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Not sure why the CFM did not provide the SNA date, but according to my notes, s/n 40339 was applied on December 18th, 1884. I also have notes that indicate a very small number of Hotchkiss Specials rifles were factory chambered for the 43 Spanish cartridge.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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Bert and others, I would infer, with no notation of caliber, it was the standard caliber for the model. I.E. .45 Gov’t. Tim
tim tomlinson said
Bert and others, I would infer, with no notation of caliber, it was the standard caliber for the model. I.E. .45 Gov’t. Tim
I agree… however, with the issue Kevin is having, I thought it wise to mention the 43 Spanish as a potential.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
cj57 said
Chuck said
steve004 said
I’d bet money it’s not a .40 caliber cartridge.
I would too.. But the catalog says they were at least thinking of making some. We learn something new all the time.
He stated it, letters as 45-70, it may be the original barrel that the roll stamp was polished off, it has the correct rear sight for a sporting rifle, the ramp throws it off. Wood looks fine.
To the best of my knowledge the Hotchkiss never had a ramped front sight.
Thanks for all the input. I’ll run a bore scope into the chamber when it is delivered. I also thought that might be a possibility of a case separation that could still be in the chamber.
November 7, 2015
Online
kevindpm61 said
Thanks for all the input. I’ll run a bore scope into the chamber when it is delivered. I thought that might be a possibility of a case separation that could still be in the chamber.
Good call on the bore scope. An obstruction is as good an explanation as any at this point. When are you expecting delivery?
Mike
kevindpm61 said
The muskets usually had the 28″ barrels? They also had a huge Military rear sight. The letter says “no rear sight seat”. So they may have used a Musket length barrel?
I completed the sale on Friday. It will need to my FFL before I can pick it up. Maybe the end of this week or early next week for sure. I wondered how long the musket barrels were.
Interesting. So it was sent out with no rear sight of any kind? I wonder what the purchaser had in mind?
Seems I read one of the early catalogs states the Hotchkiss could be ordered in, “all suitable calibers” (or something to that effect).
steve004 said
Interesting. So it was sent out with no rear sight of any kind? I wonder what the purchaser had in mind?Seems I read one of the early catalogs states the Hotchkiss could be ordered in, “all suitable calibers” (or something to that effect).
I don’t know? Scope? The Sporters usually had a sporting rear sight.
kevindpm61 said
I completed the sale on Friday. It will need to my FFL before I can pick it up. Maybe the end of this week or early next week for sure. I wondered how long the musket barrels were.
Congrats! It’s a cool gun! The musket barrels were 28″ and sporting rifle 26″
kevindpm61 said
But this fancy sporter was shipped with a 28 inch round barrel.
Yes it has a lot of special order features, I wounder what kind of sights the original owner was using? Maybe mounting a scope?
kevindpm61 said
I completed the sale on Friday. It will need to my FFL before I can pick it up. Maybe the end of this week or early next week for sure. I wondered how long the musket barrels were.
WHY does this need to go through your FFL when it is soundly ANTIQUE status?
mrcvs said
kevindpm61 said
I completed the sale on Friday. It will need to my FFL before I can pick it up. Maybe the end of this week or early next week for sure. I wondered how long the musket barrels were.
WHY does this need to go through your FFL when it is soundly ANTIQUE status?
I see this often with anal dealers with Antique guns and also won’t accept C&R lic. on old pre WW2 guns
Even though it is an antique, they wouldn’t send it to me because it is supposed to be chambered in 45-70 (not an obsolete cartridge). I mentioned that it was an antique and also that a cartridge wouldn’t chamber…….I tried.
kevindpm61 said
Even though it is an antique, they wouldn’t send it to me because it is supposed to be chambered in 45-70 (not an obsolete cartridge). I mentioned that it was an antique and also that a cartridge wouldn’t chamber…….I tried.
The cartridge chambering has zero to do with any firearm manufactured in or before December 31st, 1898. The cartridge (ammo) only comes into play if the firearm is a reproduction that was manufactured on or after January 1st, 1899.
I truly detest ignorance by gun shops (FFLs), dealers, and auction houses as it applies to what is, and is not, a legal antique firearm
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Yes, Bert, but it won’t get you anywhere! There are those who just won’t read and follow the ATF guides. Similarly there are ATF agents that put their own interpretations on things. Fact of life. I’ve tilted at windmills plenty enough. Tim
Rifle shipped from the dealer yesterday. I should have it in my hands next week. I’m anxious to go over the rifle with a fine-tooth comb.
I also found it interesting that the Winchester records mentioned that there was no rear sight seat in the barrel. What exactly does that mean?
I asked Jim if the butt plate on the rifle is the original “rubber butt”. At that time, he told me that he had not ever seen a rubber butt. Anybody have insight to this?
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