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September 13, 2025
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A 1892 is currently on GB with this description concerning its blocked-out serial number.
Price Pirate examples of the Model 1892 are especially scarce, as relatively few rifles were subjected to this serial number obliteration process. The overstamped WRACO marking and grid pattern on the receiver are factory-applied identifiers when the rifle was returned for service, making these rifles immediately recognizable and highly unusual survivors of Winchester’s internal business practices rather than routine production arms.
The Madis book, pg. 645, has this minimal write-up about this situation.
“Some guns which were sold by distributors selling to dealers who cut prices had the serial numbers removed to eliminate the possibility of Winchester’s refusing to sell more guns to these firms.”
Does anybody have any additional information about how this happened? Did the distributors know who the discounters were and removed the serial number before delivery, or did the factory remove them after they went back to the factory, as the seller indicated?
If this was discussed in the past, point me to the thread, as I could not find it during a search.
April 15, 2005
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The WRACO over stamp was positively not a factory applied obliteration of the serial number, nor did it occur when a gun was “returned to service”. That marking is found on a small number of the Models 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1897 that were manufactured in the mid to late 1890s only.
The theory
“Some guns which were sold by distributors selling to dealers who cut prices had the serial numbers removed to eliminate the possibility of Winchester’s refusing to sell more guns to these firms.”
is actually correct. The “distributer” was Sears & Roebuck when they were still located in Chicago, IL. Winchester did eventually cease selling firearms to Sears & Roebuck as a result of them selling at prices lower than what Winchester dictated.
The serial numbers were removed by employees of Sears & Roebuck, and they were crudely done. Several different types of over stamp types have been observed.
The pictures below are all Model 1893 Slide-action Shotguns with a “WRACO” over stamp. Note that the pattern and style is different for each one of them.
These are WRACO over stamps on Model 1894s
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 13, 2025
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Thank you, Bert.
A very interesting story. I knew there was a Paul Harvey, page 2, to this situation.
April 15, 2005
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fzando said
I knew there was a Paul Harvey, page 2, to this situation.
Now that brought back some very fond memories!
My Grandfather Hartman was a contract roofer in the Portland Oregon area from the mid 1930s through the mid 1970s. Late in his working career he was able to recruit some cheap help… my slightly older cousin and myself. For two summers, we lived at my grandparent home in SE Portland, and worked six days a week (minimum 10-hour days) hoofing tar paper and asphalt singles off of his truck & trailer and up the ladder to the roofs. Our first (and only rest of the day) was when the local radio station (KWJJ 99) aired the Paul Harvey show at noon. My Grandfather would halt work, turn up the portable radio, and we would eat lunch while listening to Paul Harvey “And the Rest of the Story”. On Saturdays, lunch always consisted of a fried Spam sandwich (on sourdough bread with mustard) and an RC Cola (the old glass 16 0z bottles). I relished the break, lunch, and listening to Paul Harvey spin his always interesting stories!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
