I cannot give an accurate estimate of how often the rechambering was done and not marked, mainly b/c when it wasn't marked it wasn't marked.  But the rechamberings themselves were pretty popular back in the day.  I once took a very nice transition 22 Hornet of my Dad's to the range and after firing extracted beautifully fire formed 22 K Hornet brass!!!  No marking to indicate the conversion...

I guess my approach to these guns might be considered dangerous.  But we are talking about rechambering (using a reamer to open up an existing chamber), not a conversion, for example from 30-06 to 300 Winchester Magnum.  That conversion can be done badly, unnecessarily removing metal from behind the bottom recoil lug under the mistaken assumption that it was needed for the cartridge to feed and inadvertently creating an unsafe gun.  Even a chamber cast won't pick up that disaster in the making!!!

But, after all, the way you MADE 300 Weatherby, 375 Weatherby or 22 K Hornet brass was to fire form it from 300 H&H Magnum, 375 H&H Magnum, or 22 Hornet.  Before purchasing, I would check that 300 Weatherby or 22 K Hornet brass would not chamber (I used to hunt with a Weatherby 300 Magnum so have lots of brass), but if not I'd just shoot the gun and see what the brass looked like.  I think the only danger in this would be the situation Zeb described, where an incompetent gunsmith cut a sloppy chamber and didn't use Go, No-Go gauges...  But if the larger brass wouldn't chamber I've just assumed that the chamber was factory original.

Maybe I'm just too much of a "risk taker"...

Lou

I have heard that many H&H Model 70's were converted to Weatherby. I don't know how true that is, or what is meant by "many". The % that were converted and not identified as Weatherby conversions.... if that is dangerously high then I see your point. Are you saying all Winchester model 70's that are H&H Magnums should have a chamber cast to find out if they are still H&H?

My prior thoughts were if your Model 70 H&H Magnum without anything but factory script does not chamber a Weatherby magnum it can be considered a factory H&H Magnum. If my thoughts are wrong then word should get out that these Model 70 H&H Magnums should be avoided unless you take it to a gunsmith 1st. Considering that the cost of these pre-64 H&H Magnums is high, the high risk of a botched conversion let alone a well done conversion should become a big factor in any sale, especially an auction where chamber casting results aren't known. There is a lot of money at stake, and even more important, your safety.

  If it was mine I would put a good scope and mount on it and leave the wood alone. I would hunt with it. I've got a grandson with one I bought cheap because of a recoil pad. He's pretty proud of it and the nice bucks he's shot with it.  T/R

WAnewbie said
Thank you all for the detective work! Now it’s on me to debate whether to fix the wood or add this mount…
  

Tough choices, could also leave it as is. What are your plans for this rifle? How are those receiver sights working for you? Could also get lucky and find a decent replacement stock. 

Mike

WAnewbie said
Thank you all for the detective work! Now it’s on me to debate whether to fix the wood or add this mount…
  

I vote you “fix the wood”!

The pre64 Model 70 action does not handle escaping gas well at all - it is not a Remington 700, much less a Weatherby Mark V. The Weatherby cartridge operates at near redline breech pressure and if the case fails inside that slightly modified Mauser action you risk losing fingers and part of your face, not just destruction of the rifle. 

Consider the possibility the chamber was poorly cut giving excessive headspace and then abandoned into the market as a bad job. Or was cut without any freebore, which the Weatherby cartridges demand.  A badly cut chamber may only stretch cases 5 times out of 6 and let one rupture on the 7th. 

Lighting off a 65,000 PSI pressure vessel that cannot withstand the forces without backup from a properly shaped chamber, inches in front of your head, is something that should give a man pause. 

Using a live round as a headspace gauge doesn't work. A chamber that gives a factory round excessive headspace or other lack of support can easily allow the bolt to close over a factory round. 

A chamber cast shouldn't cost more than about $75 to $80 USD - at least here in Texas. A good gunsmith won't scratch your rifle. Ask for referrals for your area from other WACA members. 

That is my sincere advice, for whatever it may be worth. 

Adam

Your gun isn't a carbine, it's a sporting rifle and the rubber butt pad has been added. It is a standard sporting rifle and most likely came with a crescent butt plate. Those numbers may be some owners ID, a ranch or PD, hard to say

My hope is to fit a military stock and forend and military ladder sights.  I'm curious if anyone knows where I might find these, and whether they are unique to the M1895 or if they could be sourced from another rifle.

Also, I don't understand what this 4 digit number is.  I know it's not the serial number.  Does anyone have an idea?  I put two images on http://www.imgur.com, and I'm providing a link.  I'm not familiar with this forum's programming; I cannot insert a photo. 

M1895 pictures

Bert

triggerhappy said
You probably are right about their return policy, I don't know, but if I have to pay a gunsmith to do a chamber cast, I doubt they do those free either. Selling the Weatherby ammo at a slight discount shouldn't be difficult, and who knows maybe I need it. At the end of the day I think I'd save money, and I don't have somebody handling my rifle, and telling me "that scratch was already there". I had that happen with my truck.
  

Respectfully, your math is good but reasoning is flawed. Chambering a round does not necessarily tell you all you need to know about a rechambered rifle with vague markings. It won't tell you if the chamber is cut correctly or eliminate the possibility of a wildcat chambering larger than the chambered round. 

Mike