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I recently acquired this 1892 in 38-40. The gun dates to 1915 and the metal finish rates 98 to 99 percent. The wood however looks to me as if it has some tru-oil rubbed over it. What wood finish would be correct on a 1915 gun? Would it have had a dull oil finish or some type of varnish? What do you think this gun is worth?
THIS ALL STARTED WITH JUST ONE GUN!
The silence is deafening from those who know FAR more than I, but since the cat seems to have got the experts’ tongues, I’ll venture to opine that either the gun has been stored since it was new where human hands couldn’t touch it, OR, it’s undergone a complete & very high quality restoration.
If the latter, it’s still worth a lot, but if the former, send it directly to Rock Island Auctions, where the fat cats sharpen their claws.
Your rifle appears to have its original finish (not restored), and it looks like it was been wiped down with Old West Snake Oil. When I periodically wipe down one of my high condition high-walls, it looks exactly the same way as this rifle.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I will agree with Bert…great rifle and it sure looks to be in original finish. You could wipe down the gun with a cloth with a bit of mineral spirits added…then wipe clean with another rag. If it comes out duller, then you just wiped off the added finish. If not then the added finish might be something else that was sprayed or wiped on verses a non drying product like snake oil.
I know that some guns could come either oiled or varnished. I believe that this gun has had something put onto the wood. When inspecting wood and finishes look into the small scrapes and gouges. No finish should be in these areas. If all the imperfections of the wood are shiny that is a sign of extra finishing.
Old Guns,
That rifle has certainly been stuck in a very quiet place for 103 years and most likely almost unused for that time period. It is 100% original. I would suggest that the wood finish is most likely original and at most might have a coat of “Lemon Pledge” sprayed on it. There is no reason to have any additional finish applied since the balance of the gun shows no wear or even the smallest scratch on it.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Thanks everyone for your responses. The wood is just like the metal so there are virtually no defects to check for finish in them. The metal is about as good as you will find on a long gun of this age. I am going to leave the wood as is. It can always be worked on but never be like it is again.
Thanks, Mike
THIS ALL STARTED WITH JUST ONE GUN!
I will forever be a student to the art of Winchester evaluation. So please help me to understand if I need an eye doctor, new computer etc…. The forearm and butt stock are two totally different colors. I’m not objecting to the consensus of it being original, but man they look waaaaaaaay different to me from over here.
Patrick,
I believe that what you are “seeing” is a lighting issue in the photographs. When you look at the individual pictures of the butt stock, and then look at the corresponding forend stock pictures, there is virtually no difference in the coloration of the wood. This is a case where taking the pictures in natural light would make a difference in what you are seeing.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Patrick,
I believe that what you are “seeing” is a lighting issue in the photographs. When you look at the individual pictures of the butt stock, and then look at the corresponding forend stock pictures, there is virtually no difference in the coloration of the wood. This is a case where taking the pictures in natural light would make a difference in what you are seeing.
Bert
Thanks for that looking at the overall view it appears to have a glow from a flash maybe. individually you are correct.
Thank you sir once again.
Old Guns said
I recently acquired this 1892 in 38-40. The gun dates to 1915 and the metal finish rates 98 to 99 percent. The wood however looks to me as if it has some tru-oil rubbed over it. What wood finish would be correct on a 1915 gun? Would it have had a dull oil finish or some type of varnish? What do you think this gun is worth?
Nice gun, and great find!! The original finish is toner lacquer, and it looks original and intact for the most part, especially on the fore end. I’m not 100% on lighting accounting for all of the color variation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not original. They could have come from different blocks.
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