Need help with this rifle 1885 Hi Wall serial 93670 made in 1901. Re-blued receiver and re-barreled with unmarked 24″ round barrel in presumedly .219 Zipper (have not done a chamber cast yet). Deluxe checkered and figured walnut crescent butt stock (clearly a Winchester factory made butt stock) that is numbered under the butt plate but not matching to the inside tang which is unmarked. So I believe it was a standard grade rifle and the deluxe butt stock wood was added. Also the forearm is long at 12″ and not figured walnut but could be factory made. But the checkering on it but looks non-factory. Interesting number 16 stamped on the forward bottom of the receiver? I am curious if any original specifications and caliber are known? Sorry can’t post pictures.
cjs57 said
Need help with this rifle 1885 Hi Wall serial 93670 made in 1901. Re-blued receiver and re-barreled with unmarked 24″ round barrel in presumedly .219 Zipper (have not done a chamber cast yet). Deluxe checkered and figured walnut crescent butt stock (clearly a Winchester factory made butt stock) that is numbered under the butt plate but not matching to the inside tang which is unmarked. So I believe it was a standard grade rifle and the deluxe butt stock wood was added. Also the forearm is long at 12″ and not figured walnut but could be factory made. But the checkering on it but looks non-factory. Interesting number 16 stamped on the forward bottom of the receiver? I am curious if any original specifications and caliber are known? Sorry can’t post pictures.
Countless SSs were rebarreled like this one in the ’30s & ’40s to HV varmint cartridges, & usually the forearm was replaced when the brl was changed. Original caliber could be determined from the serial no., provided the lower tang wasn’t replaced. Standard trigger?
cjs57 said
Serial is 93670. Trigger is standard not a set trigger. The curved pistol grip lower tang looks factory original for sure, both inside and out, no signs of rework.
Per my research records, S/N 93670 was received in the warehouse December 13th, 1902, as a standard Plain Sporting rifle (straight grip), caliber 30 Government (a.k.a. 30-40 Krag). It had a 30-inch No. 3 round nickel steel barrel, plain trigger, and plain walnut stocks. It sold in November 1903, and there is not an “R&R” entry for it.
In the configuration you describe, the lower tang has been bent, and it has been restocked. Not at all unusual for a reworked custom varmint rifle from the 1940s. The 219 Zipper cartridge was first introduced in 1937.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
cjs57 said
Thanks Bert! With the extra long 30″ barrel is it possible the 12″ long forearm is original to the gun? It would be more proportional to the long barrel that way. The inside inletting on the forearm does look factory made.
No, the longer forend stock is not factory original.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
cjs57 said
Also, Does anyone know what is the meaning of the roll marked number 16 with underline on the bottom of the receiver?
That is an inspector’s stamp, and it is not “roll” stamped. Instead, it was hand stamped, and it is commonly found on the post-1900 production Single Shot rifles.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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