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I was looking at some guns today and thought I’d try and help the owner of this early 1873 figure out what this says. This is the best I could do editing the images. Can anybody read this or have any ideas?
Thanks much
http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/hurint/media/DSCN3754edited_zps5b8720ea.jpg.html
[Image Can Not Be Found]
http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/hurint/media/DSCN3751edited_zps295be850.jpg.html
[Image Can Not Be Found]
You might try the old trick of putting a sheet of paper over it and then rub over the writing with a pencil.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
twobit said
You might try the old trick of putting a sheet of paper over it and then rub over the writing with a pencil.Michael
As long as it doesn’t end up with the result Jeff Bridges got in The Big Lebowski
Looks like maybe German? The first word "Ich" (I), another is "die" (the), and maybe another is "sie" (they). That’s about all I could make out. Any German linguists in the group?
I almost think its a foreign language.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I was thinking foreign like you guys were thinking. Gifted to a German or German speaking immigrant back in the day maybe?
Hello,
Check with Cody and the inscription might be listed in the ledgers.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael,
The owner tried the records already, unfortunately nothing. I’ll give him a call and maybe he’ll try the pencil and paper idea. At least he could show it to someone that way.
Thanks
Brad
After he tries the pencil trick, your computer has a translator in it. Go to Bing search engine, type in the letters from the engraving and it should translate it for you.
Floyd
Thanks. I bet he/I can figure out enough of the letters to make it work with that method.
Brad
Jose
Thanks, that’s another good idea.
I just passed these ideas on to the owner and hopefully he tries them out. The history of these old ones is pretty interesting.
Brad
Very rarely will you find any "factory" inscriptions on the elevator. These types of inscriptions are usually period but done outside the factory.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Had a friend who is fluent in German take a look at the pics.
His response: "The German handwriting before about 1900- 1920, depending upon where you came from was totally different. Pretty much like another language. I agree "ich" (I) appears to be the first word. But I had no luck with the rest. If you can get a better image that would help, and if you can find when it was inscribed that would also help."
Also, a trick we use at the cemetery for genealogy research – albeit on a larger scale – to help visualize faded carvings/engravings is to use old fashioned barber shop shaving cream (the white stuff, not gel) and spread it over the area, then carefully squeegee away the excess leaving the depressions filled in. Not sure how this would work on this small of a scale.
Thanks for doing that Tony. Hopefully my friend decides to try some of the suggestions and I will also pass on the shaving cream idea.
I was sort of thinking the same thing Maverick.
Brad
The first line appears to be: "Ich werde meine" which Google translates as, "I will use my."
Looks like "sie die Ihrige" in the last line.????
I have German in my blood, but not in my brain, so I’m hoping you hear from a knowledgeable person.
Ich werde meine Pflicht: Google translate– I will do my duty
I’m surprised no one has yet translated the complete engraving.
(My youngest cracked up laughing at your name. He thinks you must be an outstanding person, and wanted to know how things are going in Rock Ridge.)
If my name got at least one chuckle it was worth it. Harvey Korman was a favorite of mine in that movie.
That middle line in the engraving is hard for me to make out; worn off pretty good. I might have a chance to see the gun again, but it sounds like it’s getting sold off soon. The rest of the gun is pretty rough. Thanks for figuring out what you have so far.
Brad
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