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November 19, 2006
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I didn’t want to completely hijack the other M1886 thread so I thought I would start my own. On the topic of dealer catalogs, I started to subscribe to them in the early 1970s. I started with Jim Jasken (later to become Frontier Americana of Fargo – along with Pete Erickson). Soon after was Rudy Dotzenrod out of Wyndmere, North Dakota and then Leroy Merz out of Fergus Falls, Larry’s Gun Room out of South Dakota and others.
Leroy’s catalog was my favorite. Two reasons – he had photo, and of course, he always had some very nice guns.
One of Leroy’s 1989 catalogs contained several M1886’s – beyond the special order .40-82 carbine discussed on another thread. They were three that I lusted after more than the carbine referenced.
The first two of note were a pair of .50-100-450’s. Very special, high condition rifles. For just $7500 each! Next, a very unusual, high condition, deluxe .45-90 with a 28 inch, half-octagon, “pencil” barrel with a muzzle diameter of .61 inches – small diameter than the magazine tube ($6750). And finally, on the same page a deluxe .45-90 in outstanding condition ($5500). There was so much I liked about these rifles. Over 35 years later, it still hurts to not own them!
These rifles have never left my mind (I suppose it would help if I had more than one hobby).
December 9, 2002
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Steve, you and I could probably pass for brothers, with you being the one with a better memory. My point being I did the same, and now that you mention it, I do remember some of those, and at the time, $$$ being relevant, I thought it would be nice to have some of those but it was a lot at the time, where today, it doesn’t really seem like it. I also enjoyed LeRoy Merz descriptions, and the nice pieces he would get in.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Tony
November 19, 2006
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Anthony said
Steve, you and I could probably pass for brothers, with you being the one with a better memory. My point being I did the same, and now that you mention it, I do remember some of those, and at the time, $$$ being relevant, I thought it would be nice to have some of those but it was a lot at the time, where today, it doesn’t really seem like it. I also enjoyed LeRoy Merz descriptions, and the nice pieces he would get in.Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Tony
Tony – yes, money at the time was the big factor. I might mention that the crescent buttplate is usually my least favorite – particularly on the bigger caliber rifles. On the rifles above, one of the .50-100’s has a factory Silvers pad and the other .50-100 has a shotgun butt. The .45-90 also has a shotgun butt. These factors, combined with the very high condition, scarcity of the .50-100 chambering and other fabulous special order features made these rifles very memorable for me.
April 1, 2005
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See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high because they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
February 17, 2022
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Burt Humphrey said
See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high becasue they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
Yup, #’s 2,4,and just because,#24. All totalled, less than my last 86.
November 19, 2006
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Burt Humphrey said
See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high becasue they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
Bert –
Is this where you M55 Deluxe came from?
April 1, 2005
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steve004 said
Burt Humphrey said
See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high becasue they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
Bert –
Is this where you M55 Deluxe came from?
No – mine was serial #5 – it is now owned by another WACA member – I am surprised Tom did not pick #14 – it is a Deluxe Model 55, serial #27. It belongs to a friend of mine and condition wise, it is even better than the one that used to be mine. It is pictured in the Madis book and was once in the Harold McCallum collection. It is hard but not impossible to find a nice deluxe 86 if you have money, just try to find a nice deluxe 55. I might just come out of retirement and go buy that #27!
February 17, 2022
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Burt Humphrey said
steve004 said
Burt Humphrey said
See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high becasue they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
Bert –
Is this where you M55 Deluxe came from?
No – mine was serial #5 – it is now owned by another WACA member – I am surprised Tom did not pick #14 – it is a Deluxe Model 55, serial #27. It belongs to a friend of mine and condition wise, it is even better than the one that used to be mine. It is pictured in the Madis book and was once in the Harold McCallum collection. It is hard but not impossible to find a nice deluxe 86 if you have money, just try to find a nice deluxe 55. I might just come out of retirement and go buy that #27!
Oh poop, I meant to put #14 Burt. Living proof to proof read your emails. LOL. If Your friend still has it and it needs a new home i would be game! The heck with the new truck
. Those don’t come along very often, if at all any more. Did you sell all your guns?
April 1, 2005
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oldcrankyyankee said
Burt Humphrey said
steve004 said
Burt Humphrey said
See anything you like – at the time they were all priced pretty high becasue they were original, correct and high condition. Inflation effects the cost of everything but the big difference between then and now is availability.
Bert –
Is this where you M55 Deluxe came from?
No – mine was serial #5 – it is now owned by another WACA member – I am surprised Tom did not pick #14 – it is a Deluxe Model 55, serial #27. It belongs to a friend of mine and condition wise, it is even better than the one that used to be mine. It is pictured in the Madis book and was once in the Harold McCallum collection. It is hard but not impossible to find a nice deluxe 86 if you have money, just try to find a nice deluxe 55. I might just come out of retirement and go buy that #27!
Oh poop, I meant to put #14 Burt. Living proof to proof read your emails. LOL. If Your friend still has it and it needs a new home i would be game! The heck with the new truck
Tom – have sold most of them – still have a few and will always put the word out to WACA members when I am ready to let one go. The next to sell will be a deluxe 76 in 50 caliber – has been in my safe since 1988. Right now I have given a fellow WACA member the first right of refusal when I price it (part of the agreement when I sold him another gun).
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