Flogging the WRACO Stamp|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

A bit off-topic but while we were talking about books and stamps and catalogs I came across something while re-reading Browning and Gentry’s biography of JMB. The authors mentioned a Browning Bros catalog. I can’t recall mention of such, let alone seeing one. Anyone have one in their library?

I found it quite interesting how often the authors referred to the Williamson book.

Mike

Can we pick which part?

Best not to.

Wait until you get to my age, sonny.

What a wonderful milestone.  Soon it will be easier to count what works than what doesn’t.

Bert H. said

Chuck said

Wait until you get to my age, sonny.

  

I am getting there faster than I want to… I just received my official Medicare Card in the mail this past week!

  

Had my initial Medicare physical a few weeks ago with a new provider. All went well but will need to schedule a follow-up to go over the things I forgot to mention. Changing healthcare providers is like changing insurance carriers. I should have done it years ago. 

Mike

twobit said
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

  

Mark Douglas said

Zebulon said

At that point, you won’t be able to count. 

Instead of cremation, I’m thinking about a Wyoming Sky Burial, with what’s left donated to Mark Douglas to use for some real bone charcoal bluing and color case hardening. 

If I can’t own a collection of high grade Winchesters, I could be part of a collection. 

  

Zebulon,

How ironic that you should mention that possibility, even if was just in jest.  Just this week, we received our first ever request to include a pinch of dad’s ashes in a crucible with the receiver of his favorite 1886 for case color hardening.  I must admit that I hadn’t considered that particular ingredient in the recipe before.  Mark 

  

Considering the makeup of cremains that wouldn’t be totally out of place.

Mike