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November 7, 2015
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May be a stupid question but I’ve just realized the 1897 and 1912 takedown shotguns generally have the serial number stamped on the both halves of the shotgun while the 1892 and 1894 takedowns don’t seem to have serial numbers stamped on the forward section. I haven’t made a point of checking many Winchesters takedowns so it may be a small sample error. Anyone care to enlighten me on whether my observations are correct and what the logic could be behind this difference?
Mike
April 15, 2005
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Mike,
Your are correct… all of the Model 1897/97 and Model 1912/12 Take Down shotguns have the serial number stamped on both halves of the gun. In regards to the lever action rifles (e.g Models 1886, 1892, 1894, 1895, 53, and 55), only the receiver has the serial number stamped on it. Why that is the case is unknown, as contrarily Winchester did mark the vast majority of the slide-action take down rifles and the Model 1903 & 63 semi-autos with dual serial numbers.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Bert. I’ve let that slip past me on the rimfires, didn’t think to look at them. Proves I need to be more observant. Having the front end of a takedown shotgun marked with a serial number would make a little sense if one had a few (or several) takedown shotguns with multiple barrels but that segment of the market couldn’t have been very big.
Mike
November 19, 2006
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TXGunNut said
Thanks, Bert. I’ve let that slip past me on the rimfires, didn’t think to look at them. Proves I need to be more observant. Having the front end of a takedown shotgun marked with a serial number would make a little sense if one had a few (or several) takedown shotguns with multiple barrels but that segment of the market couldn’t have been very big.
Mike
And what would explain the reasoning for the rimfires? It would be fascinating to have heard the discussion behind the decision to put the numbers on the pump shotguns and the rimfires, but not the takedown rifles.
November 7, 2015
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steve004 said
TXGunNut said
Thanks, Bert. I’ve let that slip past me on the rimfires, didn’t think to look at them. Proves I need to be more observant. Having the front end of a takedown shotgun marked with a serial number would make a little sense if one had a few (or several) takedown shotguns with multiple barrels but that segment of the market couldn’t have been very big.
Mike
And what would explain the reasoning for the rimfires? It would be fascinating to have heard the discussion behind the decision to put the numbers on the pump shotguns and the rimfires, but not the takedown rifles.
My theory about the shotguns only makes sense to me because a certain K80 is making the rounds at the club. It’s made from at least three different guns and has beautiful wood…but mechanically it’s a wreck. Quite a few doubles have more than one set of barrels, skeet sets often have three and trap sets generally have two. Rimfires were at the back of my mind when i was kicking this around, I’m sure it made sense to someone at some time but here we are today and maybe we’ll just have to file it under eccentricities and carry on.
Mike
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