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Heavy Barrel 1924 International Match Rifle
Further research indicates that the Auction Rifle is probably a 1924 International Match “FREE” rifle. In a recent issue of the SRS publication there is a documented 1924 International Match rifle that is only three digits away from the Auction rifle. Last three digits of Auction rifle = 200; last three digits of SRS rifle = 203.
SRS rifle differs from the Auction rifle in a couple of items:
1. Front target block is on the barrel and not the receiver as was specified for the 1924 IM Rifles.
2. SRS rifle has a Remington barrel
3. SRS Rifle has no stock bolts
4. Palm Rest mount is like those shown in Brophy’s book-i.e. it is bolted to the side of the TG Assy and there is no floor plate.
5. SRS rifle is equipped with a Rimkunas set trigger. According to the writing at the time, the WOODY trigger was superior to the Rimkunas.
6. Bolt is polished as I thought all match rifles were. There is one possible discrepancy with the SRS rifle bolt. It is a “J6” bolt which dates to the early 20’s – 1919- 1921 according to VIS information. This would lead me to believe that the actions were not built special, but were rather assembled from selected “on hand” components.
Since the “Style T” target rifle was not advertised for sale through the DCM until 1929, and the Auction rifle was sold through the DCM in 1927 (according to RTL) , the possibility of the Auction rifle being a “Style T” is remote.
As I have indicated previously, the DCM offered for sale some of the “used” International Match rifle sometime in the late 20’s or early 30’s. Remember these team rifles belonged to the government and not the individual team members. It is my understanding, as I stated previously, that these “used” match rifles were well used. That does not preclude some of the team members buying them when they became u for sale. When FREE rile shooting started up after WWII, I remember reading about a couple of pre war FREE rifle shooters competing and making the statement that they used the pre-war rifles, but found them to be pretty well “shot out”.
FWIW
Further research indicates that the Auction Rifle is probably a 1924 International Match “FREE” rifle. In a recent issue of the SRS publication there is a documented 1924 International Match rifle that is only three digits away from the Auction rifle. Last three digits of Auction rifle = 200; last three digits of SRS rifle = 203.
SRS rifle differs from the Auction rifle in a couple of items:
1. Front target block is on the barrel and not the receiver as was specified for the 1924 IM Rifles.
2. SRS rifle has a Remington barrel
3. SRS Rifle has no stock bolts
4. Palm Rest mount is like those shown in Brophy’s book-i.e. it is bolted to the side of the TG Assy and there is no floor plate.
5. SRS rifle is equipped with a Rimkunas set trigger. According to the writing at the time, the WOODY trigger was superior to the Rimkunas.
6. Bolt is polished as I thought all match rifles were. There is one possible discrepancy with the SRS rifle bolt. It is a “J6” bolt which dates to the early 20’s – 1919- 1921 according to VIS information. This would lead me to believe that the actions were not built special, but were rather assembled from selected “on hand” components.
Since the “Style T” target rifle was not advertised for sale through the DCM until 1929, and the Auction rifle was sold through the DCM in 1927 (according to RTL) , the possibility of the Auction rifle being a “Style T” is remote.
As I have indicated previously, the DCM offered for sale some of the “used” International Match rifle sometime in the late 20’s or early 30’s. Remember these team rifles belonged to the government and not the individual team members. It is my understanding, as I stated previously, that these “used” match rifles were well used. That does not preclude some of the team members buying them when they became u for sale. When FREE rile shooting started up after WWII, I remember reading about a couple of pre war FREE rifle shooters competing and making the statement that they used the pre-war rifles, but found them to be pretty well “shot out”.
FWIW
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