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OP
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I don't know how many of you folks have noticed the number of Townshend Whelen rifles to be put up for Auction in the April Amoskeag Auction. It looks like several of his rifles will come up. Pretty impressive stuff. I always liked his writing, his approach and his taste in rifles. http://www.amoskeagauction.com/109/auction109T.phpSincerely, Thomas
Last edited by kaboku68; 01/07/16.
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Thomas, Thanks, I think, those auctions make it all too easy to spend more money than you would like.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
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Thanks for sharing those. I too am a great fan of the late Col. FYI both the Win, 54 and the FN prototype are .270s. I would love to have those plus the 52 sporter but alas...
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I'd love to have the Colonel's 35 Whelen but guarantee my pockets are nowhere near deep enough to bid on it. Thanks for sharing.
Chronographs, bore scopes and pattern boards have broke a lot of hearts.
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Campfire Regular
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Those are some fabulous pieces of history!
National Rifle Association - Patron Member
National Muzzleloading Rifle Association - Life Member and 1 of 1000
Illinois State Rifle Association - Life Member
Carlinville Rifle & Pistol Club
~ Molɔ̀ːn Labé ~
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New Member
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If only my wallet was fatter.
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Is it my imagination or did all his rifles have a hell of a lot of drop in the buttstock? Sure looks that way.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire Ranger
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Pretty normal stock dimensions for the times.
Personally I would kill for his .25 Krag HiWall, or his M1922M1 .22 Hornet.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz
"Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Seems sad that their isn't an grandson or relative somewhere that keeps and cherishes these.
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Campfire Kahuna
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I believe I handled a couple of those when Michael Petrov owned them. They were sold off after Michael died a short while back.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I was thinking that they might have come from the estates of either Benenson or Petrov. There was a Petrov-owned rifle on GB recently, the seller was in NH, IIRC the seller's GB handle is "Tango Yankee".
I think that the 25 Krag would be an interesting rifle to own.
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Campfire Outfitter
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I spent MANY hours reading Mister Rifleman in Jr. High, and studying those B&W photos with such intensity that seeing them now on the auction sight in color seems strange..........and like a part of me is being auctioned off.
If I was rich and eccentric, those rifles would all be loved and well cared for in a manner that Col. Whelen would appreciate.
Thanks for the link BTW.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
--Winston Churchill
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I was thinking that they might have come from the estates of either Benenson or Petrov. There was a Petrov-owned rifle on GB recently, the seller was in NH, IIRC the seller's GB handle is "Tango Yankee".
I think that the 25 Krag would be an interesting rifle to own. I do know Mark Benenson owned some of Whelen's firearms and quite a lot of his memorabilia. He was interested in one of the last of Whelen's rifles, if not the last, that was stocked by Alvin Linden but backed out buying it at the end.
Larry *********** "Speed is fine but accuracy is final" - Bill Jordan "We do not exaggerate when we state positively that the remodelled Springfield is the best and most suitable "all 'round" rifle".......Seymour Griffin, GRIFFIN & HOWE, Inc. 
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Looks like they are from Mark Benenson's estate
Larry *********** "Speed is fine but accuracy is final" - Bill Jordan "We do not exaggerate when we state positively that the remodelled Springfield is the best and most suitable "all 'round" rifle".......Seymour Griffin, GRIFFIN & HOWE, Inc.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I'd love to have the Colonel's 35 Whelen but guarantee my pockets are nowhere near deep enough to bid on it. Thanks for sharing. So, is it THE original .35 Whelen? I mean James Howe and all??? What superb rifles. And yes, thanks for posting!!!
Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."
WS
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So, is it THE original .35 Whelen? I mean James Howe and all???
I know Mark Benenson owned the rifle of Townsend's that was originally a 400 Whelen before it was rebarreled by Howe to 35 Whelen. Whether this is that rifle or not I'm not sure. He told me once he still had the original dies that were used in the 400 Whelen before it was rebarreled to 35 and those were the dies Michael Petrov speaks about in his articles on the 400 whelen. I think Mark had visions of having a Townsend Whelen museum of sorts some day but sadly it never came to pass even though he had aquired a lot of Whelen's firearms and other memorabilia.
Larry *********** "Speed is fine but accuracy is final" - Bill Jordan "We do not exaggerate when we state positively that the remodelled Springfield is the best and most suitable "all 'round" rifle".......Seymour Griffin, GRIFFIN & HOWE, Inc.
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Campfire Ranger
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I met Col. Townsend Whelen in 1957 or '58 when he was visiting his daughter in Beltsville, MD (I lived in College Park and knew a man whose father lived next door to the daughter). Interesting man, but my conversational level at age 15 was not what I now wished it was! He was also a partner in Parker-Whelen (a DC firearms and accessories shop) and I bought a Redfield Bear Cub from the store.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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So, is it THE original .35 Whelen? I mean James Howe and all???
I know Mark Benenson owned the rifle of Townsend's that was originally a 400 Whelen before it was rebarreled by Howe to 35 Whelen. Whether this is that rifle or not I'm not sure. He told me once he still had the original dies that were used in the 400 Whelen before it was rebarreled to 35 and those were the dies Michael Petrov speaks about in his articles on the 400 whelen. I think Mark had visions of having a Townsend Whelen museum of sorts some day but sadly it never came to pass even though he had aquired a lot of Whelen's firearms and other memorabilia. Petrov had the rifle he called TW's first 35Whelen. He had more than a couple of his rifles. Looking at the auction I am quite certain some of those rifles were Petrov's.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Petrov had the rifle he called TW's first 35Whelen. He had more than a couple of his rifles. Looking at the auction I am quite certain some of those rifles were Petrov's.
I have the catalog that listed all the rifles Michael had on the November 22 & 23 sale in 2014. There is one 35 Whelen of his on there and it was built by Hoffman Arms, not Griffin & Howe. Michael did have one of Whelen's first, if not his first, custom rifles but it was a 30-06 and was built by Wundhammer. But, when it came to Whelen firearms I don't know anyone who owned more of them than Mark Bennenson did. Mark Bennenson and Michael were good friends and therefore I suppose it may be possible Michael had some of Mark's firearms in Alaska at one time or another but I rather doubt it. When someone such as Terry Buffum, who was a very good friend of both, says the Whelen firearms on the future auction came from Mark Bennenson's estate I will take it to the bank. Terry's post here
Larry *********** "Speed is fine but accuracy is final" - Bill Jordan "We do not exaggerate when we state positively that the remodelled Springfield is the best and most suitable "all 'round" rifle".......Seymour Griffin, GRIFFIN & HOWE, Inc.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Petrov had the rifle he called TW's first 35Whelen. He had more than a couple of his rifles. Looking at the auction I am quite certain some of those rifles were Petrov's.
I have the catalog that listed all the rifles Michael had on the November 22 & 23 sale in 2014. There is one 35 Whelen of his on there and it was built by Hoffman Arms, not Griffin & Howe. Michael did have one of Whelen's first, if not his first, custom rifles but it was a 30-06 and was built by Wundhammer. But, when it came to Whelen firearms I don't know anyone who owned more of them than Mark Bennenson did. Mark Bennenson and Michael were good friends and therefore I suppose it may be possible Michael had some of Mark's firearms in Alaska at one time or another but I rather doubt it. When someone such as Terry Buffum, who was a very good friend of both, says the Whelen firearms on the future auction came from Mark Bennenson's estate I will take it to the bank. Terry's post here But wait! How could my old decrepit memory possibly be wrong?!?! I will stand corrected on that, and thank you!
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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