Gary Cooper's "second" sporterized M1903 - pictures

[Bhauer]

I've been a little obsessed with it since I got it. I'm always on the Internet trying to find out more about Gary Cooper and his hunting and shooting habits. One of the most interesting things I discovered was Cooper was good friends and hunting buddies with Earnest Hemingway. I would guess at least at some point Hemingway had his hands on this rifle. I keep searching for more photos hoping one will turn up with Earnest Hemingway and Cooper together with the rifle. Hemingway's favorite hunting rifle was also a 30-06 Griffin & Howe. There are a lot of photos of him with that. Hemingway's Guns is a good book if anyone is interested.

[Fred]

I'll bet that Earnest had shouldered the rifle and even fired it.

[Bhauer]

I like to think so. The rifle was originally chambered for 220 swift. I wonder if it was Cooper that had it re-bored at some point to 30-06 because of Earnest Hemingway's love of his Griffin & Howe 30-06. The record at Griffin & Howe shows Cooper bringing the rifle back to their shop in the same year it was sold, 1936, for a repair or modification. It may be possible it was rechambered at that time. Or, possibly to mount the Zeiss scope which is still on the rifle today. No way to know. Their records don't specify the reason firearms were brought back in to the shop.
When I look through the scope I like to imagine Gary Cooper and Earnest Hemingway shouldering the rifle and looking through optics.
I love the Griffin & Howe QD scope mount. The rifle is super accurate with both the Lyman peep sight and with the scope. I am planning on hunting deer and Elk with it next fall.

[Fred]

Wow, I know you'll enjoy That!
Have you been able to identify the rifle with an identical scope on it in any photo's?

[Bhauer]

Yes. The two photos of Gary Cooper holding the rifle have the identical scope. I'm almost 100% positive it's the same scope.

[Bhauer]

More Gary Cooper photos with rifle and Bobcat!

http://Found a book called Hemingway High On The Wild by Lloyd Arnold. In it is another photo of Gary Cooper with the same rifle again positively identified by features and the patterns in the wood grain again! The photo was taken in early 1948 by the author Lloyd Arnold when Gary Cooper was visiting Earnest Hemingway in Idaho. I did a quick google search and found another similar photo that was taken at the same time. This photo is owned by the library at Southern Utah University. I called a very nice lady by the name of Paula. She was nice enough to send me the full size file of the photo today. This is very interesting for me since it proves Gary used the rifle for hunting and it wasn't a safe queen. i also included some text from the book Hemingway High On The Wild describing how the author was asked by Gary Cooper to take the photos of him with the bobcat. [IMG][/IMG]

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[tmark]

I thought Gary Cooper made his hunting exploits using a sporterized Eddystone M1917 unless he traded it in for a sporterized 1903 at the hunting grounds! This topic has been covered so many times!

[Bhauer]

I thought Gary Cooper made his hunting exploits using a sporterized Eddystone M1917 unless he traded it in for a sporterized 1903 at the hunting grounds! This topic has been covered so many times!

Actually, I don't believe the one photo above has ever been posted. Thought some people might be interested in seeing Gary Cooper with a bobcat he took in Idaho.

[Fred]

I think that the reference made above by tmark was meant to be a tongue in cheek reference to the ongoing argument of whether Sgt. York (played by Gary Cooper) had used a 1903 Springfield or a 1917 Enfield in his battlefield exploit.
I thank you for this Very Interesting thread Bhauer!

[Mike D]

Yes, great thread! Gary Cooper is my favorite actor from the silver screen days. A rifle to be proud of! I would have to shoot it, if only once!

Mike

[Fred]

Most definitely!

[Bhauer]

Yes, great thread! Gary Cooper is my favorite actor from the silver screen days. A rifle to be proud of! I would have to shoot it, if only once!

Mike

Thanks Guys. I have shot the rifle and plan to hunt deer and elk with it next year. Originally I took the scope off and had planned to hunt with just the Lyman sight. The scope and QD Griffin & Howe scope mount are all steel and add an extra pound to an already heavy rifle. It shot really well at 80 yards with open sights. But, I tried it with the scope back on and it was really good. So, that's how I plan to leave it and hunt with it next fall. Thanks for all the comments. I'm not on many forums but I am enjoying this one.

[PhillipM]

Thanks Guys. I have shot the rifle and plan to hunt deer and elk with it next year. Originally I took the scope off and had planned to hunt with just the Lyman sight. The scope and QD Griffin & Howe scope mount are all steel and add an extra pound to an already heavy rifle. It shot really well at 80 yards with open sights. But, I tried it with the scope back on and it was really good. So, that's how I plan to leave it and hunt with it next fall. Thanks for all the comments. I'm not on many forums but I am enjoying this one.

As you can tell from over 1,200 views, many like me have really enjoyed you posting the pictures and the research on this unique rifle. Thank you!

[RickM]

I'm jealous. ..., swap you an unmolested 1901 krag and an m1a for it :-)

[Fred]

I'll swap you a minty unmolested WW I era 1903 and a fistful of dollars!