clarence said
OW1892 said
Southern Pacific?There was a SP depot in the town I grew up in, & when I was ordering incredibly cheap foreign military rifles, like Rolling Blocks, Martini-Henrys, early Mausers, etc., advertised in the Rifleman (this was while I was still in high-school), they were always shipped Railway Express…including a cavalry lance about 12′ long that could probably have been shipped no other way. It was always a thrill to go over to that depot, about 10 m. away, not only to pick up whatever I’d ordered, but to see any passenger trains that might be waiting at the station.
Railway Express probably employed armed guards, but I’m inclined to think that both that company & SP would have used die stamps for marking their property less crude looking than the carelessly applied markings on this rcvr. But maybe I’m overestimating their professionalism.
I have a Colt Detective Special that is die-stamped SPRR on the butt. It was shipped from Colt to Gretna Gun Works, in Gretna, LA in 1964. The SP has (or had) a big railroad yard in Gretna, which is right across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. New Orleans was the eastern terminus of the SP, so it stands to reason that they would have at least several Special Agents there. The gun was not marked by Colt, but the marking was done by a single die stamp…..probably in the railroad repair shops at the Gretna yard.
Yep, one of the safest rifles around? Lots of places for unwanted gas to escape!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Not a beater or a Frankenchester, but perhaps I have what could be called a Phoenixchester. This is 1948 Flatband 94 in 32WS that had been in a fire before I got it. The wood got toasty, the bluing is shot, but the gun’s bones survived. There was absolutely no damage to anything other than the magazine spring, which has been replaced. I removed the charred wood, treated the rest with a hardener, removed all of the surface rust, and cleaned everything else. I was even able to save the Western Field butt pad someone put on it long ago.
Maybe I should have it reblued and replace the wood, but if I can keep it original, I will try, scars and all.
All men have fears. The brave put down their fears and go forward, sometimes to death but always to victory.
Old guns are like old cars and old men. They are meant to be taken out and used from time to time, not locked away or put on display in a museum.
J B said
Maybe I should have it reblued and replace the wood, but if I can keep it original, I will try, scars and all.
It’s one to hang in the rear window of your pick-up without fear of theft, or ride through the sand or mud on your ATV. Don’t think cost of restoring it could ever be recovered.
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