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I was hoping for some help regarding the date of when the first 1895 in .405 was made? From the limited sources I’ve found, the .405 was introduced in June 1904? I ask this because from what I’ve found the .405 in my possession was received in the warehouse May 20, 1904 and shipped July 27, 1904 and maybe one of the earliest in that caliber.
I also found the dates on the Cody Firearms search related to the time it was received and shipped to be longer than normal. Details:
Winchester Model 1895 – Serial Number 44347
Serial number applied on May 03, 1904
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 405
Received in warehouse on May 20, 1904
Shipped from warehouse on July 27, 1904, Order number 239573
Thanks for any information/observations.
It is more accurate to say that the .405 WCF was first listed in the June 1904 Catalog No. 71. The previous catalog No. 70 was issued in March of 1903 did not list it. That leaves April 1903 – May 1904 as the viable date of introduction.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert, that sounds viable to me. So that would leave a couple months of possible production prior to mine and however many rifles Winchester built and tested prior to introduction? From what I’ve read, it seems that the model 1895 production was relatively slow across all calibers. Just got a little excited when I read June and thought it could be in the first months production. If anyone has an earlier one, please PM me.
Now I just have to shoot it, which from everything I understand the .405 is brutal. Now if winter would ever end!
Edit, I didn’t see 1903! Ok that changes things. Well I’ve definitely learned something new and you guys have an incredible amount of knowledge. Thank you.
To add to what Bert already posted, the attached article appeared in the December 1903 issue of Western Field magazine.
I think this makes it safe to narrow the .405 Winchester cartridge’s date of introduction to between April and November 1903.
Jim
http://s734.photobucket.com/user/30Gov03/media/405WCF.jpg.html
link to larger image:
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww348/30Gov03/405WCF.jpg~original
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