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I have an 1894 Trapper model – I think. Serial number 358685. I took it to an antique gun dealer today, and they questioned if it had been cut down to trapper length. I find it hard to believe as the muzzle is very clean and smooth with no evidence of having been cut, and the barrel length is exactly 15 inches. They could not find the serial number, and suggested that I call the gun records museum in Cody, Wyoming to get the manufacturing details and a letter giving the manufacture details. Unfortunately, their records stop at serial number 353,000, so they don’t have anything.
Are there other avenues to pursue?
Scott,
S/N 358685 is not listed in Section III or IIIA on the BATF website, which indicates that it has not been cleared.
If you can post pictures of the Winchester address & patent marking on the barrel, I can more than likely tell you if it is a cut down or an original barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Maybe i missed something here, but he gave a serial number, then in another sentence he said it could not be found.
tsillik said
Maybe i missed something here, but he gave a serial number, then in another sentence he said it could not be found.
You did misunderstand the OP.
He indicated that the CFM does not have any information for it, and that is a true statement. The Model 1894 warehouse ledger records end at 353999. The only way to verify this gun is a “hands on” inspection.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Observation only, perhaps detrimental to discuss this particular topic further in “public forum”.
Good luck & best!
John
If You measure the forestock and it is 7 & 7/8″ it is probably a genuine trapper. If it was cut from a 20 ” carbine the forestock would be 8 &7/8″. Highly unlikely the wood would be cut also. And further if You pull the forestock off the bbl. and mag are machined for the front band screw. If the bbl. was cut at the chamber, well that would be another kettle of worms. Unfortunate it’s to late to letter. Oh ya what shape is the gun in, finish etc. Being in Canada I can legally own that gun, and already have a couple
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Scott,
Based on what I am seeing in your pictures, you have a cut down Sporting Rifle. The barrel appears to be approximately 15.5 inches long (you did not include the threaded barrel shank inside the receiver frame).
Close the action and run a cleaning rod down the bore until it bottoms out on the bolt face… then mark & measure the rod at the muzzle face. If the overall length of the barrel is < 16.0 inches, you are in possession of an illegally altered firearm. The value of the gun is 10-years in a Federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine. My recommendation to you would be to very quickly separate the barrel from the receiver frame, and then start looking for a replacement barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert – I’ll take the appropriate steps as you suggest. It had to have been cut down decades ago – given to my step father by the original owners daughter (who was 80 Yrs old at the time), then handed down to me when my step father passed. As such, its an heirloom to me, and sorry to think that I’m illegal by owning it.
If it were donated to a museum dedicated to the family (which there in fact is), would it place the museum in jeopardy as well?
Thanks again for your responses.
Scott
Scott Williams said
If it were donated to a museum dedicated to the family (which there in fact is), would it place the museum in jeopardy as well?
In it’s current “Assembled Configuration” it would / is an legal issue. If the barrel is off the receiver, than you merely have modified parts. You can’t use the firearm in its intended purpose if its disassembled. No different than if you ever stumble across a non-papered fully automatic class III firearm. Best to go ahead and disassemble it and ask questions later.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Scott Williams said
If it were donated to a museum dedicated to the family (which there in fact is), would it place the museum in jeopardy as well?
Thanks again for your responses.
Scott
Scott,
Museums typically are not interested in altered or non factory original pieces. Museums can get exemptions for NFA items, but typically will not do so unless the piece has historic importance.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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