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Hi,
I’m posting this from Sweden where a friend of mine came across this Winchester Model 1894 rifle.
I found it interesting since it has a lot of carvings on it. Some are really well made and others aren’t, as you can see in the photos.
Neither me or my friend has any knowledge about the history of the rifle other than it was found in his late fathers shed. Neither his father or grandfather has any involment with wars or USA as we know of. So there is a mistery of how this rifle came to Sweden.
It would be really interesting if any of you guys would know or guess the history of what this rifle has been through. Speculations are welcome!
Since I wasn’t able to add the images in this topic, I had to upload them to this site:
https://ibb.co/KNNWSMP
https://ibb.co/6wxTSLR
https://ibb.co/GCvQg6P
https://ibb.co/zbGxFs2
https://ibb.co/w0yLHVR
https://ibb.co/hsJ006N
https://ibb.co/f03W1ht
https://ibb.co/5B9nL8G
https://ibb.co/ydYJMCz
The serial number tells us that it is a Model 1894 (Sporting Rifle) that was manufactured in February 1905. The stock carvings were all a result of a past owner’s handy-work.
Winchester actively exported firearms throughout the world, with a significant number finding their way to the Scandinavian countries (primarily Finland, Norway, and Sweden).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
The carving on the right side of the stock which says “Dewey Creek Alaska 1930” puts it there. A quick Google of it shows that there was a hydro electric dam put in there and it was in the gold rush area.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Yeah the big question is….how did the father come to own it? Did it have family sentimental value or did he just buy it 5 years ago and throw it in the shed like a tool? I love it though, that thing has seen some business.
Looks like a three leaf rear sight? Kind of cool. No finish left but that’s OK, this thing has its own stories. Here’s what ChatGPT tells me about the history of the swastika, which was actually appropriated by Hitler for his own purposes…I wouldn’t worry too much about that but who knows, could’ve been a nazi’s!
-
- Well-being: In ancient India, the word swastika means “well-being” in Sanskrit. The symbol has been used by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains for thousands of years.
- Good luck: In Europe, the swastika was widely used in the early 20th century as a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness.
- Aryan identity: In the 1930s, the Nazi party adopted the swastika as a symbol of Aryan race identity. The swastika was used in Nazi propaganda, including on the Nazi flag, election posters, arm bands, and badges.
- German nationalist pride: The Nazi party adopted the swastika to symbolize nationalism and pride.
- Four winds: In Native American culture, particularly among the Pima people of Arizona, the swastika is a symbol of the four winds.
- Plurality, abundance, prosperity, and long life: In China and Japan, the swastika has been used to denote these things.
- Clothing decoration: Modern Tibetan Buddhists use the swastika as a clothing decoration.
I wouldn’t worry too much about that but who knows, could’ve been a nazi’s!Jeremy P
In 1930’s Sweden? Up until the outbreak of WW II, there were HUNDREDS of products made in this country that featured swastikas as a “good luck” symbol decoration. Esp common on poker chips, and a factory paint option on Old Town canoes, among innumerable other applications. Also it’s use was common in architectural ornament, most now destroyed due to anti-Nazi hysteria.
If you follow Antiques Roadshow, you’ll see many examples of carvings on utilitarian objects no more “professionally” executed than this, described, & valued, sometimes highly, as “folk-art.” I’d buy this gun in a heartbeat if priced reasonably.
I doubt the swastikas are Nazi since one goes one way the the other another way.
clarence said
Up until the outbreak of WW II, there were HUNDREDS of products made in this country that featured swastikas as a “good luck” symbol decoration.
This was my point….cultural symbols more so than American good luck products. That assumes the carvings are from the 1930s, Clarence, could’ve been added any few decades afterwards.
Thanks for all your replies!
Just to clarify, his father could not have had any sentimental values for the rifle, as we know of.
How he got possesion of the rifle is a mistery since he was very secretive about the rifle and never told or showed anyone that he had that.
Just remember that the laws in Sweden are very strict when it comes to firearms. That’s probably one of the reasons why he never told anyone about it. The father did not have a license for any firearms.
It’s nearly impossible in Sweden to get a license for a rifle when the rifle never have been registered in Sweden before and are missing its historic documentation.
Winchester lost in Sweden said
How he got possesion of the rifle is a mistery since he was very secretive about the rifle and never told or showed anyone that he had that.
There must have been a Swede who traveled to Alaska, worked on that dam, & returned home; what other explanation can there be? Did he smuggle the rifle back with him? Family owning it now must have had some relationship with that unknown traveler, or it wouldn’t have wound up in their shed. Not only Sweden’s strict laws, but anti-Nazi hysteria would be good reasons for keeping quiet about it; though the offending symbols could easily have been sanded off. Should think it would find a good home in Alaska, it it were possible to repatriate it.
clarence said
Winchester lost in Sweden said
How he got possesion of the rifle is a mistery since he was very secretive about the rifle and never told or showed anyone that he had that.
anti-Nazi hysteria would be good reasons for keeping quiet about it;
This is what I thought.
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