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Neat Classic 1903 Stock 'Patterns'
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 4:35 pm
by butlersrangers
The other day on eBay, I noticed this 'Stock Pattern Sheet' for custom 1903 'Sporting Rifles', originally published in November, 1941.
Some neat details on construction and famous gunsmith names like Alvin Linden (1906-1946) mentioned & credited.
Apparently, this printing was sold through a gun shop in Michigan "Iron Country" after 1963, when Zip Codes were implemented.
Lots of good gunsmith trivia!
Re: Neat Classic 1903 Stock 'Patterns'
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 12:53 am
by Hamish
Excellent post! Thank you sir.
Re: Neat Classic 1903 Stock 'Patterns'
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:20 am
by Cat Man
The pattern sheet was drawn by the famous Wisconsin stock maker Alvin Linden. Linden practiced his craft in a simple shack on the family farm near me in central Wisconsin. He wrote with a very colorful style, articles for the American Rifleman magazine. In 1941 Mr. Linden produced three soft bound booklets on stock making, in letting and finishing. They were published by Samworth Books. The pattern sheets were in a pocket in each volume. Linden died before The forth and final volume on checkering was completed.
The holy grail of Krag Sporters would be an Alvin Linden stocked example. He never signed his work so impossible to verify. The checkering (checking as he called it) is legendary.
The pattern sheet you show was pirated, copied and sold by a Michigan Gun Shop.
Re: Neat Classic 1903 Stock 'Patterns'
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 4:44 am
by butlersrangers
It would be nice to see Alvin Linden's Krag stock patterns!