M1903 front sight. Muzzle is stamped with the star gauge mark and bottom of bbl is stamped with the star gauge number “G/76” with a small “P” proof below. Receiver ring has standard M1903 markings and the rear bridge is mounted with a Lyman 48 receiver sight. Bolt body, extractor & handle are polished bright and the shroud, safety & striker are blued. It has standard milled M1903 trigger guard & floorplate and is mounted in a nicely figured M1922 Sporter half stock with nicely checkered forestock & pistol grip. Buttplate is Model 1922 checkered steel shotgun style. It has a standard M1903 sling swivel on bottom of butt and a grooved band around the forestock with sling swivel. Right side of butt is inlaid with a 2″ diameter round silver plate engraved “SECRETARY OF NAVY’S RIFLE TROPHY / WON BY MIDSHIPMAN / WILLIAM BLENMAN U.S.N. 1936”. The center of the plaque is engraved with a 3-masted sailing ship with anchor and spread-winged eagle in the foreground surrounded by “NAVY DEPARTMENT / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”. Stock has two reinforcing crossbolts. On p. 213 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. Lt. Col. Brophy is discussing presentation rifles he states “These presentation models are the rarest of rare, as only five are known to have been awarded.” Consignor of two other trophy rifles being sold elsewhere in this auction states that of the five known awarded prize rifles two are in the Springfield Museum, he owns two of them, leading one to understand that this is probably the fifth rifle. This cataloger is of the opinion that there are actually more than five prize rifles known. Lt. Col. Brophy was probably speaking from personal knowledge at the time of the publication of his book. It is this cataloger’s contention that there are more than five of these rare rifles known today. Accompanied by a printout of A Citation for Gallantry, awarding the Silver Star to Commander, then Lt. Commander, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity 15 June to 4 July 1944 as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Shubrick, a destroyer protecting landing forces at Omaha Beach on D-Day and afterward. Blenman was a 1936 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and retired as a Rear Admiral. PROVENANCE: Rear Admiral William Blenman. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig arsenal blue on the bbl & receiver with wear on the front sight sleeve, probably from a stamped sheet metal sight guard. Receiver has sharp edge wear. Receiver rails are polished bright and the outside rail is professionally jeweled, as is the follower. Trigger guard & floorplate retain just about all of their orig arsenal blue with some minor flaking, not wear, turned to dark patina. Stock is sound with a scratch on left side of butt and a couple of small dings and retains about all of its fine orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-42456 JR114 (9,500-12,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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