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Chuck said
The Letter says it came with a wind guage front sight. The tang sight was added my someone other than the factory.
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs. Like I said, only a fool would order a windguage for such a rifle. Although fools, it’s quite true, were never excluded from purchasing whatever bizarre combinations they could dream up.
Chuck said
The Letter says it came with a wind guage front sight. The tang sight was added my someone other than the factory.
I’m inclined to believe the front sight that is on there, has always been on there and a recording error was made in the ledger and the rifle was actually fit with a wind gauge tang sight. I agree that the other explanations offered are also plausible and I appreciated hearing them.
As TR said, the bolt should be bobbed, & if that wasn’t done, there’s no question the 15 was put there by someone who didn’t know this had to be done.
Marble’s had the better idea: their catalog showed an ’86 bolt pushing the staff of their “Flexible” tang sight backwards!
steve004 said
I’m inclined to believe the front sight that is on there, has always been on there and a recording error was made in the ledger and the rifle was actually fit with a wind gauge tang sight. I agree that the other explanations offered are also plausible and I appreciated hearing them.
That can be confirmed with good pictures of the back of the bolt and under the tang sight. The last time I had a question on one of Leroy’s guns I called LA he took the pictures and emailed them within hours. I still have the 66, I considered it a good deal. You have to know what your buying and decide what it’s worth to you. Some of my nicest guns I paid to much at the time only now to consider them a bargain. T/R
TR said Some of my nicest guns I paid to much at the time only now to consider them a bargain. T/R
TR, you can say the same about many things IF you let enough time go by. I didn’t think Ford was making me any special “deal” when I paid just about list price for a ’66 Mustang 289 Fastback, 4-sp, etc., though by comparison with what that car is worth today, they GAVE it to me. Anytime you pay “too much,” on that day you paid too much (not what it was going to be worth 20 or 30 yrs later)…you paid too much.
Clarence, I agree if your talking 20 years but some guns have history and most dealers don’t place enough value on it. If you pay them high retail and end up with solid documented history after a little digging the value will rise quickly. Many times if someone has a very rare gun you can pay to much and it’s still a bargain, but you have to know whats rare. You can pay to much for high condition gun and you don’t have to wait long to get your money back. That said, if you buy at a big national auction house you may not get your money back in your lifetime. It’s the commission and the thousands of potential buyers your bidding against.
The big gun shows and it’s dealers play an important roll in my collection. The problem is the cost to travel and stay for a three day show plus lack of security in some cities.
If you know what your looking at and who your looking at you can buy right. T/R
November 7, 2015
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Well said, TR. Know your guns, know your seller, know your market. I’m struggling on all three fronts.
Mike
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.
Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
oldcrankyyankee said
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
I bet it does not sell cheap and will have a 36″ barrel on it in the near future. Someone will add on to the muzzle end and sleeve the bore. Most 36″ guns were cut and now they are back as 36″ers. Saw one sell a while back for 26K. T/R
oldcrankyyankee said
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
Wouldn’t a 36 inch barrel have two magazine retaining rings? If the barrel were just shortened then the retaining ring nearer the forend would still be present.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
twobit said
oldcrankyyankee said
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.
Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
Wouldn’t a 36 inch barrel have two magazine retaining rings? If the barrel were just shortened then the retaining ring nearer the forend would still be present.
Michael
Yes it would, but from what I can tell the mid hanger is such that it would not measure correctly to the end of muzzle if the barrel was chopped off.
TR said
oldcrankyyankee said
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.
Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
I bet it does not sell cheap and will have a 36″ barrel on it in the near future. Someone will add on to the muzzle end and sleeve the bore. Most 36″ guns were cut and now they are back as 36″ers. Saw one sell a while back for 26K. T/R
T/R you maybe correct there. But according to my Bubba engineering by scaling pictures of a known 36″ 86, if you add on 10″ of barrel the mid hanger would be appox 1″ off. And vice versa for a chop job. But never having one this is just estimates. Maybe I should take a roll on it and keep it at 26″, after all it is a 45-90!
twobit said
oldcrankyyankee said
But the ledger, we know, sometimes errs.
Case in point, this one letters as 36″ barrel. Highly doubtful.
Wouldn’t a 36 inch barrel have two magazine retaining rings? If the barrel were just shortened then the retaining ring nearer the forend would still be present.
Michael
On a 26″ gun the barrel band is 3/4′ farther forward than a 36″. If the barrel was cut you will be able to measure the difference on this gun. Is the band on this gun 3/4″ farther back? From the pictures it appears the barrel and tube color is not perfect with a different shade by the barrel band. Depending on the placement of the band the barrel would be cut and welded to match original dimensions. This leaves all barrel marking and proofs untouched.
I would guess the letter is correct and the barrel was cut or the gun was sent back to be shortened after they recorded R&R. Regardless of how it was built or changed this gun will become a 36″er if that’s what it says in the ledger. T/R
My measurements are off my 36″. The magazine tube doesn’t match and the tube has a shadow in front of the band. The replacement tube looks to be off a standard 26″ gun. The tube hangs low on the barrel. Maybe it is 3/4″ to far back? T/R
Lot of interesting information, opinions and perspectives. It certainly has expanded my thinking on the main topic and other topics that emerged.
On the topic of gun prices, I’m reminded of the old adage, “you can never pay too much for a gun, just buy it too soon.”
The only thing I am certain of is that the future is uncertain. We can look at an enormous final bid price at an auction and think the owner will never see his money back in his lifetime. Maybe. But maybe not 
steve004 said
On the topic of gun prices, I’m reminded of the old adage, “you can never pay too much for a gun, just buy it too soon.”
Invented by dealers trying to sell the gun to you. Do DEALERS follow that adage when they’re trying to buy from YOU?
T/R I have email RIA for pics with a ruler showing to distances of hanger, sight and mag cap. Lets see how it comes back.
There are some Winchesters with very special original barrels – that have not been cut or altered – that get sent off for a, “restoration” – and the original barrel (and other original parts of the rifle) are not used. It’s the letter where the real value is, not the the rifle.
oldcrankyyankee said
T/R I have email RIA for pics with a ruler showing to distances of hanger, sight and mag cap. Lets see how it comes back.
You might want to call Cody and get a copy of the ledger to verify barrel length. Seeing that the serial number is on the tang, get a picture of the lower tang to receiver fit and the serial number from RIA. T/R
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