PDA

View Full Version : Col. Brophy rifle


Nolagunsmith
02-26-2014, 05:05
Gentlemen,
Recently saw a rifle listed on Gunbroker for sale, listed as a 1903 Springfield national match. The seller states the receiver dates to 1910 and a barrel date of 1941 by sedgley. He also states it belonged to col. Brophy , and the provenance provided is a range card with his name on it , found in the buttstock cavity.
Just wanted the forums thoughts on this rifle. since it is an ongoing auction, I won't post a link, I'm confident those interested will find it.
Thanks
ncblksmth1
02-26-2014, 05:23
Bet it comes from eastern sc. There's a real humdinger who makes frankens and adds history to make it believable. Range card in butt cavity. Right.
ncblksmth1
02-26-2014, 05:28
Well its not the SC culprit. Looks convincing. Hard to believe.
ncblksmth1
02-26-2014, 05:31
Look at the star guage mark on this one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=395384164
Nolagunsmith
02-26-2014, 05:40
Yes, saw that one too:) didn't know they star gauged barrels in '42
And counterbored the muzzle too. thought y'all could use a good chuckle with the alleged brophy rifle.
Jeff L
02-26-2014, 07:31
Beware of Gunbroker listings with descriptions that are several paragraphs long. Buy the gun, not the story.
John Beard
02-26-2014, 09:13
The seller called me several weeks ago and spoke with me about the rifle. The rifle appears just as he described it. The seller seemed reputable and I had no reason to doubt or question his integrity. While the rifle seems a bit unusual, the name and serial number on the card, if authentic, tie the rifle to Brophy.

Hope this helps.

J.B.
TDP0311
02-27-2014, 08:13
Is it gone? I'm looking around and having a hard time finding it...
Fred
02-27-2014, 11:11
It's still there

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=396472412
TDP0311
02-27-2014, 12:15
Pretty incredible, thats like picking up an M1903 and finding "Puller" carved in the handguard. Very cool rifle.
ncblksmth1
02-27-2014, 05:30
Oops looked at wrong gun!!!!
GA-Dave
03-01-2014, 06:32
Interesting rifle, if I had found it I would be excited. However, I don't think the seller helps his case by exaggerating the tie to the USMC. I have never heard of an NRA special match, I wonder why they would score it on a dismounted pistol qualification score card? The scoring looks like it consisted of 100 rounds and the firer scored 50 on each stage. Not like any other rifle match scoring that I have seen - apparently they just scored hits.

If you assume an armorer put the NM on the barrel when the target sights were added and this low number Springfield wasn't pulled as other rifles were made and that Brophy was ok with shooting a low number Springfield, I guess it could be okay.

Brophy was a civilian during this time. I wonder how many other men that were named Bill Brophy there were at the time?

All in all it would take a lot of research to spend that much money on a rifle.

-Dave
sdkrag
03-01-2014, 07:12
Dave, I agree. What is it that is quoted here often? Buy the rifle-not the story.
John Beard
03-01-2014, 10:06
The rifle was turned in at a pawn shop or gun shop near where Brophy lived. I have difficulty, however, believing that Brophy claimed ownership of that rifle. But then again, I have some clunkers in my collection.

J.B.
Dick Hosmer
03-01-2014, 04:23
Beware of Gunbroker listings with descriptions that are several paragraphs long. Buy the gun, not the story.

I don't even read the description until I've looked at the pictures!!
Rick the Librarian
03-05-2014, 01:58
...especially when often the "description" runs to paragraph after paragraph about why they don't ship to certain areas, what they business is all about and a canned history of the type of firearm their listing.
Doug Douglass
03-06-2014, 08:59
Have you seen my Alvin York rifle?

I can't believe the score card and the rifle are related in any way, but the couple in N CA did find 10 mil in gold coins in their backyard!
ClaudeH
03-06-2014, 11:57
I wish I could see the serial number on the score card more clearly. Looks about right.
John Beard
03-06-2014, 03:27
I wish I could see the serial number on the score card more clearly. Looks about right.

The serial number on the card matches the rifle. The seller confirmed that during our conversation.

J.B.
Ed Byrns
03-06-2014, 04:19
The score card in question is a "WD-88" which is a "Pistol,Combat Qualifying Score Card",actually a very old one.
A 1903 Springfield is not a pistol,but I may be confused.
Ed Byrns
Fred
03-06-2014, 05:08
The score card could've just been used to keep score anyway for the rifle shoot. Like when I've use pistol targets at 100 yards shooting a 1903. It's all that I had.