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An ongoing post about the Cody Letter on short rifles has me thinking about the originality of such letters. Many of us place great value in such letters.
Has anybody come across a letter that has been faked?
Yes I have… in fact several of them.
Here is a copy of one such letter (not the best quality picture)… take note of the serial number 405544! Also take note of the fact that the idiot who created the fake the letter used the term “Rifle, Deluxe“. Per the Polishing Room records, s/n 405544 was manufactured July 20th, 1908. Apparently that rifle did some reverse time traveling to make it into the warehouse in October 1907!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
antler1 said
Did the letter have the embossed stamp on it?
I do not know for sure, but I do not believe that it did.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Offline
Jesi is aware of several of them as well. The ones I’ve seen are almost laughable but the one Bert posted was pretty good other that the poor choice of wording and ignorance of existing records. Just another reason I’m a museum member and I support CFM as I am able. As a museum member and WACA member I have as many searches as I’ll ever use and a letter for any that are truly special, all while supporting a resource that is truly priceless to Winchester (and Marlin, et al) collectors. Best money I ever spent! If you’re not a member there is a link to CFM on our home page, if you have any questions I will happy to attempt to answer them or find someone who can.
Mike
I know we have gone through this before but I can’t remember how far back the letters were embossed? But is was way before this letter.
Chuck said
I know we have gone through this before but I can’t remember how far back the letters were embossed? But is was way before this letter.
I was reading an article in the collectors’ magazine (or maybe somewhere else?) and it mentioned starting that at/around/in 2001.
Huh, I can’t find where I read that so, take it with a grain of salt of course….
Jeremy P said
Huh, I can’t find where I read that so, take it with a grain of salt of course….
I read the same thing. Found it in post #43 in this thread:
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1894-short-rifle-traits/page-3/
Don
I have letters from the 1980’s and after, they are all embossed. They did change the location on the page but they are embossed. In the 60’s they came from Winchester in the form of non embossed letters or post cards. I don’t know about the 70’s. T/R
I have a letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center dated March 13, 1978. It is non embossed Richard Rattenbury signed. So I guess the letters were from Winchester, then Buffalo Bill Historical Center, then Cody Firearms Museum and the only letters that are embossed are those from Cody. Just a guess based on my letters, I’m sure someone has a better handle on this than me. T/R
The earliest letter I have with a embosed stamp is June 83 by William Porter.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
OK,
I just went through my research notes & files and found these letter & dates.
Winchester Museum letters were sent out as late as June 1975. The first BBHC letter I have verified is dated August 1976 and the latest was October 1990. The records were shipped from the New Haven Musuem in early 1976 and unavailable for several months.
The factory letters were changed to “CFM” that we know today in early 1991 (March).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
OK,I just went through my research notes & files and found these letter & dates.
Winchester Museum letters were sent out as late as June 1975. The first BBHC letter I have verified is dated August 1976 and the latest was October 1990. The records were shipped from the New Haven Musuem in early 1976 and unavailable for several months.
The factory letters were changed to “CFM” that we know today in
early 1991 (March)January 1991.Bert
Great info based on factual data – Thanks!
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Bert H. said
OK,I just went through my research notes & files and found these letter & dates.
Winchester Museum letters were sent out as late as June 1975. The first BBHC letter I have verified is dated August 1976 and the latest was October 1990. The records were shipped from the New Haven Musuem in early 1976 and unavailable for several months.
The factory letters were changed to “CFM” that we know today in
early 1991 (March)January 1991.Bert
Bert I have a CFM
dated january 91
Tony. R said
Bert H. said
OK,
I just went through my research notes & files and found these letter & dates.
Winchester Museum letters were sent out as late as June 1975. The first BBHC letter I have verified is dated August 1976 and the latest was October 1990. The records were shipped from the New Haven Musuem in early 1976 and unavailable for several months.
The factory letters were changed to “CFM” that we know today in
early 1991 (March)January 1991.Bert
Bert I have a CFM
Thanks… I will update my records and notes. That closes the gap between a BBHC letter and a CFM letter to just a couple of months.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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