I know that this subject has been discussed several times over the years on the forum and various ideas of why a limited number of pre 1900 Winchesters were marked over the serial number have been put forth.  I will admit that I am not sold that a verifiable explanation has been found yet.  The most popular story is that Sears was behind it in an effort to get around some price limitations that were imposed by Winchester.  They were listing the various guns in their catalogs at pretty serious discounts to the same guns and prices listed in the Winchester catalogs. The 1900 Winchester catalog price for a solid frame octagon barrel sporting rifle was $19.50 vs $12.50 at Sears!!  The same gun at Montgomery Wards was $11.86!!!  The WRACO is only found on the 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1897 models even though Sears clearly was selling other Winchester models (1873, 1886, 1887, 1890, and 1895) at the same discounts at the same time. In addition, Montgomery Wards was selling the same guns at similar discounts.

There has been reference made to legal action taken by Winchester against Sears in the early 1900’s.  Do we have any attorneys in the mix here who could do some on line sleuthing as to what this may have been about?  That may or may not support the Sears connection.   I think that we all probably do not think that the “rifle sent back to Winchester and damaged serial number” explanation holds much water.  

I would also like to receive any photo of the stamp on different guns so that  I can build a library of information and try to find some common thread.  There is a difference between some of the stippling pattern that was used prior to the WRACO stamp being applied.  My email is [email protected]

Montgomery Ward 1895 Catalog

Sears 1902 Catalog