Avatar
Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon
38 WCF / 38-40 WCF
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Avatar
New Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 1
Member Since:
November 15, 2021
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
November 15, 2021 - 2:34 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I have found a shell casing head stamped “W R A Co” “38 W C F”. Would anyone happen to know the date in which Winchester changed the head stamp 38 to 38-40?

Avatar
Wisconsin
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4500
Member Since:
May 2, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
November 15, 2021 - 4:44 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

James,

The head stamp WRACo 38 WCF is for the Winchesters and WRACo 38-40 is for the Marlin 1888 lever action. Also there was a WRACo 38-40 WHV (Winchester High Velocity) that was for the 1892. This is from Daniel Shuey book, Headstamped Cartridges and their Variations.

Bob

WACA Life Member---
NRA Life Member----
Cody Firearms member since 1991
Researching the Winchester 1873's

73_86cutaway.jpg

Email: [email protected]

Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 398
Member Since:
July 31, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
November 16, 2021 - 8:33 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I find it curious and interesting that the Marlin nomenclature (.38-40) was the name that became common place in the 20th century in reference to this cartridge.   As previously mentioned, Winchester called it the .38 WCF in catalogs and advertisement.  Similar situation with the .44 WCF.  

Any thoughts or speculations?

I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder

Avatar
NY
Member
Restricted
Forum Posts: 7119
Member Since:
November 1, 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
November 16, 2021 - 9:21 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

Bill Hockett said
I find it curious and interesting that the Marlin nomenclature (.38-40) was the name that became common place in the 20th century in reference to this cartridge.   As previously mentioned, Winchester called it the .38 WCF in catalogs and advertisement.  Similar situation with the .44 WCF.  

Any thoughts or speculations?  

Not hard to understand why another gunmaker chambering the same cartridges would be reluctant to attract attention to a competitor’s name; and after all, caliber & powder charge was the traditional way to identify any cartridge.

Winchester’s zeal to put their name even on cartridges they played no part in developing backfired when they marked guns chambered in .25-20 SS, developed by Maynard, as .25 WCF.   So when they later developed the .25-20 repeater cartridge, it became the “second”.25 WCF!

Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4715
Member Since:
November 19, 2006
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
November 16, 2021 - 11:37 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

There’s the cartridge head stamp aspect, but there is the also how Marlin specifically marked their firearms as to the chambering.  The earliest lever rifles were marked “.38 – W.” and then this changed to, “38-40”.

Forum Timezone: UTC 0
Most Users Ever Online: 4623
Currently Online: deerhunter
Guest(s) 119
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
clarence: 7119
TXGunNut: 5639
Chuck: 5065
steve004: 4715
1873man: 4500
Big Larry: 2456
twobit: 2359
mrcvs: 1979
TR: 1799
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 18
Topics: 13586
Posts: 119974

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1914
Members: 9330
Moderators: 4
Admins: 3
Navigation