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These photos were lifted from a current auction on Gunbroker. The first digit of the serial number appears to be an upside down 1 or and incomplete L. While the first digit appears to be the same age as the rest of the serial number, it is of a different font and not of a matching sans serif font. Of less significance is the muzzle which has been chamfered. I have 3 rifles in 25-20 WCF and none have this chamfering.
Has anyone seen a digit 1 like this one?
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Online
I have seen that on other models.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I have seen the “L” digit on hundreds of Winchester Model 1892s, 1894s, and 1897s. They were all manufactured in the exact same time period.
The chamfered muzzle is also relatively common.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Here are just a few of the Model 1894s with the “L” digit…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Here are a bunch of Model 1897 “C” series guns…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Interesting replies. There must be an even more interesting story behind why a company that paid so much attention to detail as Winchester did stamped so many serial numbers with a symbol that is neither a “1” nor an “L”. The symbol looks like it might be a 1 with the left side of the number broken off the stamping die.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
I am not of the opinion or belief that it was a “broken” die as some people have theorized. The fact that I have found serial numbers with as many as four sequential “L” digits (each slightly different) is very solid proof that the dies were intentionally cut in that shape. The person working in the tool & die shop at that time simply cut them in an “L” shape. Slightly later serial numbers have an inverted “T” in place of the “1” or “L”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Wincacher,
The “L” shaped one digit is the common style used on the Model 1892’s from SN 100,000 to 200,000. There are small runs when the inverted “T” style is found in this range also. Occasionally either of these forms will appear on rifles from 200,000 to 220,000 but extremely rarely afterwards. Just as a note that barrel and receiver are proof stamped well before the typical SN 300,000 time frame.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
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