Tedk said
That gun would letter
Meaning a letter should be available for that serial number?
I’m thinking the only way it would, “letter” as to being shipped by them as a .33 WCF is if the letter specified it was rebarreled by Winchester.
I find it odd that given this is a high dollar rifle – and has been promoted at least twice by major auction houses – no one did a serial number check? I have to assume they have. And I have to assume if it lettered as a .33 WCF, that would be highlighted very strongly in their ad.
Another possibility – this is an earlier receiver that sat in the bin for a couple years before being used? But in that scenario, it would letter as a .33.
426crown said
Date in: July 2nd 1904,33 round,checkered pistol grip,lyman front and receiver sight, rubber shot gun butt, engraved F W Briggs, shipped July 6th 1904.Bill
Very interesting. The rifle letters, so why someone wouldn’t have a letter with it, is beyond me. Particularly as the inscription letters. Poulin must not have seen the letter given they state it was made in 1900.
I’m back to the speculation Winchester used a receiver from the bottom of the bin. SB said he thought he recalled other .33’s in this serial number range and maybe there was a small batch of them that got made into .33’s.
November 7, 2015

I’m with you, Steve. This rifle would be much more attractive to many buyers if the contents of the ledger were more widely known.
Mike
426crown said
Date in: July 2nd 1904,33 round,checkered pistol grip,lyman front and receiver sight, rubber shot gun butt, engraved F W Briggs, shipped July 6th 1904.Bill
Amazing! This rifle DEFINITELY REQUIRES a letter as, otherwise, it appears not to be legitimate. In fact, most might think the way I did and assume an unfavorable letter was long ago destroyed.
On the other hand, Woody Frey once owned this rifle and he had a top notch collection.
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