My "John Gillie" M1903

[Rick the Librarian]

My god, it looks as if a Tater had been stuck on the end of that barrel!

My wife guessed (and I agreed) that the rifle had been up, muzzle-end first, on a concrete floor that had gotten damp. The person I bought the rifle from, said he had gotten it and a lot of other stuff from a storage unit, that had either gone unpaid or unclaimed. I'm guesing possibly the grandson of John Gillie. It still doesn't look great, but MUCH better than in the picture above.

[wsfbernie]

Yes, both rifles are beautiful! The oil did wonders to the Gille weapon. The bluing on those
old rifles is as fine as the trapdoors. Parkerization is more military, but that old bluing is
gorgeous. Thanks for an opportunity to view TWO original, early, m1903 rifles. Rare sight!

[Randy A]

He would have shot that rifle at the Rocker Range, which is still a functional range. It's neat to see, iron frames with square bolts, cast iron pulleys and cable counterweights. Check out the photos of the Schuetzen house there, (they did put a new roof on it). If he ever shot that rifle, he would have shot it here, it is the only range around Butte and just over the hill from the mine. According to the history, it was a "very" busy place.

http://s72.beta.photobucket.com/user...47323874153287

[Rick the Librarian]

Excellent pictures! Thanks!