Winchester Collector - Forum: General Discussions & Questions

Henry Mero on 911

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:17:17 +0000

I was 15 and just starting a new job when John Kennedy was assassinated, I cryed that day, I was 53 on 911 and just opening a new r.v. business, I cryed that day, and I still get emotional thinking about these times.

Bo Rich on 911

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:17:16 +0000

I was a Guard at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. After the second plane hit the World Trade Tower, things changed very quickly. I got a rifle out of the Arms Room, and was stationed in a building watching the front gate of the Plant. I remember a line of cars leaving the plant. Only necessary people stayed behind. At the time I did not know that flight 93 was very close to the Plant. Thankfully we were not a target! Maybe, the passengers prevented that. I guess we will never know. I heard the call that the flight attendant made to Her Husband. I don’t believe I heard a braver voice then Hers. I was just amazed by Her tone in the fact of what She was enduring.

Bo Rich on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:01:23 +0000

It is funny the way that time goes bye. 38 years ago I bought Mike Nelson’s African that is pictured on page 238 in the Rule book. Since then I have acquired other firearms featured in other publications. This would include David Bichrest Model 54 book, and I even own a “Off brand” Model 99 that is pictured in Royal’s Model 99 book.

Steven Gabrielli on Who knows anything about McClellan saddles?

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:39:32 +0000

Feedback I received from MilitaryHorse on a leather/ saddle sub forum. I had to PM him directly.

The seat is very much a surplus WW1 seat. The non-regulation changes appear to be interesting customizations. From the polished look of the altered quarterstraps and stirrups, I’d bet that this was actually done by Smith-Worthington, as that stamp was usually reserved for cincha safes.

The well-finished quarterstraps look like converted Whitman rigging, which shouts Smith-Worthington, who had bought out Muelbach and were making the Whitman styles then. Crupper looks like it was made postwar as well with regulation hardware. Perhaps a police saddle rig.

deerhunter on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:44:14 +0000

Here's my Model 94/95 hybrid carbine pictured in the 1895 book.

Don

Bert H. on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:57:15 +0000

DEEREHART said

Louis Luttrell said
Hi Bill-
I am strictly a Model 70 collector. I do not own any of the few M70s pictured in Madis' book. There was one, a M70 Super Grade, pictured in Madis that came up for sale a while ago but I didn't chase after it. IIRC it had a couple "issues" that worried me.
I do, however, have several M70s pictured in the Rule and/or Whitaker Model 70 books in my collection ("several" may be an understatement depending on your perspective).
Does being pictured in a book "add value"? Or "proof" of legitimacy?? Not IMHO... What it does is to prove that the rifle existed prior to 1981 and 1978, respectively. So at least I know they weren't faked yesterday...
Here's one, pictured in Whitaker's M70 book. The only one like it that I know of belongs to an esteemed WACA member. They are the same... But it's not something that would interest a lever gun collector...
Best,
Lou

Lou,
I do collect lever guns, and I do find it very interesting.
But then again I do like model 70s also
Doug

You are just a simple Gun W***e

TXGunNut on 911

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:49:49 +0000

When I watched the second plane hit I was in a local gun shop. I thought UBL was probably responsible for it, I had recently studied his wanted poster at the local post office. Nobody in the gun shop knew who he was. I wound up over at the PD, never noticed there were that many TV's in offices. A young officer asked me what I thought, I told him we were at war. PD kept us on a short leash for a long time. Months later I showed up for a Caprock Canyon hog hunt and the guide looked at my duty rig and black rifle stashed behind the seat of my truck and just shook his head. I remember it like was yesterday, I'll forget my name before I forget that day.

Mike

Jeremy P on Winchester M-1866 and M-1873

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:48:05 +0000

Anthony said

1873man said
If I was going to make a tool, I would start with a pipe the right diameter and thickness and then mill or grind away whats not needed.
Bob

That's another good suggestion, applying equal pressure on both notches. That reminds me of an older tool made similar for working on an appliance like a washing machine. In the automotive industry the Spindle Nut wrench set is just that. And the opposite end is usually made for a 1/2 inch extension to fit into a ratchet.

Tony

...and also the homemade tool to breakdown a model 1911 widowmaker shotgun!

Jeremy P on 911

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:44:37 +0000

Shout-out to all first responders and their families that weathered the storm of not only showing up that day, but to all those who worked in hazardous conditions well after, often paying the same price as those who came before. We will never forget.

If you've never been to the new memorial site in NYC, it is something to behold.

mrcvs on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:46:42 +0000

steve004 said
I've met many people over the years who have assumed that a rifle that was pictured in George's books was an endorsement that the rifle was completely correct. That is not true for all of them. Many collectors allowed George to photograph rifles (and shotguns) from their collections. That does not mean he inspected each one the way he would when someone would send him a piece for his evaluation.

RIGHT! Here’s one I drooled over since 1985 when I first became aware of it and vowed to own it someday if the opportunity should arise, and I determined it looked much better in black & white in the book than in modern color photographs where problems were identified.

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1886-from-1895-in-45-90/

rogertherelic on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:36:30 +0000

I have an 1892 Carbine with a ramp front sight pictured in the 1985 edition. It may be in other editions as well. I noticed the serial was missing the last digit in the description. I showed this to Mr. Madis and he added a note in my Book.

steve004 on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:19:35 +0000

I've met many people over the years who have assumed that a rifle that was pictured in George's books was an endorsement that the rifle was completely correct. That is not true for all of them. Many collectors allowed George to photograph rifles (and shotguns) from their collections. That does not mean he inspected each one the way he would when someone would send him a piece for his evaluation.

DEEREHART on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:12:59 +0000

Louis Luttrell said
Hi Bill-
I am strictly a Model 70 collector. I do not own any of the few M70s pictured in Madis' book. There was one, a M70 Super Grade, pictured in Madis that came up for sale a while ago but I didn't chase after it. IIRC it had a couple "issues" that worried me.
I do, however, have several M70s pictured in the Rule and/or Whitaker Model 70 books in my collection ("several" may be an understatement depending on your perspective).
Does being pictured in a book "add value"? Or "proof" of legitimacy?? Not IMHO... What it does is to prove that the rifle existed prior to 1981 and 1978, respectively. So at least I know they weren't faked yesterday...
Here's one, pictured in Whitaker's M70 book. The only one like it that I know of belongs to an esteemed WACA member. They are the same... But it's not something that would interest a lever gun collector...

Best,
Lou

Lou,

I do collect lever guns, and I do find it very interesting.

But then again I do like model 70s also

Doug

MidwestCrisis on Who knows anything about McClellan saddles?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:50:17 +0000

I’ve heard of their use with McClellans, but I’ve never seen a modern mule saddle that didn’t have one. I guess it would depend on the shape of your horse. There’s a civil war cavalry living historian on YouTube that has a couple videos on the saddle. Period quarter master return lists and reports from officers on their likes and dislikes of the different models and attachments. His channel is the 11th OVC. 11th Ohio volunteer cavalry I just happened to listen to his videos this week

Louis Luttrell on Do you have rifles or shotguns featured in The Winchester Book?

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:19:34 +0000

Hi Bill-

I am strictly a Model 70 collector. I do not own any of the few M70s pictured in Madis' book. There was one, a M70 Super Grade, pictured in Madis that came up for sale a while ago but I didn't chase after it. IIRC it had a couple "issues" that worried me.

I do, however, have several M70s pictured in the Rule and/or Whitaker Model 70 books in my collection ("several" may be an understatement depending on your perspective).

Does being pictured in a book "add value"? Or "proof" of legitimacy?? Not IMHO... What it does is to prove that the rifle existed prior to 1981 and 1978, respectively. So at least I know they weren't faked yesterday...

Here's one, pictured in Whitaker's M70 book. The only one like it that I know of belongs to an esteemed WACA member. They are the same... But it's not something that would interest a lever gun collector...

Best,

Lou