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Someone certainly did not want this rifle to sit in disrepair!
Purchased this for a parts gun. The more “fixes” I note and the more non-original parts I discover have me growing fond of it–thinking I should leave it “AS IS,” (Don’t you love those two words!) clean it, and one day dare to fire it. (Plus, there are few parts remaining in this beast that I would consider transferring to one of my other ’94’s.)
This is definitely a “One of a Kind” Winchester–more rare even than a “One of One Hundred” beauty. Though I do have a wheelbarrow that would hold the gold from selling a fine ’73, I doubt I would need it to haul all the coin I’d amass from auctioning this awesome Frankenrifle. And don’t worry about it becoming a “Safe Queen.” The way I figure it, no one with half-a-clue would steal it, so it won’t be kept in the safe. Best to keep it away from my other rifles anyway; never know if its condition is contagious.
I thought some of you might find it entertaining/interesting to view these photographs, and pass along to us your knowledge of the unique aspects and conglomerations that are now this rifle.
Too bad it can’t talk. Quite an old warhorse at any rate. By the circle P proof beside the WP proof the barrel is a mail order replacement so it shot one barrel completely out in it’s lifetime. Plus a broken tang with rough repair. I have had a few where they shortened the magazine tube and moved the magazine hanger rearward, looks like yours has had the same treatment. I don’t doubt it is safe to shoot but I would fix the dent on the barrel crown first.
I agree – the vintage repairs are too interesting and weird/unconventional to be lost. I would keep the rifle as-is… a far better conversation piece than a mint example!
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If “ugly” was a sin or punishable crime, that old rifle would be doing life without parole !! It also must have one WHALE of a story behind it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Certainly has personality! Pretty sure the Cody letter will state that it was stolen by Gypsies at birth. 
Yeah, I like it!
Yes, definitely Gypsies with a bit of Pirate in their blood. I’ve never seen such a super-cool skull and crossbones on a Winchester.
Showed the rifle to my youngest son on Friday afternoon. He’s a Winchester man. After the primal moans and groans, he was able to “marvel” at the marvelous fixes. It is so dirty (and likely bent) that closing the bolt draws one’s attention and takes a bit of muscle–he groaned again here, and cringed. By evening the rifle had become repulsive to him, but he could still let out a sickened laugh at some of the repairs.
I will clean up that crown prior to shooting it.
That stock amazes me. That is the rifle’s second butt stock, yet (I suspect) the first one was trashed when they broke the upper tang and bent the lower one. But I don’t understand how the second stock could become split–seems a person would pamper the second a little. But this blonde one has been subjected to bad juju, so much so, that the repairman felt it necessary to drive a nail through it, and insure a tight fit while halting separation with those two #4 bolts.
The rifle seems to have never been cleaned. Not so good filling job with that ugly yellow wood putty–gross. The hammer appears to be from an earlier rifle. The lever is bent somehow so the safety button under the bottom tang barely contacts it enough to work properly. I’m thinking what a better way for a Gypsy to hide his gold than to fake a broken tang and melt/mold a blob-o’-it behind the hammer–I’m sure it must be pure gold! Those clever Gypsies.
638234 is the number scratched on the butt plate and on the bottom of the link. The receiver has been sanded/ground enough that the sides are no longer symmetrical and the screw heads sit above the side metal. There are more fixes–need to get off the computer.
All the problems this rifle has had, yet the trigger is light and sharp–perfect! With a normal cleaning, the bore should prove to be fine with good rifling.
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