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I bought a locally owned Winchester 1907 with the original owners name engraved on a silver oval plate on the side of the stock (circa 1908), I’m wondering if Winchester did this work or if it was done locally or after-market somewhere, It’s done very well with a small steel rod under the buttplate and it appears to go though the wood and into a tongue on the back of the oval holding it in place. would a factory letter state it was ordered with a name plate? there are no factory options on the rifle. Thank you.
Yes, I factory letter will show an inscribed name plate if Winchester did the work. That stated, the Cody Firearms Musuem only has the warehouse ledger records for serial numbers 1 – 9999 (ending in December 1907).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hi Bert,
Thank you for the information, The serial number is 9769 so is that a first year gun? does the way the plate is installed sound factory? I suppose a factory letter is the only way to tell for sure. The rifle was sold on Gunbroker #494802334 if anyone wants to see. I see you are from Washington State, This rifle belonged to a steamship captain the worked for the Okanogan Steamship Company that ran up the Columbia river from Wenatchee to Bridgeport in the early 1900’s. The Captain worked for them from 1902 until the boats burned at Wenatchee in 1915. I probably over paid for the rifle but it’s local history and I am researching it, It belonged to a friend’s wife’s great grandfather and I hope to get more info on him from the family.
Brad,
Serial number 1 was manufactured in November of 1906, your rifle was manufactured in December of 1907, so No, it is not a “first year” production.
Yes, the factory letter is the best option. In looking at the pictures in the auction, there is at least a 50/50 chance that the inscription name plate is factory work.
I do not believe that you paid too much for it, especially if it letters with name plate. I will request a information sheet on it from the CFM and let you know what is on it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert,
That would be great to hear what an information sheet from Cody would say, There’s not a lot of readily available info on some of the steamships, people or the Company but it’s out there and just needs a bit of digging, I wonder if this rifle was ever on board or if it stayed at home as a deer rifle.
Brad,
It was serialized December 6th, 1907, received in the warehouse on January 4th, 1908, and shipped on May 20th, 1908. There is no mention of the inscribed name plate, so the odds are against it being factory original. If you would like a copy of the CFM information sheet, contact me at [email protected]
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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