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Thanks to all for the information. Thought I try to add a picture of the rifle that started all this.
What’s the EARLIEST fluted comb Model 1894 rifle that has surfaced, to date? I saw a Model 1894,rifle today that is early enough to letter. I requested a factory letter to see what it says. There’s a good chance the stock has been replaced, but perhaps not?
mrcvs said
What’s the EARLIEST fluted comb Model 1894 rifle that has surfaced, to date? I saw a Model 1894,rifle today that is early enough to letter. I requested a factory letter to see what it says. There’s a good chance the stock has been replaced, but perhaps not?
You should be suspicious of any Model 1894 found with a fluted comb butt stock that is below serial number 500000. In my survey of them, Winchester began using that style stock on a frequent basis beginning in the 600000 serial range. Currently, I have just (11) of them that are below serial number 600000, and (37) in the 600000 – 699000 range.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
What’s the EARLIEST fluted comb Model 1894 rifle that has surfaced, to date? I saw a Model 1894,rifle today that is early enough to letter. I requested a factory letter to see what it says. There’s a good chance the stock has been replaced, but perhaps not?
You should be suspicious of any Model 1894 found with a fluted comb butt stock that is below serial number 500000. In my survey of them, Winchester began using that style stock on a frequent basis beginning in the 600000 serial range. Currently, I have just (11) of them that are below serial number 600000, and (37) in the 600000 – 699000 range.
Bert
Thank you, I didn’t know if there were some outliers. This one would be an extreme outlier, but they tend to be on special order rifles and this one is atypical with a short barrel, half round/half octagon, circa 1905.
The buttplate also looks suspicious to me.
I will post the contents of the letter, once received from Jesi.
Now this is a shame! Serbian number applied 18 September 1905, received in warehouse 04 October 1905, shipped from warehouse 07 October 1905, order number 10491. .32 WS (Winchester Special) round barrel (presumably 26”). My first CLUE that something wasn’t right about this rifle was a fluted comb stock with shotgun butt on a rifle not manufactured circa 1914 or 1915. What resides on this rifle now is a short barrel (20” or 22”, I didn’t measure) 1/2 round 1/2 octagon barrel in .30 WCF.
The sad part of it all is the receiver has a significant amount of bluing still left complete with forge striations, just the way I like them. Someone appears to have built a complete rifle around this very nice frame.
I don’t have access to it now, but will post more about it when I can see it again and ensure I’m not condemning a good rifle due to dyslexia when reading the serial number.
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