Gary Cooper's "second" sporterized M1903 - pictures

[Bhauer]

Tempting!!!
I really want to take it hunting next fall. Hoping to get a deer or elk with it next year.

[RickM]

Dang it fred...... ill up it with a krag that is full length unmolested metal with just the stock having been sported lol....

[Bhauer]

Maybe we should just share it. Lol! I'm thinking some day I might give it on loan to the Cody Museum so everyone can see it. I might establish a condition that my grandchildren and great grandchildren would be allowed to check it out for a month at a time to take it hunting. Still pondering.

[Rick the Librarian]

While I sympathize in your desire to take it out and put it to the use it was intended, I admit I'd hesitate to take such a rifle with a "history" out into the "boonies".

[Bhauer]

While I sympathize in your desire to take it out and put it to the use it was intended, I admit I'd hesitate to take such a rifle with a "history" out into the "boonies".

I hear you. I'm not sure yet what to do with this rifle. I've always been pretty careful with my firearms and have hunted with some fairly valuable old mauser sporters, Winchesters, etc. I have lived on a private ranch my whole life with elk deer, turkies, etc., and so I have a comfort level on my own turf. Still debating. I would make a cool story if I could tell my grandkids I hunted with Gary Cooper's rifle. Of course they probably will have no idea who Cooper was by the time I have Grandkids.

[Bhauer]

Accidentally deleted the photo I had in photobucket, below of Gary Cooper with the Griffin & Howe and the bobcat he took. This is the pic that is published in the book Hemingway High On The Wild by Lloyd Arnold and the photo was taken by the Author in January 1948 while Cooper was visiting Ernest Hemingway in Sun Valley, Idaho.

[Bhauer]

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[Bhauer]

Paul Chapman at Griffin & Howe emailed me today along with an attached copy of their Journal entry for my rifle. It is simple and hand written but gives the year, 1936, the rifle's four diget serial number, the Caliber, and the name G Cooper.
Glad to finally have that piece of the puzzle!

[Fred]

Cool!

[Shooter5]

This post sure is neat! Lots of cool history. Thanks.

[Andouille]

I hear you. I'm not sure yet what to do with this rifle. I've always been pretty careful with my firearms and have hunted with some fairly valuable old mauser sporters, Winchesters, etc. I have lived on a private ranch my whole life with elk deer, turkies, etc., and so I have a comfort level on my own turf. Still debating. I would make a cool story if I could tell my grandkids I hunted with Gary Cooper's rifle. Of course they probably will have no idea who Cooper was by the time I have Grandkids.

Ask yourself, what would Gary Cooper do with that rifle come hunting season.

He bought it to use it, and you have proof thereof. Your call, but probably in our heart of hearts, we all know what Coop would tell you do do.

[Bhauer]

I'm planning on hunting elk this year with it. And maybe deer. We have have an elk season for the first time in history on the ranch I live on. I'm pretty excited abou that. If i don't have any success with elk I'll probably take it deer hunting in November.

[Rick the Librarian]

While I understand the "history" of it, I still would leave such a historic rifle inside.

[Fred]

Sell it for a nice profit to a collector and use the money to buy yourself a fine shooter.

[Bhauer]

At some point I may loan it to the Cody Museum. I've talked with them and they have a high interest in displaying it in the section of the museum dedicated to firearms owned by famous individuals. I have quite a portfolio of high quality enlarged photo reprints of Cooper with the rifle to go with it. I found a company that does a beautiful job on enlargements.
I would hate to sell it at this point. It's the best and only story I have of finding something like that and I'm kind of proud of the detective work and all the photos and information I've found over the past few months. Hoping one of my grandchildren will appreciate it some day.