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Hi Don
I think that collectors refer to them as special order or special sights, especially when they show up in the letter. I would have to do some digging but I know Winchester had them in their catalogs by the late 1890s. I glanced through the survey and did not notice any large block of consecutive serial numbers with Lyman receiver sights and I don’t have a large enough sample of consecutive serial numbers to make a guess at that. For example, I did see that 1st Model Fancy Rifles 813, 814 and 817 all have Lyman receiver sights and it would be nice to find some more serials right around there. I think that Bert has mentioned this before also, but I would guess I will see some blocks of special guns or configurations together as I add more to the survey. It is also sometimes hard to tell from a few pictures on an auction site what all of the sights and installations look like.
Lyman sold Winchesters out of their catalogs and installed their sights on guns for their customers also. They advertised the guns for sale in the back of their catalogs for many years; sights installed, aligned and guaranteed by them, and I’m sure they sold a number of them that way. I have been doing a lot of research this winter on the Model 1895 sight subject for Rob’s upcoming book. We have found some interesting things and there will be much more detailed information presented there.
Brad
Here are Lyman sights listed from the Winchester catalog of Feb. 1899:
August 11, 2015
Offline
here is an 1895 that you may not have:
SN 52989
.35 WCF
Round Barrel
Standard front and rear sights
Matted Receiver
Regards,
Here’s info on my 1895:
Serial Number: 83598
Caliber: .30 Govt. 1903
Barrel: 22 inches, round
Sights: Front – Redfield No.9/32-D (most likely a replacement);
Rear – W. F. Sheard 3-Leaf Adjustable (damaged) – identical to Marble’s No.94, but marked “W.F.SHEARD / TACOMA, WASH. / PAT. APPL’D FOR”
Wood: Sporting Rifle-type forearm;
Carbine-style butt
Matted Receiver
Eyes for Winchester Sling, dovetailed to barrel and screwed into buttstock
Upper Tang has been drilled and tapped (1-1/4 inch center-to-center spacing, likely for a Marbles No.W12S tang sight), but no sight is present
Serial Number Applied: August 26, 1913
Hope this is helpful,
Jim
I’ll throw one in for the survey. This 1895 takedown is a late production gun, serial #421,935. Chambered in .405 WCF with a 24″ round barrel and crescent butt. Everything else seems to be standard production.
Kevin
January 26, 2011
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Sir Hedley,
Kevin’s fine looking 405 got me wondering about the bold “Made in the USA” stamp I see on some of the later ’95 barrels. A few questions……..
When does this marking start showing up?
Was it only on the 1895/95 model? (I just don’t recall seeing it on anything else)
I understand the importance and pride in this marking today, but back in those days the influx of foreign products wasn’t like it is now so I find it interesting that Winchester felt the need to proudly stamp it on the barrel.
~Gary~
Hey Gary
I think I have noticed some form of the “Made in the USA” on Model 1886 33 WCF rifle barrels before for starters. I do not have enough of a sample size to say anything other than that I have two Model ’95s in the survey from 1932 marked as such. There are a number of later guns in the survey from online auctions, etc. that I could not get barrel markings from based on the images shown.
Kevin’s gun has a 1926 serial number according to Big Red Highwall’s book
He may have some idea on the “Made in the USA”. Yearly production appeared to be low and getting lower for the Model ’95 after 1926.
Brad
January 26, 2011
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Thanks Brad, now that you mention it, I think I may have noticed it on a late ’86 as well………..or did I?
So many guns……and such a limited memory.
~Gary~
I have seen that same marking on several very late production Model 86 Rifles, and at least two of them also have Proof Steel marked barrels (indicating 1932 or later).
Model 1886 serial numbers 159543 and 159732.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hey Bert
On the two ’95s I mentioned from 1932, I had marked down as “Made in the USA Proof Steel”, so that makes sense I guess?
Thanks,
Brad
Brad,
Yes it does. I suspect that both the Model 86s and Model 95s that were manufactured very late in the production run were all marked the same way.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Well, here is another one so marked.
"I Would Have Rather Lived Through The Industrial Revaluation"
"Instead of The Space Age"
From
The Twilight Zone
I feel confident that the marking changes we are discussing were made coincident with the change from Nickel Steel to Proof Steel, in early 1932. It would be interesting to know what the ealiest serial number is for each model that has a Proof Steel barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert, I’ll be vigilant on trying to see the barrel markings on late ’95s. Thanks for the pictures Hokie.
Brad
Brad,
if you are still searching for Model 1895s, here is one:
404424 35 WCF
24″ Nickel Steel barrel
Matted receiver solid frame
Steel rifle butt
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