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I have a four digit rifle that appears based on all I can read from Arthur Pirkle to be correct except for a later sight elevator and finish has been added to the wood at some point. This rifle is 32-40 most bluing worn to a silvery patina evenly, proper striations showing on the reciever. These are the questions Im trying to answer- 1st the barrel is 21” trying to figure out if it was just done by a very good gunsmith or possibly at the factory- the front sight dovetail is correct @ 11/16 from the muzzle, the distance from the muzzle to the magazine cap is correct @3/16, the distance from the muzzle to the magazine tube slot is correct @3 1/2”. Is there any way to determine is this could have been done at the factory?
2nd- upper tang marking is a type 1- which supposedly ended sn# 3000
3rd- reciever has niether the “10 o’clock” hole upper left of the loading gate typical of the 1a recievers from this sn range or the 12 o’clock screw of the later 1b recievers…
any info or suggestions greatly appreciated. It is a nice rifle, spent its life on a ranch in British Columbia before being rehomed
April 15, 2005
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Are you sure about the barrel length? Could it possibly be 22-inches? The first Model 1894 rifle manufactured with a 21-inch (special order) barrel was serial number 78333.
The Type 1 upper tang marking did not end at serial number 3000. It was used from serial number 1 through 15000.
The first variation receiver frames are intermittently found up to serial number 7471, but only on rifles chambered for the 38-55 cartridge, and very rarely, the 30 WCF. All of the early production Model 1894s made in 32-40 have the 2nd variation receiver frame.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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