I’ve never seen nor heard of any of these being used by the U.S. Navy. Has anyone ever seen these markings before? Are they legit? There seem to be so many fakes out there…
The stamping on the side of the receiver looks like it was put on later in the guns life not when the gun was new.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Don,
Oddly enough, the number of fake Spruce Guns is relatively small in comparison to those that are real.
Authentic = 191
Fake = 12
There are (5) other serial numbers that we can not verify (yet) that might also be authentic or could be fakes.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
Here is a US anchor stamp
Bob
After looking closer at the stamps they are similar but not a exact match. The ring on the anchor on the gun is above the short cross bar and the stamp on the web site is right on the cross bar.
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
So one guy says they don’t exist, another one says 191 were issued, the seller says 24 were isssued, everything rare is called a fake these days. Can anyone provide real proof the one for sale is fake?
I posted up pics of a North Korean gun once and everyone called it fake, then sent me pms wanting to buy it.
Bert H. said
Don,
Oddly enough, the number of fake Spruce Guns is relatively small in comparison to those that are real.
Authentic = 191
Fake = 12
There are (5) other serial numbers that we can not verify (yet) that might also be authentic or could be fakes.
Bert
Bert H. saidDon,
The U.S. Navy to the best of my knowledge, never purchased Winchester Model 1894 Carbines.
Bert
well which is it? or are you saying the Spruce Guns do exist but weren’t issued to the US NAVY?
It looks like it originally sold for $2900 from New Market Arms. Here is a link to New Market Arms, you can see all the photos including the ones that are not on GI by clicking on PHOTOS.
Bob
I edited my previous post about the stamp. After looking closer at the stamps they are similar but not a exact match but I still believe the stamps on the left side of the receiver were put on later.
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
wallyb said
Hi
I agree with Bob on the stamping. If this is real, where are other examples? In 60+ years this is the only one? Did the US Navy only order one? There are guys out there that are good at faking military stock markings.
Walter
I read the ad and the seller said he believes that is it’s origin is one of the Spruce guns, it’s not claimed as a fact. There are other uses of the 1894 by the US Navy listed. I think river boat and submarine shore patrol. I’m pretty sure I have seen the actual war footage of sailors coming off a sub with 1894s because it was used in a movie back in the 50’s.
I’m thinking about making him an offer. Unless someone can disprove it’s authenticity.
tomkent said
Bert H. said
Don,
Oddly enough, the number of fake Spruce Guns is relatively small in comparison to those that are real.
Authentic = 191
Fake = 12
There are (5) other serial numbers that we can not verify (yet) that might also be authentic or could be fakes.
Bert
Bert H. saidDon,
The U.S. Navy to the best of my knowledge, never purchased Winchester Model 1894 Carbines.
Bert
well which is it? or are you saying the Spruce Guns do exist but weren’t issued to the US NAVY?
You quite obviously do not know what a “Spruce Gun” is… they were all issued to the U.S. Army in late 1917… well after the subject FAKE was manufactured.
My reply was to the comment about the alleged number of “fake” U.S. marked Model 1894s.
Bert
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
tomkent said
Bert H. said
Don,
Oddly enough, the number of fake Spruce Guns is relatively small in comparison to those that are real.
Authentic = 191
Fake = 12
There are (5) other serial numbers that we can not verify (yet) that might also be authentic or could be fakes.
Bert
Bert H. saidDon,
The U.S. Navy to the best of my knowledge, never purchased Winchester Model 1894 Carbines.
Bert
well which is it? or are you saying the Spruce Guns do exist but weren’t issued to the US NAVY?
Exactly… Spruce Guns were issued to the U.S. Army, not the U.S. Navy.
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
wallyb said
Hi
I agree with Bob on the stamping. If this is real, where are other examples? In 60+ years this is the only one? Did the US Navy only order one? There are guys out there that are good at faking military stock markings.
Walter
The U.S. Navy did not ever (to the best of my knowledge) ever order any Winchester Model 1894 Carbines.
Bert (U.S. Navy retired, 1979 – 2000)
WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
tomkint said
I’m thinking about making him an offer. Unless someone can disprove it’s authenticity.
With any gun that has history, you want iron clad documentation that proves it authenticity without a doubt. With this gun you have absolutely nothing in writing to say this gun is what the seller is claiming. You might be 100% satisfied it legit but you have to think of when you go to sell it someday. Now you might buy it on spec with the hopes of authenticating it but your going to have to get the price down a lot.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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