Burt Humphrey said
All these new Senators and House Members will have so much on their plate it is hard to fathom them messing with a bunch of old guys and their hobby. However, you just never know. The safest place to be may be 19th century models with antique serial numbers. For you guys that want the best shot for appreciation, that is the place to be anyway. Bert, I am sorry about the lack of a single shot in this photo - it is not that I don't like them because I do!

But will it?  I like the pre 1899 exemption, I think it should be for anything prior to WWII.  I’m always afraid the pre 1899 thing might disappear someday, even at the drop of a hat.  Sneaky folks do sneaky things…

Jim F in CT said
WOW! Bert . . . . .
What a GREAT, DETAILED REPLY to my question! . . . . .
MANY, MANY, MANY THANKS!!
  

You are welcome!

Bert

What a GREAT, DETAILED REPLY to my question! . . . . .

MANY, MANY, MANY THANKS!!

The Polishing Room date is the precise date that the serial number was stamped on the receiver frame (prior to final poilshing and then bluing it).  Prior to having a serial number assigned & stamped on the receiver frame, it was an untraceable lump of machined steel.  Per Federal law, the act of stamping a serial number on a firearm frame is the official date of manufacture, as it then becomes traceable item.  That also is the offical date that WACA uses.

Now, having cleared up that question, the "received in warehouse" date documented the specific date when the rifle was ready for sale... not when it was actually fully assembled (manufactured).  Keep in mind that many production events occurred after the final assembly, but prior to the gun being logged into the warehouse for sale & shipment.  The following is a brief synopsis of the production steps beginning with serialization:

1. Serial number applied to receiver frame, then final polishing.

2. Sent to the bluing room (or in rare cases case color finishing).

3. Sent to the assembly room in a bin containing dozens of blued serialized receiver frames.

4. Physical assembly begins, culminating in a complete functioning firearm.

5. Inspection for Fit, Finish, & Function (stamp applied near trigger).

6. Sent to the Proofing Room for test fire with a proof load and then inspected again and the "WP" in oval applied to the barrel and receiver frame.

7.  Sent to sight in room, fired 6 - 10 rounds to set the sights.

8. Sent to packing room, cleaned, oiled/greased, and packed.

9. Sent to warehouse for sale/shippment.

The time interval between the serial number application date and the received in warehouse date was typically 7 - 14 days, but it could sometimes be much shorter, or much longer.  The final date of note is the sale/shipment date which could be as little as the same date as it was received, to as much as 19-years later.

The CFM Factory letters currently provide three dates; (1) Polishing Room SNA (serial number application) date; (2) Received in warehouse date; (3) Shipped (sold) date.

These are a few examples of a Model 1894 factory letter with the three different dates;

Now with all of that stated, the dates of manufacture that George Madis used (and published) for the Model 1894 were very  apparently not any of the aforementioned dates, most especially the "antique" serial number range.

Bert

george@georgeamlott.com said

Jeremy P said

.................. and no pending raffles!

  

I saw your picture in the magazine...............Congrats!
  

Thanks! It was pretty funny actually. It was Sunday the last day of the Cody show, and I'd been out all morning at the museum. When I finally showed up to the show about lunch, I walked in the door the exact time they were calling my name over the venue speakers. I threw my hands up and was like "What did I do?" and someone yelled "You won a gun!" Couldn't have timed it more perfectly.

...also, extra funny since the day before I told that person I never win any raffles and wondered if Heather had even put my tickets in the pot. Clearly she had! (I never doubted you, Heather) 😉

Zebulon said

Chris,  McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), reaffirmed in Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n, Inc. v. Bruen (2022), made clear the Second Amendment recognized an inherent, individual right to keep and bear arms and that such right was enforceable against the States and lesser jurisdictions, through the doctrine of selective incorporation under the  Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U. S, Constitution.
  

Bill,

Hahaha, I was waiting with bated breath for you to chime in.  Thanks for the clarification.  

Chris

Bob

1892takedown said
For what its worth, I think what we have seen happening in certain states in recent years will likely remain the norm.  There are several 2A Supreme Court rulings on the books that have helped keep some of this nonsense at bay (District of Columbia v. Heller, McDonald v. City of Chicago, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen.  The legal scholars out there can correct me if Im wrong, but I dont believe the 2A has yet been "incorporated" to the Constitution, as have other Bill of Rights Amendments, making it subject of animosities and challenges by the gun grabbers regarding original intent, or their resorting other subverted means as we are aware.  In the end, it will depend on the future courts and how they sway.  We need a more Clarence Thomas minded justices, based in original intent, and rid the courts of the "living constitution" minded justices. 
 
  
  

Chris,  McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), reaffirmed in Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n, Inc. v. Bruen (2022), made clear the Second Amendment recognized an inherent, individual right to keep and bear arms and that such right was enforceable against the States and lesser jurisdictions, through the doctrine of selective incorporation under the  Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U. S, Constitution.

He was talking about a Winch. M94, saying the serial number was applied in the “polishing room” BEFORE the receiver was assembled into a complete rifle . . . .

Then . . . . .when the entire rifle was “accepted” at the warehouse, the number was again, recorded.

He says Madis used the warehouse number/date to establish DOM . . . .while I think WCA uses the polishing room record for the DOM.

If the polishing room number on the NAKED receiver is what is called the DOM . . . .how can that be, if that date was ONLY the receiver?

Wouldn’t the warehouse number be MORE accurate as it is now a COMPLETE RIFLE?

I’m confused . . .straighten me out! . . . .PLEASE!!

Jeremy P said

.................. and no pending raffles!

I saw your picture in the magazine...............Congrats!

Nevada Paul said
 Instead, they move on to other pressing issues such as daylight saving.
  

No kidding, totally ineffective bunch of folks. 

I see changes only in a negative direction for gun owners and gun collectors in the near and mid future. The folks making and interpreting laws are for the most part ignorant of our plight and our intentions as collectors of old and antique firearms. Their primary and in most cases only goal is the further restriction of firearms and ammunition purchases, sales, possession and distribution.  

Once they pass legislation which in any way further restricts firearm ownership, they don't bother with watching or reacting to the true outcomes or consequences. Instead, they move on to other pressing issues such as daylight saving.