I have been keeping tabs on this since the start. Now I thoroughly enjoy collecting Winchesters and continue to learn from better folks than myself every day about this affliction I have, BUT I will never consider myself a pro. So I would like to ask some questions about this rifle along with a couple comments. I went to see this gun in person but unfortunately it was headed to Tulsa when I went, so never saw it. But I have to believe it was put on display there for many to see. Now I understand peoples reservation of the legitimacy of the engraving as I too feel the engraved animals are “cartoon like”, but I think I have seen some of that look before, cant place it though. So why didn’t it get scrutinized heavily there? So now my questions.

  1. Is it possible this gun was sold “in the white” to be retailer engraved for a special person? I believe Colt did this from time to time.

  2. If this gun was engraved after it left the factory then it had to have been re-blued as the engraving is filled and appears to be of the same color as the gun, of which it appears to be a factory finish, anyone disagree?

  3.Does anyone dispute the checkering, it appears consistent of a gun of this vintage and type.

 So in closing I would say that if this gun was in fact set in storage for several decades, as that is completely likely, then I would have to say that Perry was totally duped himself. If the general consensus is that in fact it is not factory engraved, I have now learned that fakery has been going on longer than I have been alive (near 60).  

mrcvs said

Chuck said

The good restorers have spent years copying (smoking) all the engraved guns they could get their hands on so when the time came when they needed one they have a template to copy.

Maybe so.  But if a template was used to create the Amoskeag rifle, it was only done very loosely or the engraver lacked the prerequisite skills to even present an example that could remotely pass for original.

  

The same good restorers have a good engraver.  It really makes it hard to tell sometimes.  My point was whoever did or had this done didn’t use a good guy.

I’ve stated many times.  The fact that they say it sold doesn’t mean it actually did.  This is very common.  The good guys do it to look better.  The crooks do it to set up the next buyer.

Sorry ,I made my statement a little confusing. So I was perusing the web and noticed some guns on dealer sites that looked all to familiar and when I cross referenced them I noticed the engraved 1894 did not sell…. or so it would appear as it is stated “unsold”. I apologize for the confusion.