Log In
1: Would Winchester supply Matted barrels in the mid 1920’s?
There is an 1894 rifle for sale on Gunbroker that has a matted barrel.
He states that the barrel is later than the 1902 rifle. The letter shows all of the features but, if the barrel is much later than the rifle itself, was the new barrel factory done? The Gunbroker number is 357156588.
I am not thinking about buying this rifle. I was just curious.
Thanks for any help
May 2, 2009
Offline
I can tell the matting is new to the barrel and the other thing I see is there was a hole on the left side of the receiver just above the name that was plugged and the engraving is through it. It a modern refinish. I assume someone found a old gun with a neat letter and had it restored.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man
Thanks. I went back and looked at the pictures and now I can see the plugged hole. So if the engraving was done after the hole was plugged, is the engraving also not factory done? He never shows the serial number on the rifle and it is also covered on the Winchester letter. Glad I was just looking.
May 2, 2009
Offline
Thats correct, the gun was reengraved after it was refinished. It was redone in recent history but the marks on the side of the tang suggest it was sent back to the factory and the the factory did work on the gun a long time ago.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 15, 2005
Offline
The barrel is a 1920s vintage piece.
The engraving is factory, but was touched up after the hole was filled/repaired.
One other thing of note… the rear sight is not original.
My guess is that Winchester replaced the barrel a long time ago, but that the refinish is much more recent and is not Winchester’s work.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks everyone for the replys. I knew that the rear sight was not a flat top sporting sight. I was begining to wonder if it was just a rifle that was made up to match the letter since no serial number is given. I was looking at the placement of the repaired hole on the left side of the receiver and thought that it is just about where a lyman 21 hole would need to be. Just a wild guess on my part. Anyway, thanks all.
August 24, 2012
Offline
desertrat said
1873man
Thanks. I went back and looked at the pictures and now I can see the plugged hole. So if the engraving was done after the hole was plugged, is the engraving also not factory done? He never shows the serial number on the rifle and it is also covered on the Winchester letter. Glad I was just looking.
New pictures posted of the letter and serial number.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=357156588
July 7, 2011
Offline
This one works.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=357156588
This s/n receiver does show up in ARMAX with a matted barrel but, the barrel on the rifle is from sometime in the late 1920’s. The earliest s/n I have found with this particular caliber marking is 1,020,688 from 1928. BOBR94 states that this type caliber marking ( type 6 ) starts about s/n 960,000 which would be about 1923. I just have not found one to document yet.
The seller does state that the barrel is from later and that the rifle is refinished so, he is not hiding that. It just depends on if you want an engraved (inscribed) rifle.
Paul
August 24, 2012
Offline
94shorties said
This one works.http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=357156588
This s/n receiver does show up in ARMAX with a matted barrel but, the barrel on the rifle is from sometime in the late 1920’s. The earliest s/n I have found with this particular caliber marking is 1,020,688 from 1928.
Paul
I was told the number 26 in the diamond (picture 50) means the gun was refinished by Winchester in 1926. Don’t know if it is true or not. (my information comes from a long time and well known Winchester collector) Because of the proof marks, I believe the barrel is original or original Winchester. If it is the original barrel, it was re-rolled when re-finished.
May 2, 2009
Offline
That barrel has a ramp front sight and it would of had a front sight dovetailed in. The barrel was made later.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 15, 2005
Offline
The barrel is most definitely not original to the rest of the rifle. The roll marking on the barrel "-MODEL 94-" was not introduced until the mid to late 1920s (my research leads me to believe late 1924).
Bert H.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
Offline
1873man said
That barrel has a ramp front sight and it would of had a front sight dovetailed in. The barrel was made later.Bob
Bob,
Most of the post 1900 Extra Lightweight Model 1894 rifles had a ramp style front sight versus a dovetailed front sight. But yes, it is a much later vintage barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
July 7, 2011
Offline
Check out this post dealing with a ramp front sight
http://www.winchestercollector.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6037
Paul
