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January 20, 2015
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clarence said
Merz the Winchester specialist in business since 1965? One call to Cody would have verified whether the non-standard features were original…or not! I’d bet he did make that call hoping to hear it was a rare special order, but the response he received persuaded him that ”silence is golden.”
Exactly!!!!
December 21, 2006
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On the other hand if it was “factory correct” and letterable, it would be a lot more money, coming from Leroy
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry Mero said
On the other hand if it was “factory correct” and letterable, it would be a lot more money, coming from Leroy
That’s true Henry. In the end it’s the buyers due diligence or not, to decide what he’s buying & make the purchase. I guess I expect more from a seller like Merz. What not to say doesn’t cut it for me. Jmo
And still too much money for a possibly altered Ser # or non original receiver imo.
November 1, 2013
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RickC said
$1795 is not priced to sell imo for this frankenchester but each to their own I guess.
Compared to his usual hyperbolic prices, this isn’t bad, & tells you he knows very well how badly messed up the gun is.
June 4, 2017
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RickC said
$1795 is not priced to sell imo for this frankenchester but each to their own I guess.
I think the gun has spoken. I wouldn’t want it, but it will sell. ” each to their own I guess” sums it up.
When Leroy’s guns sell for 100k he’s involved. $1795 is not something he’s concerned about. I have bought guns from him, when I asked for more information or pictures they provided. Verbal descriptions were accurate and prices were negotiable. When I sent something back I got my money back. In my book it doesn’t get any better than that!
When you buy a gun from someone you can talk to, call him up. Ask him to put the gun on his lap and ask him 100 questions. If you don’t do your part he can’t do his. One question I always ask is there any flaws, extra holes, cracks, refinish, swapped parts, or mechanical problems. Leroy’s people have been honest in their descriptions. The only gun I sent back was my fault, I was overly optimistic. His prices are whatever the market will bare. T/R
November 1, 2013
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TR said
When I sent something back I got my money back. In my book it doesn’t get any better than that!
Nothing special about that–it’s ALWAYS been SOP in mail-order gun selling since the first issue of Shotgun News was published, & probably long before that. Shotgun News REQUIRED sellers to give buyers a 3-day return privilege. Later, Gun List followed suit. Same with dealers advertising in the Rifleman. My ratio of “keeping” to “returning” averaged about 50%. (Except with Jim Goergen, it was 0%.) Allowing sellers to get away with “no returns” is an invention of Gunbroker.
March 31, 2009
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TR said
My trusted seller list has no names on it! I take it one gun at a time, I let the gun speak for itself. T/R
Exactly!!!! For the most part you have to remember that an honest gun dealer is an oxymoron.
November 8, 2011
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I wonder about the legalities of owning a gun with an altered serial number
April 1, 2005
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sb said
I wonder about the legalities of owning a gun with an altered serial number
18 U.S.C. 922(k) makes it unlawful to transport, ship, receive or possess a firearm with the manufacturers serial number obliterated, removed or altered.
Maverick said
sb said
This serial number is not correct. The upper tang is marked Model 94 so it was made well after 1897 or 1905I do believe you’re onto something here. Look at these example serials fairly close to the serial number range of the SRC. Now compare them to each other and then to the SRC in question and I think you’ll see the difference.
Sincerely,
Maverick
Might be a parts gun real soon.
January 27, 1992
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No mention of the forearm barrel band installed “backwards”? RDB
rogertherelic said
No mention of the forearm barrel band installed “backwards”? RDB
Sure is. Good eye Roger. I’m thinking Merz doesn’t read the forum, & if he does it’s of no concern to him. Still listed…same description & Ser #.
November 1, 2013
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RickC said
I’m thinking Merz doesn’t read the forum, & if he does it’s of no concern to him.
If he did, he’d be laughing all the way to the bank.
June 12, 2013
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Isn’t that a Model 55 butt stock?
antler1 said
Isn’t that a Model 55 butt stock?
That might explain some of the parts.
July 16, 2013
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clarence said
TR said
When I sent something back I got my money back. In my book it doesn’t get any better than that!
Nothing special about that–it’s ALWAYS been SOP in mail-order gun selling since the first issue of Shotgun News was published, & probably long before that. Shotgun News REQUIRED sellers to give buyers a 3-day return privilege. Later, Gun List followed suit. Same with dealers advertising in the Rifleman. My ratio of “keeping” to “returning” averaged about 50%. (Except with Jim Goergen, it was 0%.) Allowing sellers to get away with “no returns” is an invention of Gunbroker.
Clarence, you mentioned Jim Georgen, is that the same guy from MN. If so is he still going. I must of purchased dozens of winchesters and single action colts from him and Debbie, back in the early 90s. He would bring every gun to the phone and detail it for me. every purchase was spot on, was never dissapointed.
Buying sight un seen 20,000kls away sounds a bit scary, but was allways happy with Jim.
Tony
Australia
Tony. R said
Clarence, you mentioned Jim Georgen, is that the same guy from MN. If so is he still going. I must of purchased dozens of winchesters and single action colts from him and Debbie, back in the early 90s. He would bring every gun to the phone and detail it for me. every purchase was spot on, was never dissapointed.
Buying sight un seen 20,000kls away sounds a bit scary, but was allways happy with Jim.
Tony
Australia
Interesting reply Tony. Welcomed read. It sounds like Jim would be on my trusted sellers list…unlike many others.
November 1, 2013
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Tony. R said
Clarence, you mentioned Jim Georgen, is that the same guy from MN. If so is he still going. I must of purchased dozens of winchesters and single action colts from him and Debbie, back in the early 90s. He would bring every gun to the phone and detail it for me. every purchase was spot on, was never dissapointed.
Buying sight un seen 20,000kls away sounds a bit scary, but was allways happy with Jim.
Tony
Australia
All I can say is, he must love Aussies a LOT! Frankly, I’ve never run into anyone whose experience with him wasn’t the same as mine if buying from his mail-order, pre-internet, ads, & among old-school SS collectors his name is a bad joke. I think his advertising philosophy was that falsely-described guns might very well “stick” with ignorant greenhorn collectors (of which the number is by no means small), & if not, no harm was done, because the customer could (at his own expense) return the gun, & he never argued about refunds.
Slight differences of opinion about condition are almost inevitable, but I’m not talking about those–I’m talking about “this can’t be the same gun he described” kinds of differences. My dealings with him were in the ’70s & ’80s, so maybe since then he “got religion,” or maybe he just treated overseas customers differently, knowing the option of return would be prohibitive.
Anyway, glad your purchases turned out so well.
clarence said
Tony. R said
Clarence, you mentioned Jim Georgen, is that the same guy from MN. If so is he still going. I must of purchased dozens of winchesters and single action colts from him and Debbie, back in the early 90s. He would bring every gun to the phone and detail it for me. every purchase was spot on, was never dissapointed.
Buying sight un seen 20,000kls away sounds a bit scary, but was allways happy with Jim.
Tony
Australia
All I can say is, he must love Aussies a LOT! Frankly, I’ve never run into anyone whose experience with him wasn’t the same as mine if buying from his mail-order, pre-internet, ads, & among old-school SS collectors his name is a bad joke. I think his advertising philosophy was that falsely-described guns might very well “stick” with ignorant greenhorn collectors (of which the number is by no means small), & if not, no harm was done, because the customer could (at his own expense) return the gun, & he never argued about refunds.
Slight differences of opinion about condition are almost inevitable, but I’m not talking about those–I’m talking about “this can’t be the same gun he described” kinds of differences. My dealings with him were in the ’70s & ’80s, so maybe since then he “got religion,” or maybe he just treated overseas customers differently, knowing the option of return would be prohibitive.
Anyway, glad your purchases turned out so well.
???♂️
June 4, 2017
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Today would you buy a gun without seeing lots of good pictures and asking questions? I won’t! I would like to have it in my hands! Internet buying is risky, does the seller even have the gun, will he give the money back if you return, and will it get damaged in shipping. You don’t have that worry buying at a show, but you do have to know what your looking at. Colt people have Kopec, a letter from John is as good an opinion as you can buy. He inspects the gun in hand with a screwdriver, writes a letter, and keeps a permanent record. The best of all you can call him on the phone. Winchester collectors don’t have anyone like him.
Trying to come up with a trusted dealers list is hard. Coming up with a list of dealers that will return your money is possible. Being out the shipping is the price of internet shopping. Having a go to gun expert would help on the risk. T/R
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