Don,
Shrinkage only occurs when you jump in a body of cold water (or shower). American Black Walnut, especially the higher grade, does not shrink. I do not believe that the stocks were swapped or sanded on that rifle. What I suspect, is that it was fully disassembled, cleaned, and then improperly reassembled.
This rifle is in the middle of several other Fancy Sporting Rifles. It appears that Winchester made a batch of them in the 565357 – 566316 serial number range.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
deerhunter said
Thanks Bert. So you think those gaps could be closed be proper disassembly and reassembly?
Possibly, but there is no way to know for sure. I suspect that the barrel tenon for the nosecap may have been reinstalled backwards, and is causing the gap between the forend stock and the steel cap.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have owned many deluxe Winchesters and it’s very common for deluxe grade wood to shrink away from the metal. Far more common with fancy wood than standard grade. I know this seller. He has had many very fine rifles listed over the past several years. I can absolutely, without reservation, say that he is a credit to the collecting field. His guns are as described and as honest as he says they are. You’ll have to make up your own mind, but this gun is the real deal.
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win4575 said
I have owned many deluxe Winchesters and it’s very common for deluxe grade wood to shrink away from the metal. Far more common with fancy wood than standard grade. I know this seller. He has had many very fine rifles listed over the past several years. I can absolutely, without reservation, say that he is a credit to the collecting field. His guns are as described and as honest as he says they are. You’ll have to make up your own mind, but this gun is the real deal.
He’s a honest man with a honest gun. T/R
I to have seen many deluxe grade wood forearms that have shrunk like that. I do agree with Bert that the tendon could of been install reversed and I fixed that on some guns by reversing the tendon with some luck. Sometimes I went to swapping the tendons with others from my parts box and find one that fixes it. The last option is you weld the hole of the tendon and drill and tap a new one in the right spot.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
win4575 said
I have owned many deluxe Winchesters and it’s very common for deluxe grade wood to shrink away from the metal. Far more common with fancy wood than standard grade. I know this seller. He has had many very fine rifles listed over the past several years. I can absolutely, without reservation, say that he is a credit to the collecting field. His guns are as described and as honest as he says they are. You’ll have to make up your own mind, but this gun is the real deal.
Totally agree on all points.
This is not to say that I believe he is correct on all of his claims, nor do I know anyone else who is.
James
win4575 said
I can absolutely, without reservation, say that he is a credit to the collecting field.
I’ll take your word that the man is honest, which in the world of gun-dealing (esp. on-line) is an admirable distinction, but jumping from that to a “credit to the collecting field” seems rather a looong step to take, unless there’s more to his story. Do you mean that he’s not buying & selling for profit, merely making these guns “available” for some altruistic purpose? Says something not very flattering about “the collecting field’ when all it takes to be a “credit” is to not be a crook, like for ex. “Selling Dad’s Old Guns,” & many others.
That’s exactly what I mean. I’m 70 years old and have collected Winchesters since I was 14. I would hope that gives me some qualifications for detecting honesty or deception in the collectors/dealers I’ve encountered over the years. What I’m trying to say is, this guy is honest and forthcoming about all of the positives and negatives on all the guns he sells. Who else would post over 100 photos for a potential bidder to view. Like many of us, he sells to collect. When the collecting field has more & more questionable characters dealing in antique firearms, it’s refreshing to find those who can be trusted.
I wish to digress for a moment. The seller listed in original post with a link on GunBroker has a Model 1895 in .405 listed. I’d appreciate thoughts as to originality, factory correct, condition, concerns on that rifle.
Thanks
Mac
P.S. As to shrinkage, well I’ve certainly shrunk in height as I’ve aged but caught most of it in my mid-section.
I never intended for this post to be a slam on the seller or his reputation. I was just trying to learn what causes the gaps in the wood vs. metal. I’ve seen this issue fom time to time and wondering why. For what it’s worth, I have this seller saved as a favorite on Gunbroker and I drool over almost every gun he is selling. In my opinion, he offers the best guns, provides tons of good photos, and accurate descriptions on Gunbroker. Plus a return policy if not happy. The only problem I have with purchasing his guns is lack of funds.
Don
Well said Don. I agree with the “lack of funds” part. Some people have asked me “if he’s a collector and his guns are so great, why doesn’t he keep them himself”. The answer is simple. Most of the guns he sells are not in his field of collecting. He likes early Winchesters, mostly 1876 models. His habit is expensive, so like many of us, he will buy high condition guns outside his field, so he can afford to add the earlier pieces he likes to his collection. He has a large collection of 76’s and he’s partial to .50 Express guns.
Big Mac said
I wish to digress for a moment. The seller listed in original post with a link on GunBroker has a Model 1895 in .405 listed. I’d appreciate thoughts as to originality, factory correct, condition, concerns on that rifle.Thanks
Mac
P.S. As to shrinkage, well I’ve certainly shrunk in height as I’ve aged but caught most of it in my mid-section.
Big Mac
I was looking at the 1895 right after it was posted up and I’d like to hear comments about it as well. Let me clarify that: I’d like to hear comments that are professional in a manner that is without language that is negative and absolute in nature, unless one can prove their remarks.
James
Gun looks great to me, but would agree I would try to tighten up that forend cap tenon by trying another tenon or seeing if it was put in backwards.
Most of the guns he lists are in great condition, being represented well by all the photos. His auctions also affords the opportunity (if sitting the sidelines) to see the real value of certain higher end guns guns based on their configuration and condition. I dont make it to a lot of gun shows these days, but I like to follow his auctions from time to time to see the final hammer prices realized to get a better idea of how certain guns should be priced to buy and to sell.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
1892takedown said
Gun looks great to me, but would agree I would try to tighten up that forend cap tenon by trying another tenon or seeing if it was put in backwards.
Most of the guns he lists are in great condition, being represented well by all the photos. His auctions also affords the opportunity (if sitting the sidelines) to see the real value of certain higher end guns guns based on their configuration and condition. I dont make it to a lot of gun shows these days, but I like to follow his auctions from time to time to see the final hammer prices realized to get a better idea of how certain guns should be priced to buy and to sell.
I wonder why this gun would have been taken apart? Very nice looking gun though.
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