*INCREDIBLE SERIAL NUMBER “1” HOFFMAN ARMS CUSTOM SPRINGFIELD RIFLE OF ELMER KEITH.

SN 1. Cal. .400 Whelen. 24″ Medium weight bbl fitted with quarter rib, banded-on sling base, and banded-on streamlined front ramp, is engraved “No 1. Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio” on top. Stippled quarter rib is fitted with four folding leaf express sight with silver lines marked for 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards. Front ramp holds gold bead. There are sprays of engraving on quarter rib, transition to sling band, and around front sight base. Caliber is engraved on left bbl shank. Standard ’03 action has scroll engraving on receiver ring either side of stippled top. Bolt has had knob flattened on bottom, and checkered, and with flower burst engraving on top, scroll on shank. Bolt is fitted with unusual Hoffman shroud incorporating Lyman type slide for micrometer peep sight. Toggle safety on right side is marked “READY” and “SAFE”. Top of right side is stamped “HOFFMAN ARMS CO”. Replacement bottom metal is engraved with rather amateurish shaded large scrolled acanthus and a grizzly bear. Nicely streaked and lightly fiddle figured European walnut capped pistol grip stock measures 13-7/8″ over engraved steel ribbed buttplate with trap (a pull through cleaning brush is in a large compartment under trap. There is also space for two cartridges). Stock features classic Whelen style right hand shadow line cheekpiece, borderless point pattern checkering, hard rubber forend tip, Model 70 type sling bases, and a fine engraved steel grip cap, engraving matching that on receiver. Also included is a tooled leather sling in Super Grade type swivels. Accompanied by 5 boxes of Elmer Keith handloaded .400 Whelen cartridges for this rifle. Drop at heel: approx 3″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz. LOP: 13-7/8″. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl and action retain approx 75% of their orig blue thinning overall, and silvered on high points from normal hand wear. Bottom metal retains 90% of a shiny blue. Stock retains most of its orig hand rubbed oil finish, with a number of small marks and dents, and an area of water staining with finish loss from center of toe line toward butt on right side. Checkering is lightly worn, and a bit dirty. Bore is excellent, shiny, with some light frosting, mostly toward breech end. Action is smooth. 4-47953 MGM146 (10,000-20,000) – Lot 1054

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Auction: Firearms - March 2015

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
	1054	$17,250.00	INCREDIBLE SERIAL NUMBER “1” HOFFMAN ARMS CUSTOM SPRINGFIELD RIFLE OF ELMER KEITH. SN 1. Cal. .400 Whelen. 24″ Medium weight bbl fitted with quarter rib, banded-on sling base, and banded-on streamlined front ramp, is engraved “No 1. Hoffman Arms Co, Cleveland, Ohio” on top. Stippled quarter rib is fitted with four folding leaf express sight with silver lines marked for 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards. Front ramp holds gold bead. There are sprays of engraving on quarter rib, transition to sling band, and around front sight base. Caliber is engraved on left bbl shank. Standard ’03 action has scroll engraving on receiver ring either side of stippled top. Bolt has had knob flattened on bottom, and checkered, and with flower burst engraving on top, scroll on shank. Bolt is fitted with unusual Hoffman shroud incorporating Lyman type slide for micrometer peep sight. Toggle safety on right side is marked “READY” and “SAFE”. Top of right side is stamped “HOFFMAN ARMS CO”. Replacement bottom metal is engraved with rather amateurish shaded large scrolled acanthus and a grizzly bear. Nicely streaked and lightly fiddle figured European walnut capped pistol grip stock measures 13-7/8″ over engraved steel ribbed buttplate with trap (a pull through cleaning brush is in a large compartment under trap. There is also space for two cartridges). Stock features classic Whelen style right hand shadow line cheekpiece, borderless point pattern checkering, hard rubber forend tip, Model 70 type sling bases, and a fine engraved steel grip cap, engraving matching that on receiver. Also included is a tooled leather sling in Super Grade type swivels. Accompanied by 5 boxes of Elmer Keith handloaded .400 Whelen cartridges for this rifle. Drop at heel: approx 3″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz. LOP: 13-7/8″. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl and action retain approx 75% of their orig blue thinning overall, and silvered on high points from normal hand wear. Bottom metal retains 90% of a shiny blue. Stock retains most of its orig hand rubbed oil finish, with a number of small marks and dents, and an area of water staining with finish loss from center of toe line toward butt on right side. Checkering is lightly worn, and a bit dirty. Bore is excellent, shiny, with some light frosting, mostly toward breech end. Action is smooth. 4-47953 MGM146 (10,000-20,000) – Lot 1054 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 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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*INCREDIBLE SERIAL NUMBER “1” HOFFMAN ARMS CUSTOM SPRINGFIELD RIFLE OF ELMER KEITH.