That’s a nice carbine. I think they are trying to imply that it is an antique per the bogus Winchester serial numbers posted on the internet. I’m sure the letter will state 1901. 

steve004 said

  Based on the title and description, will they be shipping it as an antique?  The antique status is an important factor.  

Yes, that’s the critical factor, unless you enjoy submitting to federal restrictions & paying an FFL charge. Unfortunately, if other bidders believe it’s antique, the price will be jacked up, whatever its actual status.

steve004 said
This is a nice looking piece.  Both the title and description are confusing.  Sounds like the serial number puts it at 1901 manufacture but they vaguely imply there is perhaps a letter stating 1898.  If so, you sure would think they would post the letter.

Michael – do you have this one in your records?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/85/10/antique-winchester-model-1892-rifle-in-44-wcf  

Hello Steve,

I did capture the Model 1892’s presented in this auction and have not seen that rifle previously for sale.  It certainly does look nice.  The SN does correspond to 1901 production based on the Polishing Room records and the production ledgers.  I would tend to bid accordingly, happily pay the $100 FFL fee and not pay a supposed 20% “bonus” for an “antique” gun that is 100% identical.  Why pay 20% of $10,000 which equals $2000 to not pay $100?  Thanks but I will happily keep my incremental $1900!

Michael

Chuck said
Wherever they got their info it is the same as the Madis info.  There is no way they have a letter because it would blow out their “theory” that it is antique.

This tactic has been going on for years ever since David Kennedy made the polishing room records “public knowledge”.  

No way to have a letter, but if ATF still considers Madis’ numbers valid for determining eligibility for the pre-1899 exemption, (as I believe they do), that would suffice for a dealer to transfer it legally AS an antique, whatever the actual DOM.  Releasing the polishing room records has thrown a monkey-wrench into a long-established, smoothly-functioning, system of determining legal status & illustrates why it’s sometimes wiser to let sleeping dogs lie. 

Chuck said
So you are saying you’d rather operate with bad information than the actual real information?  I don’t want to be the one who becomes the test case in a lawsuit.  Whether the ATF knows or not they don’t seem to care.  I believe the ATF has had conversations with at least 1 WACA member about this.  

I’m saying the final arbiter of antique status is ATF, not the Cody Museum, even if ATF’s dating info is in error.  No chance of becoming a test case if you have abided by ATF’s own criteria for determining legal status.  I say again:  this dating discrepancy would not be an issue if it, the discrepancy, had been handled discreetly & with some common sense appreciation of the potential legal ramifications publicizing it outside the collector community could cause, & now, has caused.  I’d bet a million bucks (if I had it) that ATF officials feel EXACTLY the same–this is a can of worms they didn’t want opened! 

steve004 said
Interesting points.  It is a goodly number of rifles impacted.    

So is the Museum going to “recall” all the letters written using the old data? 

Bert H. said

Clarence,

Sometimes you really should think before you speak (type)!

The CFM has never written a single letter using “old data”.  Instead, they have always used the original Winchester records that have been in their possession since the late 1970s.  In 2007/2008, the CFM added the Serial Number application date (from the Polishing Room records).

In regards to the ATF and the actual factory records, they will use them if there is any doubt about the factual date.  To intentionally ignore the facts for potential financial gain, or simple ease of completing a transaction is utterly foolish.

Bert  

But weren’t the “original records” prior to 2007 the same ones referenced by Madis & sanctioned by ATF?  Is there a distinction between Madis’ chronology & the records used prior to 2007?  If so, where did Madis come up with his numbers?

Let me first say that I know not of which I report here.

Madis numbers where extrapolated from a collection of information which did not include the polishing room records. The later being the date the serial number was stamped, thus the actual date of manufacture.  The Feds can’t use the new information, it would create a nightmare of reclassification of hundreds of “antique” Winchesters. They want to let sleeping dogs lay.  Besides they are more concerned with guns that are being used in crimes. Nobody uses a 18th century gun in a drive-by.