Griffin & Howe Classic Sporter Rifle
History of the Classic Sporter
The Griffin and Howe classic sporter is the bolt action that started it all. For 100 years we have been utilizing military and commercial rifle actions to build some of the finest bespoke rifles in the world. Our company has a rich history in the evolution, development and refinement of the modern hunting rifle. As such there have been, and continue to be, many ways to configure the classic sporter. Our clients often call upon our institutional knowledge to create a build that is their unique reflection of a bespoke bolt action rifle. Notable clients from the 20th century include Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Big Crosby and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The Actions
In the early days, Griffin & Howe utilized the 1903 Springfield action as a basis for each classic sporter rifle. Shortly thereafter, the Mauser 98 as well as the commercially available Winchester Pre-64 model 70 were utilized for our sporter builds. These three actions are the most commonly requested and make up the vast majority of the rifles we have built throughout our rich history.
We have also used a number of other actions through the years at special request, including the 1917 Enfield, Winchester 1886 single shot, and commercially available Mauser type actions both in standard and magnum length.
We keep an inventory of actions on hand to supply our clients' needs. We are also happy to utilize a personally owned action upon it passing a safety inspection.
Griffin & Howe Detachable Scope Mount Systems
Griffin & Howe Side Mount
Early scopes were notoriously unreliable. They fogged up, lost zero, or failed entirely. The side mount addressed these issues by being easily removable while ensuring that when the scope was reinstalled there would be no loss of zero. For example, if a scope fails when on a hunt it can be removed within seconds, and the hunter can rely on his iron sights to continue with his hunt. Although optics have greatly improved in reliability, the side mount continues to be an excellent answer to the question 'what happens if my scope breaks on my hunt?'
Griffin and Howe sporting side mounts have since become the standard for allowing the use of both an open sighting system as well as a telescopic optic on the same rifle. Our quick detachable top half can be removed from the base, allowing an open or peep sight, such as a Lyman 48, to be used when the scope is removed. This versatility provides a backup sighting option in the case of a damaged scope, low light condition, or in thick cover when an open sight may be preferred.
Our side mounts are particularly useful as a scope will hold zero when reinstalled on the gun. It is for this reason that multiple top halves can be fitted to the same base, allowing different scopes to be sighted in for different bullet weights in the same caliber.
Or as is sometimes the case on take down guns or firearms with multiple barrel options, multiple scopes and top halves can be fitted to the firearm and used based on which barrel or barrel set is installed. A Griffin and Howe sporting side mount allows for a great deal of variability when it comes to scope mounting solutions.
Each side mount is fitted to your rifle’s receiver. Typically, modifications must be made to the stock to allow clearance of the side mount base, which is both pinned and screwed to the receiver for a solid fitting. Bases are specific to your model rifle and are available for many common sporting rifles, as well as many older models.
The Griffin & Howe Top Mount
Available on a custom installed basis only
The Griffin & Howe top mount was the evolution of the side mount concept. Like the side mount, the top mount offers the hunter the option of instantly removing a scope and hunting with iron sights or quickly installing a back up scope equipped with our proprietary top mount rings. The additional benefit of the top mount system is it provides a cleaner look to the rifle and positions the scope directly over the action.
Griffin & Howe is proud to offer our Sporting Top Mount for sporting rifles and military conversions. Our top mounts are affixed to your rifle by hand, using traditional craftsmanship techniques and blended to create a beautiful and functional scope mounting system. Sporting Top Mounts consist of a two piece base system permanently affixed to your firearm, and fitted with lever activated top halves. The top halves consist of the ring, either 1” or 30mm, and the ring base. Multiple ring sets with bases can be fitted to each Top Mount allowing multiple scopes to be sighted in for different bullet weights for the same rifle. Top Mounts allow scopes to be removed from the gun, and reinstalled while maintaining the scope zero.
Iron Sighting Systems
Griffin & Howe Barrel Band Sling Swivel
Stocks
Engraving
No fine rifle is ever truly finished until the engraving has been applied. From basic screw engraving and border work to elaborate scroll work and game scenes, our talented in-house engraver will work collaboratively with the client to bring their vision to life.
Purchasing a Griffin & Howe Classic Sporter
We will work with you throughout the decision making process to ensure you receive your dream rifle. Production times may vary and we will stay in contact with you throughout the process.
To learn more about our sporting rifles and services, get a price, or schedule a site visit to our gunsmithing facility, please call us on 973-398-2670 or email gunsmithing@griffinhowe.com.
