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I have a 2 band high wall musket in 45/70 that I can’t find much information on. On the barrel in front of the receiver, it has the US stamp, circled VIP and DFC inspectors stamp. SN is 101760. 28 inch barrel. Military ramp rear sight. Any input would be appreciated.
April 15, 2005
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Unfortunately, you have a fake musket. When I surveyed serial number 101760 many years ago, it was a U.S. ordnance marked low-wall Winder Musket in 22 Short. Serial number 101760 was received in the warehouse on July 23rd, 1918, and it shipped to the U.S. Springfield Armory order number 846026T on August 24th, 1918. The U.S. Government (Army) purchased nearly 12,000 of them in the years 1918 and 1919.
Winchester did not sell any high-wall muskets to the U.S. government in caliber 45-70, or ever mark any of the barrels in the manner you describe. I highly suspect that the lower tang was removed from its original low-wall Winder Musket frame and then later installed in the high-wall frame that you currently own in a deliberate attempt to build a fake musket. If you would like, you can send photos of it to me at [email protected]
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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