Log In
December 21, 2006
Offline
One doesn’t find one of these every day. Not My thing and not real popular but for a gun made in 1905 in this condition I had to bring it home
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
April 15, 2005
Offline
Very nice! Winchester did not make many of the Fancy Model 1905 rifles. The list price for a Fancy Model 1905 rifle in the October 1905 catalog was $43.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
Offline
Wonderful piece. I’ve owned a few. Never anything that nice. Nice and early too.
June 26, 2013
Offline
Now you just need to find some ammo!
December 21, 2006
Offline
I got about 40 rounds in a beat up blue box and looking for a full box
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
March 23, 2010
Offline
A friend of mine has one of these rifles.Have shot it a few times.Fun rifle to shoot.He makes his own ammo as factory loads are hard to come by and expensive when found.:)
September 22, 2011
Offline
I don’t delve into these models too much, but, however, the same rules apply to these as would other models, such as the Models 1866, 1873, 1886, 1892, & 1894, which are the models I am the most interested in. Collect rifles & carbines that are factory original and if a deviation from factory original, with the exception of perhaps eyelets for swing swivels, then move on. Unfortunately, your rifle has a compass mounted in the stock. Thus, while nice, it precludes me, and I would think most other collectors, from seriously entertaining the idea of adding this rifle to their collection.
May 23, 2009
Offline
I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
Great survivor / closet gun! Don’t see those much ever.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
September 22, 2011
Offline
Maverick said
I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
If it’s not in the letter…it didn’t happen.
May 23, 2009
Offline
mrcvs said
Maverick said
I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
If it’s not in the letter…it didn’t happen.
I don’t necessary disagree with your statement, but don’t wholeheartedly agree. Lets face it, it did happen, the how being the important part.
So in your mind’s eye, someone took a 95% condition gun, drilled a hole in the stock and plopped a compass in it well after the fact? Or you believe it to have been done when the gun was new by non-factory gunsmith or the like?
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
September 22, 2011
Offline
Maverick said
mrcvs said
Maverick said
I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
If it’s not in the letter…it didn’t happen.
So in your mind’s eye, someone took a 95% condition gun, drilled a hole in the stock and plopped a compass in it well after the fact? Or you believe it to have been done when the gun was new by non-factory gunsmith or the like?
One or the other. It doesn’t matter the means to the end, just that the work is not factory.
April 15, 2005
Offline
Maverick said
mrcvs said
Maverick said
I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
If it’s not in the letter…it didn’t happen.
I don’t necessary disagree with your statement, but don’t wholeheartedly agree. Lets face it, it did happen, the how being the important part.
So in your mind’s eye, someone took a 95% condition gun, drilled a hole in the stock and plopped a compass in it well after the fact? Or you believe it to have been done when the gun was new by non-factory gunsmith or the like?
Sincerely,
Maverick
The compass was not installed by Winchester. Instead, it was installed by a non-factory entity. Somewhere buried deep in my research material, I have a reference document that mentions a specific retail company that installed compasses in the butt stock of the firearms they sold to the public.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 23, 2009
Offline
mrcvs said One or the other. It doesn’t matter the means to the end, just that the work is not factory.
Well obviously a factory installed compass would be preferred. But a “Period” installed compass is way better than one put on two years ago.
If a retail store chain modified guns by adding compasses to them. I don’t see much negative impact to the gun. Its not like the John Q public had much say so on showing up to said chain and buying the guns they had already modified.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
September 22, 2011
Offline
IMHO, the compass, not being factory, really detracts from this, even if period.
November 13, 2008
Offline
this was the thing to do back in the 50’s many places sold these such as herters , polychoke, marbles etc. Ive seen plenty of savages , marlins and winchesters from the 50’s era with one in stock. people with earlier produced guns also joined in as well at that time adding them to all models. I recall about 20 years back a guy asking me at a gun show if I knew where he could get a vintage compass to put in the stock of his 1892 winchester. he actually had the gun in his car so we went out to take a look. it was a 90% 44-40 takedown ! he had no clue. I bought it and got it away from him…
Jeremy Scott.
WACA LIFE MEMBER, CFM MEMBER, ABKA MEMBER, JSSC MEMBER, MNO HISTORIAN
November 19, 2006
Offline
I have a M55 .30WCF in very high condition. It has a small compass mounted in the top of the buttstock. Even though it was probably done very long ago – it detracts a lot.
December 21, 2006
Offline
Jeez I was just sharing some photos of a fairly rare gun in nice condition, I didn’t need for it to be tore apart Ian, nor did I ask for opinion of value, even though it’s well below Your collectable standards, because of the compass , it is well within My standards, to each His own , eh. Thanks for the info Bert.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
July 8, 2012
Offline
Henry,
That’s a great rifle in beautiful condition. I think the compass adds to the history of it to a time long before we had gps and cell phones to rely on. Looks like whoever added it did a very neat job. I don’t think it detracts at all.
Al
1 Guest(s)
