Good morning,
Here is another rifle from Jamestown, CA. who used to sell under “Selling Dad’s Old Guns” and now is just “Winchester Guns”. They may describe this as: “Here is the HOLY GRAIL of Model 1892’s. Offered here is a very rare, Winchester Model 1892 44-40 WCF Saddle Ring Carbine Trapper which is in near mint condition! This is certainly ONE OF THE FINEST CONDITION TRAPPERS IN EXISTENCE.” It is my opinion that the barrel is most certainly a fake. In my survey data I have documented twelve trapper style SRC’s very close to this rifle’s SN. NONE of them have the Type 3 barrel address on the barrel. In addition, the lettering style and spacing is poorly done in the address and the caliber stamp looks like it was inscribed versus being stamped on the barrel. https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/806732184
The caliber stamp should look like this:
Instead is is weak looking, the 4’s are misshaped, have a horizontal line on their base (WHAT?????) and that pesky decimal in front of the “44” is missing! Oh my how flipping embarrassing!
One would think that for $25,000 you could at least get a good fake rifle!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
November 7, 2015

But Michael! It comes with a CRATE!
😉
Mike
It looks like his fake shipping crates are getting more elaborate, complete with antiqued water damage. Fortunately, he doesn’t devote that level of detail to the replacement barrel. Makes it easier for someone with Michael’s expertise to spot the fake.
It’s interesting that he chose the less desirable 16″ barrel, rather than a 14″ or 15″. I guess he may actually have a line he won’t cross between simply being a dishonest fraud and breaking federal law by selling an altered rifle that violates the GCA of 1934. I guess his instinct for self-preservation outweighed his lack of scruples in this case.
Mark Wrote:
It looks like his fake shipping crates are getting more elaborate, complete with antiqued water damage.
And…. it is amazing that the crate actually acted to protect the very precious “ONE OF THE FINEST CONDITION TRAPPERS IN EXISTENCE” from any of that water damage for all these years. What a blessing of outstanding coincidence!!!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
25-35 said
Michael, Appears there are also dashes (i.e., underlines) below the caliber stamp which is not correct?
Absolutely not correct!! Talk about “rectal cranial vision” of the guy faking this barrel. VERY early 4’s were marked as such but certainly not on these late guns.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Tedk said
Is a 16 in. barrel on a ‘92 Trapper less desireable than the shorter barrel lengths?
Ted,
The one thing about collecting is that everyone’s definition of “less desirable” is going to be different. For me, the shorter the barrel length the less aesthetically pleasing the gun looks to me. Therefore, these rifle are less desirable to me. But that is just me. Somebody else my go crazy over 15, 14 or 13 inch trappers. That’s good for them. But it does not need to be your yard stick.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
When I was young, I realized a big white truck is out there with my name on its front bumper. That was 40+ years ago. At first, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of it splattering me like a bug, but over the years, I’ve grown rather fond of the idea. Sometimes now, I feel I can hear it coming, steadily and peacefully lumbering nearer.
The way “Dad’s” churns my stomach when I stumble on one of his auctions, I’m thinking Destiny could, just this one time, take my name from the front of the white truck and replace it with “Dad’s” name. I know–I’d be giving up my spot in the line. But heck, I wouldn’t even mind my name on that next red truck behind it.
FromTheWoods said
When I was young, I realized a big white truck is out there with my name on its front bumper. That was 40+ years ago. At first, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of it splattering me like a bug, but over the years, I’ve grown rather fond of the idea. Sometimes now, I feel I can hear it coming, steadily and peacefully lumbering nearer.The way “Dad’s” churns my stomach when I stumble on one of his auctions, I’m thinking Destiny could, just this one time, take my name from the front of the white truck and replace it with “Dad’s” name. I know–I’d be giving up my spot in the line. But heck, I wouldn’t even mind my name on that next red truck behind it.
FTW,
It sounds like you also would entertain the idea of driving the white truck with “Dad’s” emblazoned on the front bumper!!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Tedk said
Is a 16 in. barrel on a ‘92 Trapper less desireable than the shorter barrel lengths?
It’s been my experience that the 12, 13, 14, 15 inch trappers tend to bring more money than 16″ trappers in similar condition, not to say that every collector prefers them. “Dad’s” is all about the money, but even he doesn’t risk faking a gun that violates federal law (at least that I’ve seen). If he were really astute, he would have faked a really scarce (and valuable) 17″ or 19″ trapper and still kept it to a legal barrel length. Of course, there is that pesky issue of the fraud he’s committing if he’s faking any of these guns, but that’s a whole lot harder to prove.
twobit said
FTW,
It sounds like you also would entertain the idea of driving the white truck with “Dad’s” emblazoned on the front bumper!!
Michael
Michael, I have no Big White Truck license–haven’t been cleared yet to make those Higher Level splattering decisions, so the Reaper must do the driving.
“Dad’s” likely hurts many people with his ugliness.
Viewed 694 times, no bids yet. There should be a way to stop this thief. To bad no one has connections with law enforcement .
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
November 7, 2015

steve004 said
No longer, “Dad’s” yet:“Here is another fabulous and very rare offering from this prestigious collection”
That apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Mike
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