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Bert H. and all others;
I have but one Winchester Model 1894 left in the remains of my collection, the majority of which I sold off a few years ago. The 1894 is a Carbine, Serial #278606, in 32 Special caliber with a number of “Special Order” features. 1) Special ordered Marbles front sight. 2) a 3 blade Express sight with Platinum inlayed lines. 3) A Tang Sight, original to the firearm. 4) A “Special Ordered” French finish. (not the standard finish found on most of these Winchesters.) 5) Inscribed, “David A. Oden 1920”. The Carbine has had a “Trigger Job” done to it, a very light touch off. The Lever Safety was changed to allow it to fire just before completely closed. (Take your life in your hands unless you know it exists) The external finish, one might say is “Non Existant” save for the wood. The markings however are clearly there and the outer metal was not abused. The internal works of this firearm was kept in excellent shape, this includes an excellent bore. Last but not least, this Carbine sports 14 notches on its Butt Stock. Initally I thought it belonged to a prolific hunter that had much good luck. I’m not so sure any longer, as this firearm was adjusted by a competant gunsmith to actually be a little “Unsafe” for hunting in the field. Unsafe, at least when hunting deer. The Carbine came out of California or Arizona, and was manufactured in 1906 as I recall. Now my question to anyone out there. Who was this guy David A. Oden? Did he represent the Law, or was he on the other side? Anyone interested in doing some research on this one?
Apache
Larry,
I do not have the time available to research it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
A fifteen year old David Oden is shown in the 1920 federal census as being born in California in 1905 and, apparently, the son of Frederick Oden and Mary Oden, maiden name unknown. The father was a German who migrated to America in 1890 and the mother was born in California to French parents. At this time, the family lived in Los Angeles Township, Los Angeles, CA, with the father’s occupation shown as General Work for an Oil Company, while David worked as a Delivery Boy in the Engineer Industry. In 1930, a David A. Oden, born about 1905, was married to Helen C. Oden, with his occupation shown as a Greaser for Oil Co Cars, and living in San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles, CA. David and Helen also lived in the same township and state in 1940 when his occupation was that of a painter. David and Helen are shown in both the 1930 and 1940 census as living together with no children listed. The Social Secuity Death Index shows that a David Oden was born on 2 Novmber 1904 and died in February of 1972, with his last residence shown as Seal Beach, Orange County, CA.
JWM94;
Thank you very much for the information on David A. Oden. The Winchester Carbine was in fact manufactured around 1903, two years before D. A. O’s birth. With a number of “Special Ordered” features I would imagine it was ordered by an older member of Oden’s family and inscribed to him at a later date. Of course it could have been purchased second hand at a later date by Oden himself, then he had the action modified to suit him. I don’t understand why he or someone else would have made this Winchester into an “Unsafe for hunting” firearm though. With the hammer in the full cock position, it had been modified to fire just as the bolt is ALMOST in the full closed position. The lever safety was modified intentionally, not worn out. Along with the “special” ordered sights and a lightened trigger pull this Carbine makes for a very neat Winchester. As for the 14 notches cut into the stock, be they for deer or men, it makes for something interesting to think about while sitting before the fire on a cold winter night, don’t you think?
Thank you again for the effort you made to get information to me about David A. Oden.
Larry N. (Apache)
JWM94;
I wonder if the Texas David Oden you found was a Junior? Of coarse the California Odens could have had “Part Time” jobs in the Man Hunting Business. That would cover both the “Hunting” part, and the “Man Killing”. Cool, don’t you think? From what I’ve read many men earned their living not only as Gunmen, but also as every day working stiffs. After all, even John (Doc) Holiday was a working dentist before he became a “Sporting Man”. Ha, Ha, Ha.
Larry N. (Apache) 
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