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December 21, 2006
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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
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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
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Wonderful piece. I’ve owned a few. Never anything that nice. Nice and early too.
June 26, 2013
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Now you just need to find some ammo!
December 21, 2006
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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
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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
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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
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I wonder if the compass in the buttstock was factory?
Great survivor / closet gun! Don’t see those much ever.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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September 22, 2011
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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
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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!
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September 22, 2011
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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
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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
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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
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IMHO, the compass, not being factory, really detracts from this, even if period.
November 13, 2008
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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
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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
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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
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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
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