Commissioner said
I just checked the Winchester letter. It is my 1873 that is 1903. The model 92 serial number is 846400, it puts it at 1916. The upper tang says Model 1892 over -Winchester-,under Winchester it says Trade mark US Patent Office & FGN.  I think.  My eyes are not so good. I hope this helps you.
  

Thanks for taking a look.  Any chance that it has a similar looking stamp on the left side of the receiver?

Michael

antler1 said
I just checked the tang and stock and they all match 906XX and 906 on stock. What nobody has ventured to address so far is how this mismatched letter to an obvious high grade 1886 will affect it's price.
  

I don't yet have the eye of others, but everything looks nice to me...I think with the matching numbers and all else considered, it won't matter much at all....maybe to some folks, but not most folks.

Is it possible the mag tube is not original? I've never seen one split like that, even knowing how they're made.

Commissioner said
Fellows: Check these out!top is a 45 Long Colt made by Miroku and imported. Next is a Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine in 44/40. Made in 1903.. still in great shape. Bright bore. I killed a Deer with it two years ago. Next down is a beautiful case colored Octogon  barreled 45 Long Colt made by Armi San Marco’s, next down is special grade Case Colored octogon barreled 44 Magnum. Made by Miroku and imported by Browning. Last but not least is a beautifully engraved 45 Long Colt imported by Winchester and made under license to Miroku of Japan. Some really nice guns here.
  

Nice collection.  Can I get the SN and some detail images of the upper tang and the barrel address on the 1903 SRC so that I can add it into my research survey?

Michael

Good points are once again brought up here, but only the true Die Hard Collectors seem to go by the Cody Letter's, as many nice rifle sell without a Cody letter or any documentation! IMHO!

I also like to see a good letter with as much info on it, but we've been around long enough and seen this before, and will see it again!

You're rifle will command a good $$$ on any good auction site, and Especially on Gun Broker, where many go with extra money to spend and bid things up pretty high! Especially a good looker like yours! IMO! 

Tony

TXGunNut said

antler1 said
I just checked the tang and stock and they all match 906XX and 906 on stock. What nobody has ventured to address so far is how this mismatched letter to an obvious high grade 1886 will affect it's price.
  

Pat-
I'm afraid it's a long ways down that "excuse gun" trail. My personal feelings stop where the next buyer's pocketbook starts. I think it's a great gun but when the time comes to sell it the information contained in the letter will affect some buyers more than others. Most or all of us have had "excuse guns" and they're a tough sell. Someone with the required expertise and experience will recognize it as an honest gun, as I believe you did. In today's market buyers are sometimes afraid to trust their own judgement but with the high quality fakes we see who can blame them? Many buyers buy to re-sell and simply don't want the "excuse" headache. Letters are an integral part of this hobby but at some point we need to decide if we're buying a gun or a letter. I think Ian has a good feel for the actual numbers on probable sales price but also significant is the percentage of buyers who will eagerly buy a rifle like yours that matches the letter while declining to make an offer on this rifle. That number is hard to put a finger on but certainly a factor.
 
Mike
  

Very well stated Mike. I will not intend to keep this as part of my permanent Winchester collection and it is obvious by my post that I have already decided to inform a large collecting audience of its downfall. I would not try to knowingly misrepresent it as other than an above grade highly collectible 1886 in 45-70 with this one problem. This 1886 will be for sale in the near future.

Zebulon said
Tony,
Your Shiloh saddle gun is beautiful in that way as well. Only the truly mentally impaired have to guess whether a Sharps is loaded and what to do about it. 
  

Bill,

I concur!

Tony

Your Shiloh saddle gun is beautiful in that way as well. Only the truly mentally impaired have to guess whether a Sharps is loaded and what to do about it. 

antler1 said
I just checked the tang and stock and they all match 906XX and 906 on stock. What nobody has ventured to address so far is how this mismatched letter to an obvious high grade 1886 will affect it's price.
  

Pat-

I'm afraid it's a long ways down that "excuse gun" trail. My personal feelings stop where the next buyer's pocketbook starts. I think it's a great gun but when the time comes to sell it the information contained in the letter will affect some buyers more than others. Most or all of us have had "excuse guns" and they're a tough sell. Someone with the required expertise and experience will recognize it as an honest gun, as I believe you did. In today's market buyers are sometimes afraid to trust their own judgement but with the high quality fakes we see who can blame them? Many buyers buy to re-sell and simply don't want the "excuse" headache. Letters are an integral part of this hobby but at some point we need to decide if we're buying a gun or a letter. I think Ian has a good feel for the actual numbers on probable sales price but also significant is the percentage of buyers who will eagerly buy a rifle like yours that matches the letter while declining to make an offer on this rifle. That number is hard to put a finger on but certainly a factor.

Mike