Picked up this pawn shop 03 custom today, Really well done, built on a high number 1918 receiver, Timney trigger and safety, McGowen barrel in 35 Whelen Improved.
Wood is very well finished with excellent checkering, bluing also very well done. Whoever did the work knew what they were doing.
Shop said it had been built in the 80's and to me it kind of has an eighties look to it.
Looking forward to working up a range of loads for it, probably start with lighter Whitetail loads and work up loads for heavier game later.

Very nice looking rig.

YEP! I like it, a lot.

Congrats on a great find.

Good golly that is an incredibly gorgeous classic.

LOVE IT!!!

Very nice!

Thanks everyone, pretty lucky find. I can't get over the level of craftsmanship,I'm pretty sure that is just a Fajen or Richards 03 replacement stock but I've never seen one finished to this level, besides the checkering the fore end and grip caps are beautifully done.
Pretty heavy substantial feeling rifle,should soak up the recoil.

Classic beauty.

Guessing that it is looking at 10# on a low humidify day.

How it ended up in a pawn shop might be an interesting story.

Might be worth pulling the stock off to see if it is signed inside. Many stockers sign their work with a stamp inside the barrel channel where it isn't visible to casual viewer.

www.doublegunshop.com/BBS has a forum dedicated to custom single barrel rifles, and many guys there really dig--and know--custom makers, especially those that used Springfields. If you can find a stocker's stamp and can't interpret it, I bet some of those guys could.

Not my style of stocking, but very impressive workmanship! Stocker definitely was an expert.

Nice.

I would imagine that was someone's prized project.

From the approximate build date, the builder may have since passed to his reward and the estate sold his stuff. That's a WAG but could well fit the vintage and quality of the piece.

Great snag, good luck with it. Let us know how she shoots.

DF

Im willing to bet it shoots just as good as it looks. Fine craftsmanship there. Bingo find! WinPoor

Very nice rifle sir, thank you for the pictures.

Geeze all the pawn shops around me only have junk. That is a fine rifle and find right there.

Nice looking rifle.

Nice piece there . Ill bet it will be a shooter too
The checkering would cost you probably more than you had to pay for the rifle.

Yeah, definitely nothing our local pawn shops would have...

DF

I think you are about dead on, I will have to get it on a scale but that's what it feels like.

Thanks for everyone's input, I did post on Doubleguns for additional help in identifying as suggested, will update if I find out anything.
Looking forward to shooting , have high hopes for accuracy, the bore is amazing, don't think I've ever seen such a smooth bright polished bore in my life.
Unfortunately I had shoulder surgery last Friday on me left arm and it might be 3 months or more before I can shoot it, the wait is killing me.

Love what it's chambered in! Stock really isn't to my tastes but I'd have a hard time leaving that we one in a pawn shop as well. Nice snag for sure.

That is one sweet looking Springfield. I think a Springfield makes one of the nicest looking customs rifles of all the various bolt actions. Good find.

I'm like taylorce1, Not my taste in stocks, but all of the work looks superb.

If you pull the action, the barrel is probably stamped underneath the chamber with the month/year from McGowen.

Looks like that is what I'm going to have to do, Mesa also suggested that. I'm a little leery of pulling it apart, it is inletted so well I'm afraid of doing damage.

If you are careful, and take your time, shouldn't be a problem. I'd also do it for the reason of checking for rust or surprises below the woodline.

I lucked into a nice Austian Voere in .30-06, but the previous owner hadn't dried it out after a good soaking, the magazine box and the under side of the action are pitted. Nothing structural, but it looks pretty ugly.

Wonderful find. That's a rifle with an honorable bloodline and fate. Good for you.

Prolly a dumb question, but what a "WAG"?

Wild ass guess

And a SWAG is a scientific wild ass guess

So -- global warming is a SWAG?