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Serial Number Font Question for Bert and Other Experts
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Virginia Beach
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July 12, 2022 - 1:34 pm
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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.

Serial-Number-As-Received.jpgImage Enlarger

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.

Serial-Number-After-Polishing.jpgImage Enlarger

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.

5406-After-Etching.jpgImage Enlarger

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)

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July 12, 2022 - 3:45 pm
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Certainly not an expert, but it looks like a 6 to me.

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July 12, 2022 - 4:27 pm
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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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July 12, 2022 - 8:12 pm
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I too am of the opinion that it is “95406”.

Bert

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July 12, 2022 - 9:10 pm
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Here’s a couple of examples from both 1892 and 1894 earlier SN stamps.  Threw some “9”‘s in there because the 6 & 9 appear the same die–and an 8 to compare. 

 

I agree its 95406

 

Sale-277.JPGImage EnlargerDSC03004.JPGImage Enlarger12-3-2011-096.JPGImage EnlargerDSC06824.JPGImage Enlarger58556-38-55-37.JPGImage Enlarger

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1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member

"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington

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July 12, 2022 - 11:34 pm
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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.

Bottom-Barrel-Markings.jpgImage Enlarger       DSCN0051.JPGImage Enlarger

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.

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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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July 13, 2022 - 12:32 am
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That’s not the original barrel, the Winchester Definitive Proof (WP) did not begin to appear on barrels until after 1905.

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July 13, 2022 - 10:45 am
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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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