Bare with my long winded question:
I got a basket case 1892 with a fairly obscure and dubious s/n of 95406. This is how the receiver arrived.
I was skeptical because of the font size and spacing so I decided to try and do an acid etch to see if the numbers were actually that way, or if they had been altered. When I buffed up the s/n it was clearer, but the spacing still seemed off. The white residue was some whiteout I tried to use to make the numbers stand out better. This number looks better, but to me the “6” on the end was still a little off. Not as defined and the bottom loop seems unusually round as opposed to the 9’s oval shaped upper.
After the etching a curious thing happened. The first 4 numbers stayed the same and seem to be legit, the last digit “6” turned into just the circle at the bottom. A very symmetrical circle with the upper part nearly gone. I could see no evidence of any other hidden numbers either.
To me it would make sense that Winchester would have used 1 style of 6/9 die just oriented one side up or down for the desired digit. This circular portion remaining on that last “6” doesn’t look ovate to me, nor does it look like an upside down “9”.
My question is: Could this last number actually be an 8?
It doesn’t make any difference for the age of the gun (thankfully an ATF Antique), but the Cody Report on the 95406 s/n says it was made as a 38-40. The disassembled gun came with a vintage 44-40 barrel. IF this is an “8”, I’m hoping that it was built as a 44-40 and that I have an all original gun.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
In my non-expert opinion, it looks like the numbers are 95406.
What are the markings on the barrel like? Do they match that of a 1898 era barrel?
Sincerely,
Maverick
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1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
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I agree that the initial swipes looked like a 6.
I’m not convinced that after the acid that it is a 6. It’s just too round compared to the oval shaped 9. I do see that the 6’s in the other pics are circular on the bottom, but so are the 8’s.
Here’s a shot of the bottom of the barrel and the proof markings and the top of the barrel.
I’m going to give the acid another run. Hopefully I can make a better hot glue damn this time. I would have thought that something would have shown up over that “6” in either case. If things don’t change, then a 6 it will be.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
Thanks Tedk,
I guess that solves that portion of the mystery.
This has all been a big learning curve. Right now I’ll just be happy with getting it to shoot again like it should.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
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