Built with a blued steel star gauge barrel featuring a hooded ramped beaded blade front sight, barrel band with front sling swivel, and no markings aside from "N. K. HOUCHINS. PHILADELPHIA. No. 1". Neal K. Houchins was a machinist in Philadelphia, PA, that did work for Elmer Keith on his famous Colt Single Action Army revolvers as well as working for Sedgley, with this rifle likely being his personal rifle. The barrel is fitted to an unmarked blued Model 1903 action which features a knurled bolt knob on the Springfield bolt, Lyman no. 48 rear peep sight, and a matted front receiver ring.The rifle is fitted in a nicely figured and multi-point checkered pistol grip stock with horn forend tip, engraved blued steel grip cap, raised pancake cheekpiece, rear sling swivel, and checkered and engraved blued steel trapdoor buttplate. Notes from the Blank Collection list this gun as "From the estate of a cousin who was a riflery instructor during WWII". Provenance: Terry Stone; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Exceptionally fine as professionally custom built, retaining 98% blue finish with minor handling evidence, some slight plum patina, and some dried grease on the floorplate. The stock has a trio of stress lines at the butt; otherwise, very fine with a few marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.