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A while back when I inquired about an 1876 rifle, after receiving all sorts of odd and not so nice comments about the gun, a member who took an interest in my inquiry was kind enough to send several old issues of the WACA magazine. The issues were from the middle to late 90s. I find it very interesting how the mindset of members has changed since then. I read an article about a Winchester lever gun that had a longer than standard barrel. The only information in the records was that the gun came from the factory with an octagon barrel. Instead of disregarding the gun as non-original, through research and inspection of the gun, it was found that the barrel was indeed original to the gun. There were numerous references to the incompleteness of factory records which seems quite contrary to the beliefs of many collectors today. It seems back then “never say never” was much more common.
Mark,
I will add my observations over the years in regards to factory records. Were it preferable that the records were always correct, and detailed all the options fitted originally to a Winchester? Of course. However, the records were written by hand by a human who sometimes took short cuts. Some of the obvious errors of omission and commission that I have observed, in addition to what is in the articles in the Collector you now have at your disposal, include an 1873 which shipped two years prior to its being received in the warehouse! The letter has in parens “as it appears in the records”. Obvious error by the recording person. The date into the warehouse is correct for its serial number, and seems to me the date “out” is either the same day/month or a day later but same month. Unfortunately the YEAR was two years earlier. Then I have an 1895 with a 32 inch barrel, which is noted in the factory ledger. What is not noted is the octagonal shape. The barrel is no doubt original, just one feature left off the ledger by the human recording the data.
Letters are invaluable. They usually contain much good information. Unfortunately, they are sometimes lacking of a certain detail we as collectors would dearly LOVE to have been recorded. That is life, and you have realized that. Still, the exceptions that prove the rules are scarce.
Tim Tomlinson
That would require a records double check.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Here’s a strange one, an 1873 carbine that “letters” with a 28″ octagon barrel, hmmm….
That another one that requires a recheck. If you read the older letter it does not state anything about a octagon 28″ barrel. One of the letters is wrong and I would say its the last one.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
That another one that requires a recheck. If you read the older letter it does not state anything about a octagon 28″ barrel. One of the letters is wrong and I would say its the last one.
Bob
I can’t believe RIA (or the consigner) doesn’t do this. You would think they would want an accurate letter in their listing to go along with the $20,000.00 to $40,000.00 gun.
Hey, they sell guns not letters, and do very little research on the stuff they sell. They are “Experts”?
BTW, Winchester is not the only one to get its letters screwed up.
I sent for a letter from S&W on an early 8 3/8″ 4 screw M48 22 MRF. Mr. Jinks got hold of me on the S&W Forum and told me that revolver was a M14 with a 6″ bbl. He rechecked his research of my serial number and it still came back as a 6″ M14, 38 Special. So, I will never know when my M48 was shipped and in what configuration. The guy who did the original recording must have had a hangover from the previous night. Big Larry
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