Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters When I saw this customized O3A3 I had to have it.

TY for sharing sir. Several years ago I went into a shop and they had a custom 03A3 that had been rebarreled to 257 Roberts. Pretty good looking rifle, priced fairly, and definately wasnt done by an amateur. I went back and looked at it at least 3 times. Of course the 4th time I went it was gone. I have a habit of doing that

It's obvious the ancient school of Moroccan stock design was alive (and well?) in the USA of the 1950s and 60s.
--Bob
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I picked up a 1975 Gun Digest the other day at a used book store.

In the rear catalog section, a Winslow bolt action rifle is featured. The list of features includes 24" Douglas barrels, 26" ones for magnums. They were offered in grades called Regal, Regimental, Crown, and Emperor. The price ranges from $390.00 to $3,525.00 well the model 70 Winchester's list for $200.00 to $375.00..

The Stock is a muted style of the custom OP rifle, with diamond inlay and exaggerated grip cap at the palm swell, fancy fore end cap with flat terminus, and European style comb/ cheek piece.. The Winchester stocks are of a similar style minus the inlay. Same for Weatherby, Ranger Arms, Pederson 3000., and Harrington & Richardson as well as Colt Sauer. A company called Bortmess lists a rifle called the Big Horn that's nearly as exaggerated as the OPs custom Springfield.

I'd post pics of the pages, but I'm all thumbs here.

Apparently the styling of the rifle in contention is merely contemporary of time in memorial. Very interesting. I love finding these old books. They're hard to come by.

Those were the good old days. I owned a small Gun shop back then. I sold Model 70s for $159 ... 788 Rremingtons for $89 ... and Winchester model 94s for $79 ... yep, the good old days

It's so funny that what was once considered "modern" is now just plain hideous.

I always like seeing the old Springfield sporters. Bucksticks Im glad you found this one and will take good care of it. I’m guessing that Lyman is spot on. Enjoy working up a load for it.

Not hideous, but period. It's a cool rifle..

Yes, very cool. I can't wait to get it in hand.

The 1975 Gun Digest I got has an article about the 1903 Springfield by Al Miller. I've read about the rifle before, but this piece had very good detail for a short article. Most of these rifles aren't done justice by the term "surplus." The rifle was already impressive before the talented craftsman went to work on it.

It looks like I will have this custom 03a3 in hand by Wednesday.

Well, I finally got the rifle today and I couldn't be happier. Its a Winslow! Not only did I find another wonderful inlay on the bottom of the forend, I also found Nils Hultgren's initials (NH) inside the stock. I also found it listed in the Winslow records that I received from Sue Albritton. Its listed as a Bushmaster "Custom"; Winslow serial number 101 - order number 612.

Sue Albritton and her husband, Sylvester Michael (Al) Albritton, purchased the Winslow Arms Co. in 1978. Al and Sue had worked for the Winslow Arms Company since its inception in 1962 in Osprey, Florida. Al and Sue were instrumental in keeping the Company prosperous after it relocated to Camden, South Carolina in 1976. When Al passed away in 2013, Sue took over managing the company. I met Sue in 2019 and learned that she kept a record of all the Winslow rifle production in a small hand-written notebook. Later that year she mailed me her notebook and allowed me to make copies of all the pages.

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Well OUTSTANDING!

Enjoy your "new" rifle.

Guy

Wow!
Looks brand new.

Congratulations and enjoy your rifle Buckstix.

A campfire member used to be a gunsmith for Winslow. Can’t remember his name but he mentioned this in a tread about Winslow Arms a few years ago. I couldn’t find the posting but perhaps you might find it. It’d be really interesting if he could tell you more about the rifle.

I grew up near Camden and in the early 80’s would often stop by just to see what they were working on. Visits were always interesting. As mentioned by others I appreciate the craftsmanship required to make the stocks especially the inlays.

Hello,

I'll be going to the range today to see how it shoots. I'll post the results.

So how did it go buckstix?..mb

still compiling the results

You done yet?

Very flashy, don’t see them like that every day.

Those rifles are for sure period art, not so much today’s standard.

But the amazing work and craftsmanship that went into creating those is remarkable.

Thanks for posting.

DF